“Hi, Rue.”
Lev’s head lifts instantly at the sound of her name. His whole body goes still, like she has all of his attention, and Sloane notices too, her lips pinching into a grin.
“Can me and Lev have a playdate today?” Rue asks in a rush. “Or maybe tomorrow if you’re busy, of course. It would just be really fun. Please?”
There’s something so openly hopeful about the way she asks, and for a moment, I forget who her father is.
My gaze drifts to Lev again. This is what I always wanted for him. Someone who wanted to spend time with him, someone who cared enough to ask. I just never imagined it would come from…that family.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I say, still watching my son.
Lev crosses the room in a few quick steps and grabs my sleeve, tugging once, then again, his eyes fixed on my face.
I cover the phone with my hand and lower myself a little so we’re closer to eye level. “You want to play with Rue?”
He nods immediately.
Oh, fuck. Of course he does.
I straighten and bring the phone back to my ear.
“I think…” I choose my words carefully. “We can arrange something. Let me talk to your father.”
“Oh God, Daddy, he said yes! Here!”
A sharp little gasp of victory bursts through the phone before Jace comes back on the line.
Across the room, Sloane laughs, having clearly heard Rue’s celebration.
“This is insane,” Jace says.
“Yet here we are.”
Silence settles between us, heavy with conflict that still remains between our families. Neither of us is stupid enough to think a couple of kids wanting to play together erases any of that.
“You can come to the ranch,” he finally says. “Plenty of open space. Your boy seemed to like the horse last time. Maybe he’d want to see him again.”
I glance down at Lev, who’s still clutching my sleeve. “I don’t know if I trust you enough for that. We should meet somewhere neutral.”
Jace scoffs. “I wouldn’t hurt a kid. Even if that kid is yours.”
A dry chuckle slips out of me. “Same.”
“Glad we have that in common. So, are we doing this or what?”
“I guess…”
“Tomorrow,” he cuts in. “Late morning. Eleven. Does that work? We leave for Texas in two days.”
I let the silence stretch another second before answering. “I’ll make it work.”
“Alright, then.”
When the call ends, Lev is staring at me like he’s trying to read the answer before I give it.
“We’re going to the ranch tomorrow,” I tell him. “You’re going to see Rue.”
The change in him is instant. His whole face lights up.
