Chase may have been one, but the longer he watched the class, the clearer it was that Chase was good with Madison, with all the children. She was all wide eyes when he talked, attentive and nodding like he was telling her the secrets of the world, rather than how to climb a ten-foot wall.
“Oby, look!”
His gaze flew to Madison, who was waving at him from the top of the fort in the kids’ climbing area. She smiled proudly as she gazed out at the gym like it was her kingdom. She deserved her own kingdom. She deserved everything.
Including an uncle cheering for her instead of only smiling and flashing her two thumbs up.
Madison made her way down the slide on the side of the fort, and Tobias’ eyes fell on Chase, who gazed at him quizzically.
Why did it seem like Chase could see right through him? The better question was, how did Chase seethrough the facade Tobias put up when he was around everyone else?
‘Because you want him to.’
Why the fuck would I want him to?
‘Because he’s making you want things you haven’t wanted in years.’
What things?
‘Sex? Love? Happiness? A future with someone?’
He grunted in frustration, making a passing climber flinch away. He gave them an apologetic wave, but they were already gone. Maybe if he had conversations with actual people, his own thoughts wouldn’t sass him so much.
At the end of class, Chase wrapped things up by telling each child what he wanted them to work on the next time they climbed.
When he reached Madison, he shot a smile over her head at Tobias, and it made his heart flutter. Like an idiot.
Tobias was here forMadison, not to perv on his newest employee while he worked.
The two of them talked for a bit until Madison threw herself into his arms for a hug, and Tobias’ heart stuttered. Madison didn’t usually show such affection for strangers, but apparently Chase had won her over quickly. They’d resumed talking and Tobias figured he should probably go see what they were discussing.
Chase’s words weren’t loud enough for Tobias to hear from his spot on the bench, but the other parents had already grabbed their kids and were making their way out of the gym, so he stood and moved closer to the pair.
Madison was talking excitedly, like usual.
“After we put up our Christmas tree, we watch a Christmas movie while we eat cookies. My Gigi makes them so good. My favorite are the kiss cookies.”
“Oh, you mean the peanut butter cookies with a Hershey kiss on top?” Chase said. He put the back of his hand to his head and pretended to faint, making Madison giggle. “They’re my favorite, too. My mom used to make them for me.”
“Are you going to be with your family for Christmas?”
Chase winced, but quickly hid it. Madison didn’t notice, but Tobias couldn’t help but wonder why mentioning his family made him uncomfortable.
“Um, maybe. I’m not sure yet,” he told her. Tobias could have sworn he overheard him mention a brother when they met at that soccer game months before.
“My mommy is supposed to be back in time for Christmas. I can’t wait to see her!”
Chase gave her a soft smile. “I bet she’s excited to see you too.”
“This year I’m gonna ask Santa for a new daddy ’cause Gigi said mine was a waste of space.” Chase snorted, but sobered at her next words. “Sometimes Mommy gets lonely and I want her to feel better.”
“I bet Santa will try really hard to get you that for Christmas, but if he can’t, I’m sure you’ll still have a great Christmas with your family. My dad was like yours, and my mom got lonely too, but I always tried to make Christmas special for her.”
“Will you see her this Christmas?”
Chase’s smile was achingly sad. “No, she’s not… Not this year.”
Tobias was about to interrupt their conversation by clearing his throat, not wanting to make Chase even more uncomfortable. He had a feeling Chase’s mom wasn’t around at all anymore. But Madison’s next words had him frozen solid.
