Smirking, I turn back to Angelos. “You think I’d wear this”—I gesture to the City shirt—“for just any woman?”
He snorts. “Fair point.”
Rose finally looks up, exhaling through her nose. “Angelos, finish your drink.”
He shrugs. “I’m just saying, if he’s trying to impress you, he’s going all in. New shirt. Match tickets.” He leans over the table, putting a hand to his mouth as if trying to whisper to just me. “If you really want to impress her, she likes days out at Alton Towers, and she’s always wanted a VR headset.”
Rose leans over and ruffles his hair. “Hey.”
I bark out a laugh. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m still recovering from this shirt choice.”
Angelos laughs, clearly enjoying winding his mum up. Rose, on the other hand, looks like she’s debating whether to strangle me or her son first.
Before she can speak, the waiter returns with our bill, and Angelos leans forward, dropping the subject. “Okay, serious question—who do you think is gonna score first tonight?”
Rose exhales in relief, but when I glance at her, she’s still watching me. There’s a secret in her eyes—something she won’t say. Maybe she’s scared to admit it to herself.
And just like that, we’re just three people talking football like any normal family.
After settling the bill, I knock back the rest of my drink, rising from the table after Angelos and Rose. “What do you reckon?” I hold the door as we walk out of the restaurant, full of pizza and love for a family I never knew I had or wanted.
Angelos races ahead down the street, talking a mile a minute about the starting lineup. I trail behind with Rose, watching him with a strange ache in my chest.
Her pinky grazes against mine as we walk side by side and I feel that spark again, the one that sets my heart on fire.
“He’s excited,” she says.
“Yeah.” I swallow hard and hook my pinky around hers. “So am I.” I flash her a wink, and for the first time, hope settles in my chest. I’m not excited for the game, but for a life I never thought possible.
Her lips curve into a smile as she holds on to my little finger, and I know she remembers the rose garden as our eyes lock briefly before she turns her attention back to her son.
Our son.
28
ROSE
The night air is crisp as the boys walk back to the car, animated after the game and talking about the goals. With no clue who is who, I just enjoyed watching them enjoy the game. I couldn’t care less about football, but I care about them. Even if I won’t admit I care about Dan, I do. Tonight was a glimpse of how our life could be. It’s a nice reality, one I could be happy in. But fairy tales don’t exist in my world.
The drive back to the boarding school falls quiet with nothing but the sultry sounds of the radio at this late hour. I wish we could take Angelos home with us. Sometimes I want to keep him with me all the time just so I know he’s safe. But he has school tomorrow.
Dan slows as he pulls up to the iron gates of the elite boarding school, only affordable with my brother’s money.
I tap in the code, then turn back to Angelos, who’s fast asleep on the back seat. “Dan, look.”
He turns his head and smiles. “Shall we just take him home?”
He’s thinking the same as me.
Angelos stirs. “Are we here already?” He unclips his belt and climbs out of the car.
“Well, you fell asleep.” I wrap an arm around him. “Want to stay here tonight or come home?”
“I’m here now.”
I walk him to the halls and sign him in. My heart always aches when I have to leave him. “So what do you think of Dan, then?”
“He’s cool.” His head tilts looking up at me. “Is he your boyfriend?”
