Chapter 27 DAN #2
He looks up between me and Rose. “The friendly tonight?”
“Yeah.” I check my watch. “You have about sixty minutes to eat before the game starts.”
“Mum, can you believe it? We’re going to watch City play.”
“It was your mum’s idea. I just got the tickets.”
He throws his arms around Rose. “Thanks Mum.”
My heart stutters. I suppose this is the joy of being a dad when brief moments like this make up for all the other stuff.
Rose kisses the top of his head and catches my eye with a sympathetic smile, then she says quietly, but just enough for me to hear, “Why don’t you give Dan a hug to say thank you? He’s gone to a lot of trouble to get tickets for tonight.”
Angelos nods. And turns to me. “Thanks, bro.” His wiry arms wrap around my shoulder and he pats my back.
I let out a chuckle as I give him the same awkward hug back, when all I want to do is wrap him up in my arms like Rose did.
All in good time. Small steps, I remind myself as I smile at Rose and she reaches a hand on the curved back rest in the circular booth we’re sitting in.
I do the same, my arm resting behind Angelos, my fingers touching hers, causing electricity to zing around my limbs.
Angelos pulls back from the hug, still grinning as he looks down at the shirt in his hands. “Can I put it on now?”
Rose gives him a pointed look. “After you’ve eaten.”
As if summoned by magic, a waiter appears with a tray full of steaming pizzas and bowls of fries. The smell of melted cheese and garlic fills the air.
“Yes!” Angelos practically snatches a slice before the plates even touch the table.
“Slow down,” Rose says, handing him a napkin.
“Can’t. I don’t want to miss kickoff.”
I hand Rose a slice of pepperoni. “Is this parenting? Negotiating with a hungry thirteen-year-old and losing every time?”
“Every single day.” She meets my eyes with the smallest smile. “Welcome to the club.” She reaches for the pepper and passes it to me on instinct.
Our fingers touch again, a surge of electricity zapping through me, knowing she remembered I have pepper on my pizza. Our eyes lock and we share a knowing look. A familiarity and bond that time or distance cannot break.
Ketchup drips down Angelos’ chin and Rose wipes it for him.
“Mum.” He takes the napkin from her. “Want to wipe my bum while you’re at it?” He gives her a goofy grin and shoves more pizza into his mouth.
She rolls her eyes, then looks back at me, her arm going back to the backrest.
I chuckle, relaxing into the seat as the warmth of the moment settles in my chest. I lift my arm to the backrest too, needing to touch her, even if it is just our fingertips.
Her fingers graze mine where they rest on the curved backrest. She doesn’t move away. Neither do I.
Angelos glances between us again, squinting as if he’s sensed the crackling tension between us. “Are you sure you two aren’t a thing?”
Rose’s whole body stiffens. “No.” Rose sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Dan is just a friend.”
I lean forward, elbows on the table, and shoot him a grin. “What, you don’t think your mum’s got good taste?”
His face scrunches up. “Ew, no. Stop. I’m eating.”
Rose glares at me. “Exactly. So can we not?”
I lift my hands in surrender, chuckling.
Rose exhales, and for the briefest moment, I see the hint of a smile playing at her lips. Then she nudges my foot under the table, her way of telling me to behave.
I nudge her back.
Because let’s face it—I never behave.
Rose raises a brow. “Dessert?”
“No time. We’ve got a game to get to.” Angelos taps his new City shirt like it’s a badge of honour. “Can I have another drink, though?”
“Priorities.” I grin. “Kid’s got his head screwed on right.”
Rose sighs, looking between the two of us. “Great. Now there’s two of you.”
I lean back, unable to contain my grin. “Took you this long to notice?”
She gives me a sharp look before turning to Angelos. “Diet Coke. I don’t need you bouncing off the walls at the stadium.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue as he grabs his glass and squeezes past me in the booth to fill his drink at the dispenser.
We both watch him like a hawk and I catch myself smiling like an idiot. The way Rose handles him—firm, but with an ease that says she’s got this whole parenting thing down—is something I could watch all day.
When he returns, he sits opposite me in the booth, sucking his drink through a straw. “So, Dan.”
I glance at him. “Yeah?”
His eyes narrow slightly, like he’s assessing me. “Mum says you’re just a friend.”
Rose tenses beside me. I can feel it even though we’re not touching anymore.
I tilt my head, playing along. “Yeah?”
He studies me. “But you don’t look like just a friend.”
Rose groans. “Angelo—”
“Nah, it’s all right.” I flash him a lazy grin. “What do I look like then?”
He crosses his arms. “Someone trying to impress my mum.”
I glance at Rose, who is now very pointedly staring at the salt shaker as if it holds the meaning of life.
Smirking, I turn back to Angelos. “You think I’d wear this”—I gesture to the City shirt—“for just any woman?”
He snorts. “Fair point.”
Rose finally looks up, exhaling through her nose. “Angelos, finish your drink.”
He shrugs. “I’m just saying, if he’s trying to impress you, he’s going all in.
New shirt. Match tickets.” He leans over the table, putting a hand to his mouth as if trying to whisper to just me.
“If you really want to impress her, she likes days out at Alton Towers, and she’s always wanted a VR headset. ”
Rose leans over and ruffles his hair. “Hey.”
I bark out a laugh. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m still recovering from this shirt choice.”
Angelos laughs, clearly enjoying winding his mum up. Rose, on the other hand, looks like she’s debating whether to strangle me or her son first.
Before she can speak, the waiter returns with our bill, and Angelos leans forward, dropping the subject. “Okay, serious question—who do you think is gonna score first tonight?”
Rose exhales in relief, but when I glance at her, she’s still watching me. There’s a secret in her eyes—something she won’t say. Maybe she’s scared to admit it to herself.
And just like that, we’re just three people talking football like any normal family.
After settling the bill, I knock back the rest of my drink, rising from the table after Angelos and Rose. “What do you reckon?” I hold the door as we walk out of the restaurant, full of pizza and love for a family I never knew I had or wanted.
Angelos races ahead down the street, talking a mile a minute about the starting lineup. I trail behind with Rose, watching him with a strange ache in my chest.
Her pinky grazes against mine as we walk side by side and I feel that spark again, the one that sets my heart on fire.
“He’s excited,” she says.
“Yeah.” I swallow hard and hook my pinky around hers. “So am I.” I flash her a wink, and for the first time, hope settles in my chest. I’m not excited for the game, but for a life I never thought possible.
Her lips curve into a smile as she holds on to my little finger, and I know she remembers the rose garden as our eyes lock briefly before she turns her attention back to her son.
Our son.