“Just get me on the same flight.” His eyes narrow, as if daring me to give him any more lip.
“You hate flying.” I pinch my brow, trying to fathom this man.
“Yeah, I know.” His fingertip sweeps a loose strand of hair from my cheek and tucks it behind my ear as he gazes into my eyes. “But I’d fly to the ends of the earth to keep you safe.”
I swallow, my throat dry. “I thought you hated me.”
“I do.” His thumb runs along my bottom lip. “I hate you like I hate flying. But it’s something I have to endure.”
“I’m the one who has to endure you. Do you know what it’s like to look at my son and see the person I loathe every day?”
He cracks a smile. “You don’t loathe me that much. You practically called him the same name as me.”
“His name has nothing to do with you. I called him Angelos because he was the angel who gave me hope when I had none. You are the angel of death, leaving nothing but destruction in your wake.” I push against his chest again, but he’s unmovable. “Are you gonna get out of my space? I have stuff to do and I need to book an Uber.”
He steps back, running a hand through his short brown hair and fisting it. “No need for an Uber. I’m driving my son to school.”
My chest cracks. It’s the most natural thing to say, only he’ll never be able to be his father. “Will you stop saying that.He could hear you.” I turn back to him. “And put a shirt on, would you?”
“Fine. But you need to tell him soon.”
“If you want to be a parent so much, you can start by ironing his school uniform.” My lips curve into a smile as I strut out of the kitchen like I’ve just won a game. At least I got out of the ironing. With his credit card in hand, my smile widens as a few mischievous thoughts run through my head.
“All set?”Dan says as he loads Angelos’ bag into the boot of his car.
“Nice car,” Angelos says.
“You can ride in the front if you like. Your Mum can sit in the back.” He quirks a grin in my direction.
“I didn’t want to sit next to you, anyway.” I slide into the back, behind the driver’s seat, while Angelos walks around the front of the car.
Dan holds my door. “This way you can stab me in the back like you’re used to.” He closes my door and slides behind the wheel.
I want to bite back with an equally venomous line, but Angelos jumps into the passenger seat in front.
The anger bubbling beneath my skin subsides when Dan reaches over Angelos and pulls his seatbelt across.
“Dude, I’m twelve, not two.” Angelos takes the clip from him and inserts it into the holster.
Dan chuckles and I can’t stop the smile from pushing my cheeks up and warming my heart at their interactions. We’re almost like a regular family.
Almost.
“So when’s your birthday, mate? What day?” Dan says as he drives down the road.
“Next Monday.”
“What are you doing for your birthday?”
Angelos shrugs. “I think I’m gonna hang with my mates at school.”
“I thought your mum would want to see you on your birthday.” Dan glances at me through the rear view mirror.
I let out a sigh. “I do, but Angelos said it’s lame to go out with your mother, so…”
“Mum, you said you were okay with me staying at school.”
Dan taps his fingers on the steering wheel. “You know, when I was your age, my mum wasn’t around anymore. She passed away when I was twelve and I’d do anything now to have dinner with her one last time.”
