That’s when the sound of sizzling catches my attention; it’s coming from the kitchen. A smell hits my nostrils—fresh coffee and … bacon? I force myself up and stagger toward the kitchen, where Will’s back is to me as he cooks in front of the stove.
He turns to face me, and I gasp. He’s wearing my sling, Julian securely strapped to his chest.
The sight of this man in my kitchen, spatula in hand, wearing my baby as if he were his own, makes my knees go weak. I grab the door frame to steady myself. He’s got that stupid smirk onhis face, and the black T-shirt he’s wearing leaves his forearms exposed.
The man looks good in a dress shirt, but damn, this simple T-shirt is devastating.
“You look well-rested,” he observes, and his smirk fades. He gestures to Julian. “I hope this is okay?”
It’s way more than okay. Matt never wore any of his kids in a sling. This vision is fulfilling fantasies I didn’t even know I had.
Calm down, Sophie. He’s not a superdad. He’s still a player. Proceed with caution.
I straighten and make my way to sit at the kitchen table. “Absolutely.” I do my best to not let the unbridled desire seep into my voice.
Damn, I need to get laid. Andnotwith Will.
“I made some of the bacon I brought yesterday, and now I’m finishing up these eggs,” he says, gesturing to the sizzling pan with his spatula. “I was going to eat them myself, but you can have some if you have the stomach for it.” When he sees my eyebrows shoot up in alarm, he immediately pipes up: “I made the bacon in the air fryer, don’t worry.”
Wow. Not only did he take the initiative to wear Julian in the sling; he’s careful and thoughtful, too. Cooking the bacon in a pan can make the bacon fat droplets fly all over the place if you’re not careful, and the last thing I want is for Julian to get burned. But now I can see I have nothing to worry about.
“Are you feeling up for coffee?” he asks as he gestures to the full carafe. I nod with a small smile and watch while this man carefully juggles making coffee for me and supervising the eggs frying in the pan.
I could very well make myself a cup. And maybe I should; I’m not weak and helpless anymore. But there’s something to be said about letting your ex-arch-enemy wait on you.
He pours just enough milk and maple syrup into my mug. My taste in coffee hasn’t changed since the last times he was here as Matt’s friend—it was actually Tania who made me fall in love with maple coffee. But I never knew he’d taken notice. When he brings the mug to me, I cup my hands around it and let the warmth seep into my skin, burrowing itself deep into my heart.
I missed this. A simple moment of domesticity.
But I don’t let myself daydream about this any further. Instead, I sip on my coffee and let Will serve me a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. “Thank you,” I say before grabbing my fork and digging in. I hadn’t realized how ravenous I was until the food was in front of me.
Will goes back to frying two more eggs for himself while I scarf down my meal. Soon enough, he places his own plate and mug of coffee on the table and starts unraveling the sling. Inside, Julian is as cheery as ever, and doesn’t mind when Will puts him down on the floor next to some toys I’m guessing he brought in from the living room earlier.
By the time Will finally sits down, I’ve cleaned my plate. A hint of nausea rolls through me, but I can tell it’s just the echoes of the virus. I’m probably going to feel like this every time I eat for a few days.
“Thank you,” I repeat, with a different meaning this time. “For everything. I …” I look down and pinch my lips together, my eyes prickling with tears.
“It’s been my pleasure,” Will replies, without a hint of teasing. He takes a bite, but his eyes stay focused on me.
“I need to apologize.” The moment the words are out of my mouth, relief washes over me. “I’ve been a grade-A bitch. I shouldn’t have assumed you knew about Matt’s behaviour. I should have asked.”
“No need to apologize,” he says flatly. “You were in pain. I understand.”
“No, I do need to,” I argue. “Because I’ve been nothing but horrible to you these past few weeks, and now you’ve gone and done all of this”—I gesture around the room— “for me, without me even asking you for it, and I just don’t get why you’d do something like that after I’ve treated you the way I have.” I let out a sigh. I hope he’ll tell me, because I sure as hell can’t figure it out on my own.
“Sophie. I want to make something very clear.” Will’s black eyes are fiery with intensity. He’s no longer eating; all of his attention is on me and me alone. It sends a shiver down my spine. “I stayed away from you and your family for the last year out of respect for you, because I knew you didn’t want me around. And I knew you needed time to heal before I came waltzing back as a stark reminder of your ex.” He places his forearms on the table in a clear gesture.
I’m here to stay, it says.
“But if it were up to me, I would have run out into the rain that night to follow you.” His jaw clenches. “I may have cut ties with Matt, but I never wanted to cut ties with you and your kids. You’ve been like family to me for the past ten years. I’m … not ready to let that go.”
The words hit me like wave after wave, and I let them wash over me. For a moment, I don’t speak, just trying to absorb everything he’s telling me. I run back memories of the last ten years with this new information, trying to see what he sees.
And he’s right. Before Matt revealed his true colours to the both of us, Will was like a brother to him. He came over for dinner often. Slept on the couch on nights we partied a bit too late, ate brunch with us in the morning. Played with the girls while I made dinner and Matt set the table.
I’ve been so focused on my disdain for his player ways that I couldn’t clearly see his role in our family, until now. The way he always included me in his and Matt’s jokes and banter. How hewas always kind and respectful to me—and even to the girls he brought home with him, at least in front of us.
Everything I’ve believed about this man has been an assumption. Never anything I’ve seen with my own eyes.
