PART 3:

She couldn’t argue, couldn’t defend herself because he was right. I’m sorry, she said again, quieter this time. Daniel’s expression softened. I’m not angry, but I need you to understand something. Lucas is the most important person in my life. And if we’re going to have this conversation, whatever this is, that’s not going to change.

I wouldn’t want it to, Victoria said quickly. He raised an eyebrow. You say that now, but you don’t know what it means. Cancelled plans, early mornings, school plays in the middle of the workday. I can handle that, can you? Daniel’s gaze didn’t waver. And I won’t let anyone, not even you, make him feel like he’s competing for my attention. Victoria’s throat tightened.

She thought of her own childhood. Boarding schools, nannies. A father who measured love in stock portfolios. He shouldn’t have to compete. She said he should always come first. Something in Daniel’s expression shifted. He checked his watch. 5 300 p.m. Then he did something that surprised both of them. Do you want to come with me? Victoria stared at him.

What? To dinner? Daniel clarified. It’s just Lucas and me. Pizza place downtown. Nothing fancy. You want me to crash your son’s birthday dinner? I’m inviting you. That’s not crashing. He hesitated. But I need to be clear about something. If you come, it’s not as my boss. It says someone I’m allowing into my life. And that comes with rules.

Rules. Lucas doesn’t know about you. He doesn’t know what I do for a living beyond office work. And I’d like to keep it that way for now. Hail. Not the CEO, just a person. Victoria felt something strange unfold in her chest. For 3 years, her title had been armor, protection, power, and now Daniel was asking her to take it off.

I can do that, she said. Can you? Yes. She met his eyes. I want to. Daniel studied her for a long moment. Then he nodded. Okay. But if he asks questions, I’m going to answer them honestly. And if at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can leave. No hard feelings. understood. And Victoria, he paused. Thank you for apologizing.

She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she just nodded. They walked to the parking garage in silence. Daniel’s car was a modest sedan, clean but worn, with a booster seat in the back and a collection of action figures scattered across the floor. Victoria slid into the passenger seat, feeling like she’d stepped into a different dimension.

Daniel started the engine. He’s going to ask a lot of questions. Fair warning, I can handle questions. Not like these. He pulled out of the garage. Lucas doesn’t have a filter. If he’s curious, he asks, and he’s very curious. Victoria felt a flutter of nerves. What kind of questions? Last week, he asked our mail carrier if she believed in ghosts.

Week before that, he asked the dentist why adults lie about vegetables tasting good. Despite everything, Victoria smiled. He sounds smart. He is. Daniel’s voice softened. Being a single parent, he glanced at her. Yeah. What happened to his mother? The question came out before she could stop it. Daniel’s jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then she left when he was two. Said she wasn’t ready. Didn’t want to be tied down. Victoria’s chest achd. I’m sorry. Don’t be. We’re better off. He turned onto the main road. Lucas doesn’t remember her. And honestly, I’m glad. He deserves better than someone who saw him as an obligation. They drove in silence for a few blocks.

Then Victoria said quietly. “You’re a good father,” Daniel’s hands tightened on the wheel. “I’m trying to be.” Lar Roa Trateria was tucked between a bookstore and a laundromat on a street Victoria had never noticed before. The sign was handpainted. The windows glowed warm yellow. Inside, checkered tablecloths, mismatched chairs, the smell of garlic, and fresh bread.

It was nothing like the restaurants Victoria frequented. No valet, no wine list, no minimalist decor. It was perfect. Lucas was already there, sitting in a booth by the window. He looked exactly like Daniel. Same dark hair, same serious eyes. But where Daniel was controlled, Lucas was pure energy. He was coloring on the paper tablecloth, humming to himself, legs swinging.

The moment he saw Daniel, his face lit up. Daniel grinned a real grin, wide and unguarded, and Victoria realized she’d never seen him smile like that. “Hey, buddy, happy birthday.” Lucas launched himself out of the booth and wrapped his arms around Daniel’s waist. Then he noticed Victoria. “Who’s that?” “This is Victoria,” Daniel said.

“She’s a friend from work. I invited her to join us. Is that okay?” Lucas looked her up and down with the frank curiosity of an 8-year-old. Do you like pizza? Victoria blinked. Yes, good. Dad’s friends have to like pizza. It’s a rule. She smiled. I didn’t know there were rules. There’s lots of rules. Lucas climbed back into the booth.

like no phones at the table and you have to try the garlic knots even if you think you’re full and if you don’t finish your pizza, you have to take it home because wasting food is bad.” Victoria slid into the seat across from him. “Those sound like good rules. I made them up,” Lucas said proudly. Daniel sat beside his son.

Lucas is very big on rules. “Rules are important,” Lucas said. Otherwise, everything’s chaos. Victoria met Daniel’s eyes across the table. He looked lighter. This was the version of him she’d never seen. The one who existed outside fluorescent lights and quarterly reports, and she wanted to know him. The waiter came.

They ordered pepperoni for Lucas, margarita for Victoria, half and half for Daniel. Lucas peppered Victoria with questions. What was her favorite color? Blue. Did she have any pets? No. What was the coolest place she’d ever been? Iceland. Did she know how to juggle? Absolutely not. Victoria answered each one honestly and found herself relaxing in a way she hadn’t in years. Lucas was easy to talk to.

He didn’t care about her title. Didn’t care about her reputation. He just wanted to know if she liked dinosaurs. When the pizza arrived, Lucas launched into a story about his school science project, something involving volcanoes and too much baking soda. Daniel listened with the patience of someone who’d heard the story three times already, but still found it delightful, and Victoria watched them both.

The way Daniel cut Lucas’s pizza into smaller pieces without being asked. The way Lucas leaned into his father’s side when he laughed. the way they communicated in shortorthhand inside jokes, shared looks, a language built over years. This was love, uncomplicated, unguarded, and Victoria realized with startling clarity that she wanted to be part of it.

Then Lucas asked the question that changed everything. “Dad,” he said, voice suddenly serious. “Have you found a mom for me yet?” Daniel froza. Victoria’s breath caught. Lucas looked between them, confused. What? You said you were looking? I said, Daniel corrected gently. That if I met someone special, I’d introduce you.

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