12. XANDER
Chapter 12
XANDER
A s I made my way across the hallway of my apartment building, the events of the previous night lingered in my mind, a hazy yet vivid memory that refused to fade. I’d woken up around four in the morning and automatically stretched out an arm to the other side of the bed. And that’s when I discovered that Lyca had already left. I couldn't pinpoint the exact time we had fallen asleep in the room on the yacht.
“Damn, Lyca,” I whispered to nobody in particular. “The way you make me feel…”
Pausing before Lyca's door, I found myself drawn to the familiar threshold, my heart quickening with anticipation. I wondered if she was already awake if she was thinking of me as much as I was thinking of her. The mere thought of her sent a surge of longing coursing through me, a yearning that seemed to intensify with each passing moment.
Suddenly, a melodic sound broke through the silence. It was the sound of Lyca's laughter, pure and unbridled, mingled with the sweet notes of her son's voice. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I listened.
“My turn, Mommy!” Lucas's voice rang out, filled with excitement.
“Okay, sweetie! Let's sing your favorite song!” Lyca's laughter followed, filled with maternal warmth.
My heart swelled with a mixture of emotions—longing, desire, and a profound sense of connection. In that moment, I realized just how much I yearned to be with her, and spend time again with her adorable son.
That’s enough, Xander , a voice in my head cut through my thoughts and feelings. She’s off-limits. What happened last night was a mistake.
I felt let down. Dragging myself to my own unit, my heart seemed to ache. She was so near, within reach, and yet there was a conflict inside my chest that was stopping me.
I’m practically her boss , after all, I thought.
So what? Another thought came in defiance.
As I entered my own apartment, my thoughts were still consumed by the memories of my birthday party from the previous night, most especially the intimate moment I had shared with Lyca. However, something caught my eye – a pile of envelopes that had been mistakenly slipped under my door. I picked them up and noticed they were addressed to her.
I scoffed in disbelief, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight, feeling as if this was a sign of fate.
Without giving it a second thought, I made a split-second decision. I couldn't let myself overthink it again.
Heading back to the hallway, I took a deep breath and almost laughed at myself for making such a big deal out of this. I lifted my hand to knock and then waited.
The door immediately swung open, revealing Lucas standing there with a wide grin.
“Uncle Xander!” he exclaimed excitedly.
“Hey, buddy!” I greeted him warmly, taken aback by his unexpected enthusiasm. “How's it going?”
Lucas's grin widened as he reached out to give me a quick hug. “Come in, come in! I’m so glad you’re here! Come on and let’s play together again!” he urged, tugging on my hand.
Surprised by the eager invitation, I followed Lucas into the apartment, not knowing what to expect.
My gaze immediately sought hers, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as our eyes locked on each other. She had no makeup on but had a radiant glow about her. She was wearing just an oversized flannel shirt and a pair of denim shorts, but to me, she was just as beautiful as she had been last night.
We quietly gazed at one another. Her eyes widened just a little bit, surprised that I was right there in front of her again. I didn’t know what to say.
Should I acknowledge what had taken place between us? Am I supposed to ask how she was? Or maybe I ought to say sorry?
Before the silence could become too heavy, Lucas's cheerful voice broke through the tension. “I'm hungry, Mommy!” he exclaimed, his enthusiasm injecting a much-needed sense of normalcy into the moment. “Can we eat before playing?”
Lyca blinked, snapping out of her reverie. “Of course, sweetie,” she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of distraction. “Let me check the fridge.”
Then as if remembering my presence, she paused at the counter and turned to me. “Hi, Xander. Just make yourself at home, okay? Let me grab some breakfast for us.”
I nodded, still not knowing what to say. My eyes followed her figure as she opened the fridge and assessed its contents.
“Uh, actually, I came to give you these…” I placed the pile of envelopes on her kitchen counter. “They were sent to my apartment by mistake, but they’re addressed to you.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed, looking at me. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Oh, no,” she suddenly said, closing the fridge and turning toward Lucas and me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I haven't had a chance to restock my groceries.”
I shook my head, offering her a reassuring smile. “Don't worry about it, Lyca,” I replied. "I actually ordered breakfast earlier. There's more than enough to share, and it’s probably on the way here now."
Lyca's eyes widened. “Are you sure?” she asked, a note of uncertainty creeping into her voice. “I mean, maybe I can go out for a while…”
“Absolutely,” I reassured her. “Don’t bother. Lucas might miss you too much.” I actually wanted to tell her that I was the one who did not want her out of my sight.
Lucas gave me an amused glance. “Yeah, Mom,” he thankfully agreed. “But I’m really so hungry now…”
I ruffled his blond hair. “Hey, it’s okay, buddy. I’m sure the delivery’s about to arrive. Do you like waffles?”
His eyes lit up and a bright smile appeared on his adorable face. “Oh, yes, yes!”
Lyca smiled as she approached us. “Wow, lucky you, huh?” she joked with her son. “What are the odds that our neighbor already ordered your favorite?”
“Yeah!” Lucas grinned, punching the air happily.
Lyca turned to me then. “Thank you so much.”
“What are neighbors and colleagues for, right?” I said casually.
Her radiant smile made me want to kiss her again. But, of course, I didn’t.
My phone suddenly rang. It was the delivery boy, who was already waiting outside my unit. I went out to get the food from him. When I came to place everything on Lyca’s dining table, she looked at me with a curious, puzzled expression.
“Why did you order so much?” she wondered.
I gave her a sheepish smile and simply shrugged. Truth be told, I had actually been planning to surprise her with breakfast before I’d seen those envelopes for her, but I had chickened out.
We transferred everything to her plates — waffles with a variety of toppings and sauces, bacon and sausages, and scrambled eggs.
“Wow!” Lucas said in awe. “It is a lot!”
“Well, why don’t you dig in now?” I offered, and he happily did as told.
Lyca and I laughed with amusement before joining in. We gathered around her table like an ordinary happy family, and the scene evoked a warm feeling in me that made me want more of this. I did not experience it growing up, so it was something that I had always looked for.
Belonging to a real family… It was definitely one of my dreams, I realized.
The warm aroma of waffles filled the air, eliciting eager smiles from both Lucas and myself.
“I want to show you my magic cards, Uncle Xander,” Lucas chattered excitedly. “I learned some new tricks that will blow your mind!”
“Wow, really? Awesome!” I exclaimed, grinning at the child who was slowly taking a place in my heart.
Suddenly, Lyca's phone rang, interrupting our conversation. She excused herself with a quick apology and stepped away to take the call. As she spoke, I couldn't help but eavesdrop with curiosity, my interest piqued by the urgency in her voice.
“Look, I understand the tradition, but this is just... outdated,” Lyca argued, her tone firm and resolute. “I'm like a father to Lucas. Why can't moms be allowed on the camping trip? It's just not fair. It seems so old-fashioned. You know our situation…”
I listened in silence, struck by the passion and conviction in Lyca's voice. It was clear that she cared deeply for Lucas and was willing to fight for what she believed was right.
“No, listen,” she continued firmly. “I’m going to write a letter to the head of the school. You need to adjust to modern times, blended families, and single moms who can stand as dads too!”
As Lyca continued to advocate for herself and Lucas, a sense of admiration washed over me. She was a force to be reckoned with, strong and unwavering in her beliefs. Eventually, I heard her sigh and end the call.
“Are you okay?” I asked when she joined us again.
“Yeah, it’s nothing,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“I’m sorry, but I heard…” I trailed off.
Then she cut me off by saying, “Lucas’s dad hates camping. He’s not that type.”
Lucas paused midway while munching on his waffle. He stared at his mother innocently, and my heart went out to him. “It’s okay, Mom,” he said bravely. “I can go by myself. All the teachers are going to be there, anyway.”
“Wait,” I heard myself saying then. “Can I go with Lucas instead?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I was taken aback. I had never done anything like this before.
Lyca’s jaw dropped as she gazed at me doubtfully. “You? Really? I don’t think you’re the camping type, either. Sorry, Xander, you don’t have to do this. It’s okay. We’ll handle it.”
“No, I’m serious,” I insisted.
Lucas smiled widely. “Yeah, Mom! He can come with me! That will be super fun! We’re gonna have a great time!”
Lyca gave us a look like we’d both gone crazy.
“Please, Mommy? Please!” Lucas begged, jumping up and down, and then hugging her.
I had to hand it to this little guy. He could sure be persuasive when he wanted to. And, of course, his mother had no choice but to say yes.
“Alright, alright, you can go with Xander,” Lyca finally agreed.
“I won’t let you down, I promise,” I said to her. “Lucas and I are going to have tons of fun.”
“Oh, yes!” Lucas shouted.