Neither option would be as effective as going through them together tonight as planned, with proper time and attention. I glanced at the cleared coffee table, the space I’d made for our work together.
“It’s fine,” I said, though it wasn’t. “We’ll figure something out.”
“I’m really sorry about dinner too. I was looking forward to it. And I know Finn was excited about the LEGOs.” Chase paused. “This project, the Franson addition, is a big deal for Latitudes. They’re connected to half the property owners in their luxury beach development. If I mess this up…”
“I get it.” And I did, intellectually. But all I saw was Jarod’s face when I told him I was pregnant. “Your business needs you there.”
“Harper.” His tone took on an edge. “I can’t predict when something goes sideways on a site. It happens, and it’s my job to fix it. Look, I’ll make it up to you both. I promise. This is just?—”
“An emergency. I understand.” I cut him off, unable to bear another word when disappointment was swelling inside me. “Really, it’s fine. We’re fine.”
“Are you sure? You sound?—”
“I’m sure.” I forced conviction into my voice. “Go fix your client’s electrical issues. We’ll reschedule.”
Another pause. “I’ll call you later? Once I’ve got things under control here?”
“Sure.” The word came out clipped. “Let me know when you can reschedule the flooring review.”
“Harper…”
“I need to go tell Finn. Go handle what you need to handle, Chase.” I ended the call before he could respond, before my voice could betray the irrational hurt building inside me.
I stood motionless in the kitchen, staring at the three plates I’d arranged. Three plates. When had I started thinking of us as a given? When had I started expecting Chase Ashworth to be there at our table as if he belonged?
I wanted to understand. I wanted to be understanding. But the old habit of protecting myself was powerful, a shield that came up as fast as this disappointment had hit me. I tried to squash it, but I could feel my heart hardening again, cooling in a way that terrified me.
I thought of the pizza sitting in the fridge, of Finn’s hopeful smile. My throat tightened, a sign of past betrayals affecting the present in ways I didn’t want to admit. My response to Chase had been stark and cold, like something an ice queen would say. But it was all I could manage in the moment. All the warmth, all the hope—gone.
Finn was in the living room, placing his toy cars in a wicker basket. He looked up, expectation shining in his eyes. I hesitated, struggling for the right words. The ones that would make it sting less.
“Sweetheart,” I started, my voice too cheerful, too bright. “Chase had an emergency at work. He can’t come for pizza tonight.”
The light in his eyes dimmed, the corners of his mouthturning down. “Oh. But we were gonna build LEGOs after…”
I kneeled beside him, smoothing a hand over his hair. “I know. I’m sorry. He feels bad, too.”
Finn nodded, a brave little nod that only made my heart ache more. He turned back to his cars, the air heavy with his quiet disappointment.
I watched him, my own hurt amplified. Especially after Finn carefully placed the half-finished LEGO spaceship on top and carried the basket to his room.
I dropped onto the couch and opened my laptop, the bright screen blurring before my eyes. It took me a moment to realize I was staring at the renovation schedule, the tasks and deadlines so neat compared to my personal chaos. Now this one phone call, this one cancellation, overshadowed all the progress. I wanted to be angry, but all I felt was hurt and scared about where things stood.
I took a shaky breath and picked up my phone, debating whether to send Chase a message. Something softer, less brittle. But what if he didn’t reply until tomorrow? What if this was the start of a pattern, like last time? The thought twisted in my chest, and I set the phone down, unable to face it.
Finn returned to the living room. “When is dinner?”
I stood and pulled him to me. “Let’s get that pizza in the oven right now, sweetie.”
We walked to the kitchen, our disappointment shared but somehow lighter together. I pulled him close to me, focusing on the warmth of his small body against mine. But even with Finn here, the sense of connection I’d started to believe in felt impossibly far away.
