“The new guy!” Theo says, bouncing. “He fixes stuff! He’s really strong and he said I could learn when I’m bigger and we need goggles and everything.”
Strong. Great. Fantastic.
Freya appears a second later, bag over her shoulder, cheeks slightly pink from the cold.
“Sorry,” she says with a small smile. “He’s very excited.”
“It was epic,” Theo insists.
Freya laughs, the sound warm and proud in a way that makes my stomach do something inconvenient. “Ben was really kind actually,” she says, glancing briefly at me. “He took the time to explain everything properly. Theo hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
I nod once. “That’s good,” I say. “Nice to have someone competent around.”
Freya tilts her head just slightly, studying my face like she’s checking for something. I give her nothing. No edge. No tension. No territorial nonsense. Just friendly. Because that’s what we agreed.
Ben appears then, walking across the playground with his toolbox, sleeves rolled up, saying something to Mrs Patel that makes her laugh. He spots Theo and gives him a small nod. Theo lights up like someone’s just handed him a medal.
“Ben! We told them about the drill!”
Ben grins. “Did you now? Didn’t exaggerate my heroics, I hope.”
Theo launches into a dramatic retelling that includes far more danger than I imagine actually occurred. Ben listens, crouching down to Theo’s level again, nodding seriously like this is the most important debrief of his day. Freya watches them with a softness in her expression that I recognise immediately. It’s theone she gets when someone treats Theo gently. I look at her. She knows I’m looking. She meets my gaze for a fraction too long and I hold it because I am not going to be that guy again.
“I appreciate you letting him watch,” she says to Ben. “He’s been obsessed with tools since he found a screwdriver in the kitchen drawer.”
Ben smiles. “He’s a natural. Good hands.”
Freya laughs lightly. “He’ll be insufferable now.”
I swallow something sharp and force a small smile. “I’m Rory” I say, putting my hand out to shake his.
Ben stands and shakes my hand, introducing himself. He gives Freya an easy, comfortable look that isn’t possessive or flashy or performative. Just warm.
“Well,” he says, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” she replies. “Thanks again.”
He heads off toward the car park. Theo watches him go like he’s just witnessed something aspirational. I stand there, brushing imaginary dust from my coat.
“So,” I say lightly, because apparently I enjoy testing my own limits, “Ben’s quite the hit.”
Freya’s eyes flick back to mine. “He’s good with the kids.”
There’s something in her tone I can’t quite read.
“Seems it,” I reply.
Freya studies me again. She’s waiting for something. A reaction. A crack. I give her none.
“Right,” I say, gesturing toward the road. “We’d better get going.” The moment dissolves into the usual shuffle of parents and backpacks and cars pulling out.
As we walk away, Isla chatters about drills and goggles and how Theo might build a treehouse one day.
Inside, something uncomfortable settles. It isn’t rage. It isn’t even jealousy in the loud, embarrassing sense. It’s quieter than that. It’s the realisation that Ben is not a threat in the obviousway. He’s not Scott. He’s not swagger and flirtation and a man I can dismiss as an idiot. He’s steady. He’s kind. He crouches down to Theo’s level. And Freya looks at him like she approves.
I tighten my jaw slightly and keep walking. We’re friends. She’s allowed to find someone steady. She deserves steady. I tell myself that three times before we reach our door. And I don’t look back. Because if I do, I’m not entirely sure my face will still be neutral. And I have worked very hard today to make sure it is.
Chapter thirty-three
