21. Darby
Darby
Ilean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling, Aden’s words still looping in my mind.
For this to work, she can’t be the woman you’re sleeping with.
I know exactly what he means. Playboys and their companies get judged more harshly than others. So, if the article is released and the public senses one whiff of insincerity in it, they won’t bother about the good work we’ve done and all that we’ve accomplished.
It’ll be, ‘he got a woman he’s sleeping with to make him look good.’ ‘He slept with a senator's wife, and now he’s sleeping with his employee.’
I don’t know why Aden thought of this before me. I’m the one who always thinks this far ahead.
Well Hell, I do know.
Unlike me, Aden’s mind isn’t clouded by his feelings and a past he thought he left behind. As harsh as he has been to me this past month, I know it’s coming from a place of genuine concern for the company's welfare. And for that, I can’t be angry at him.
I run a hand down my face, exhaling sharply. But as much as I know he’s right, it doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t erase the way I feel about Selene. It doesn’t undo the years of missing her. And it doesn’t erase the fact that I want to fight for her.
What I have to figure out now is what comes first. Selene or this company.
The sharp ring of my phone snaps me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen and frown when I see that it’s a number I don’t recognize.
I almost let it go to voicemail. Almost.
At the last second, I grab it and press the answer button. “Darby Stone.”
There’s silence for a second, and then a small voice says, “Hi, Darby!”
I pull the phone away and look at the screen like I can somehow see the person through the call. I immediately know who is speaking, and as impossible as it seems for this person to be calling me, I have no doubt about the owner of this voice. I blink, sitting up straighter. “Leo?”
“Yep! It’s me!”
A smile immediately spreads across my face, despite myself. It’s almost like a reflex action, like my body reacting to him on its own. “How did you get my number, kid?”
Leo giggles. “I saw a card on the kitchen table, and I read your name on it.”
I lean back, shaking my head. “Smart,” I murmur. Leo giggles again, clearly proud of himself. “So,” I say, rubbing my jaw. “What can I do for you, young Mr. Harper?”
“I wanna invite you to dinner!”
I raise an eyebrow. “Dinner?”
“Yes! Mommy agreed to let me help with dinner tonight, so I wanted you to come and taste my cooking.”
I pause, my stomach twisting slightly. “Does your mom know you’re calling me?”
“Nope! She isn’t home, and I snuck away with Uncle Jake's phone.”
I chuckle. “You think she’ll be happy about this little surprise?”
Leo hums, thinking. “Of course. She likes you, and I like you too. If you come, she won’t be mad. Because you’re nice, and you saved my life.”
“That’s some impressive logic, buddy.”
Leo makes an excited sound. “So, you’re coming, right?”
I hesitate, my fingers tapping against the desk. Then I sigh. Even if I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do about me and Selene yet, there’s no way I will say no to this kid. He’s so precious. “Yeah,” I say. “I’ll be there.”
“Promise?”
I chuckle. “I promise.”
“Okay! See you soon, Darby!”
The line goes dead. I lower the phone and stare at it. Then I stand, grabbing my jacket.
One more push.
I’ll make one more attempt to get Selene to talk to me. I’ll tell her that I don’t care about the past and I really believe we have a future together. I’ll tell her I don’t care about why she left, and she doesn’t have to tell me anything. I’ll even tell her I love her and have always loved her.
If she rejects me after that, I’ll know I’ve done my best.
***
I dress carefully, trying not to look too formal or too casual. I wear a dark gray Henley shirt with sleeves rolled up paired with black slacks. It's nothing over the top, but it's good enough to make an impression.
As I drive to Selene’s house, my heart is beating so hard that I can hear it echoing in the quiet car.
I don’t know what to expect. She’ll be surprised to see me, but I hope it stops at surprise.
I hope she doesn’t get irritated or accuse me of using her son to get to her.
I’ve done some sneaky things in the past to get her attention.
For example, lying about my phone and car not working.
I hope that doesn’t come and bite me in the ass.
I park outside, stepping out into the cool night air. The lights of her small house glow softly through the windows, and I count my steps as I walk to the front door. I take a deep breath and knock.
It only takes a few seconds for the door to open.
Selene sees me, does a double take, and then freezes, her eyes wide. Her red hair is pulled up in a messy ponytail, a few strands falling loose around her face. She’s wearing a soft, oversized sweater and leggings, her feet bare against the wooden floor.
For a second, she just stares at me.
“Darby?”
I clear my throat, shifting slightly. “Yeah. Uh—surprise?”
She blinks, still looking stunned. “What are you doing here?”
Before I can answer, Leo comes running up behind her. “Mom! Look! My friend is here!”
Selene turns to him, the realization dawning on her face. She exhales, shaking her head before turning back to me.
“Leo invited me,” I say, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I didn’t want to say no to him and I…I wanted to see you too.” Her frown remains in place, and my heart falls. I take a step back. “I can leave if you want.”
Selene exhales again, rubbing her temple. “No, it’s… fine.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You sure?”
She glances at Leo, who’s excitedly bouncing on his heels. Then she sighs and steps aside. “Come in.”
I step inside, taking in the warmth of the house. The smell of tomato sauce and garlic fills the air. A soft throw blanket drapes over the couch in the living room, and a few scattered toys are in the corner. A strange feeling overwhelms me as I look around.
Leo grabs my hand, dragging me toward the kitchen. “Come see! I helped make dinner!”
I grin, letting him pull me along. “Yeah? What did you make?”
“Spaghetti!” he announces proudly. “And I stirred the sauce!”
I glance at Selene, who’s arranging a few things on the table but hasn’t looked at me yet. “That’s impressive. Why did you pick spaghetti?”
“Because it’s my favorite food!”
I can feel Selene watching us, but she doesn’t say anything. During dinner, Leo chatters nonstop. He tells me about school, his friends, and a new art project he’s working on. I now know that he loves art, and it makes me feel like I’ve known him longer than I have.
“And tomorrow, I’m going on a camping trip. It’s my first time, and I’m so excited!”
My hand pauses mid-air. First time? I glance at Selene, and she looks away. I know she would hate the slight wave of pity that crosses over my chest, but I can’t help it. I don’t dwell on the feeling too much, though. I have no reason to pity Selene.
She’s a strong woman and has done well for herself. “Where’s the trip?” I ask.
Leo beams. “A hiking park outside the city! We’re gonna sleep in tents and make s’mores and tell stories!”
I grin. “Sounds like it’s going to be a big adventure.”
Leo nods enthusiastically. “I sure hope so.” Then, his face falls slightly. “Mommy’s gonna drop me off, but I wish she could come too.”
Selene smiles. “It’s a kids-only trip, sweetheart. Next time, we can go camping together.”
“With Darby?”
I pause again.
This kid just keeps unconsciously dropping bombs. To go on a trip with him and Selene makes it sound like we’re a family. The image forms in my head, and I'm surprised at how much I like it.
Selene looks at a loss for words, so I chip in. “Instead of that, how about I drive you to the community center, where the bus will pick you up? It’ll be fun too.”
Leo purses his lips and hums for a few seconds. “A trip together seems like it’ll be much more fun, but I like this idea too.”
We both turn to look at Selene. She sighs, rubbing her temple for the third time tonight. Then she glances at me, searching my face for something.
Finally, she exhales. “That sounds like a nice idea,” she says, and Leo cheers, throwing his arms up.
***
The sun is barely up when I pull into Selene’s driveway. The street is quiet, the air crisp with the early morning chill. The sky is still a hazy shade of blue and a thin layer of dew clings to the grass.
I get out of the car, adjusting the bag in my hand. Inside is a small gift for Leo. Something I picked up last night after dinner, something I thought might help him with his camping trip.
Before I even make it to the porch, the front door bursts open.
Leo sprints out, the backpack bouncing against his back, his face glowing with excitement. I’m jealous of his unending supply of energy.
“Darby!”
I grin as he launches himself at me. I crouch slightly, catching him in an easy hug. “Morning, kid,” I say as I pull back from the hug. “Ready for your big adventure?”
He nods furiously. “I’ve been ready forever!”
I chuckle, ruffling his hair. “Good. I got something for you.”
His eyes go wide. “Really?”
He grabs the bag I offer eagerly, tearing into the tissue paper. His mouth falls open when he sees what’s inside. A sleek, compact flashlight, lightweight but powerful. A small multi-tool with a carabiner clip. And a bright red compass with a lanyard.
Leo holds up the compass first. “Whoa! What is this?”
“A real adventurer’s kit,” I say, grinning.
“The flashlight is for when it gets dark. The multi-tool has everything from a whistle to a tiny knife—so don’t let your mom catch you playing with it too much.
And the compass…” I crouch down to his level, tapping the top of it.
“That’s so you’ll always know where you’re going. ”
Leo’s face practically glows. “This is so cool!”
Selene steps onto the porch, arms crossed, watching us with an unreadable expression. Leo turns to her, holding up his gifts. “Mom, look!”
She smiles, nodding. “I see. It’s great.” Then she glances at me. “That was very thoughtful. Thank you.”
I shrug. “No problem.”
Leo lunges at me again, hugging me tight. The warmth of his small body against mine does something to my chest. Something I’ve been trying for weeks to understand.
I hug him back, squeezing lightly before helping him into the backseat. Selene follows, slipping into the passenger seat while I get behind the wheel.
The drive to the community center is smooth. The radio plays softly in the background as Leo chatters non-stop.
“Darby, what do you do at your job?”
I glance at him through the rearview mirror. “I run an advertising company.”
Leo frowns, and I smile. “It’s how we convince people to buy things they didn’t know they needed.”
Leo’s eyebrows shoot up. “Like when I see a toy on TV, and suddenly I really, really want it?”
“Exactly,” I say, grinning. “That’s good advertising.”
Leo thinks for a second, then beams. “That’s so cool! I wanna be like you when I grow up.”
There’s no end to this, is there? I would soon lose count of how many times Leo has shocked me in the past 24 hours. I don’t know if it’s a children's thing or it’s a Leo thing. Selene’s hand resting in her lap balls into a fist.
Meanwhile, that slow, warm feeling spreads across my chest again, but before I can react, Selene clears her throat.
“Well, what about me?” she asks, forcing a teasing tone. “Don’t you want to be like me?”
Leo laughs. “You’re already the best, Mom. I can’t be better than you. Besides you’re a girl.”
Selene lets out a soft laugh, but even that is fake. She must hate the fact that her son is getting so close to me. And I don’t blame her.
When we reach the community center, the bus is already waiting, and kids are climbing in excitedly. Parents stand nearby, checking backpacks and hugging their children goodbye.
Leo bounces in his seat. As soon as I park, he unbuckles and throws himself out of the car. Selene and I follow him to where a camp counselor is doing roll call. Leo turns to us, his excitement dimming just slightly. “You guys are gonna miss me, right?”
Selene adjusts the straps on his backpack with shaking hands. She’s worried about him. “Of course, baby. But you’re going to have so much fun.”
Leo nods, then turns to me. “Are you gonna miss me too, Darby?”
I make a frown. “I don’t know… you might be gone for so long I forget all about you.”
Leo gasps dramatically. “Noooo! You have to remember me!”
I crouch down, gripping his shoulder. “I could never forget you, kid.”
Leo grins, then wraps his arms around my neck in a tight hug. I squeeze him back, my heart swelling in a way I don’t understand. Then, just as he’s pulling away, he says it.
“Alright, Dad.”
Selene freezes beside me.
I go completely still.
Leo doesn’t even notice. He pulls back and waves at one of his friends passing by.
But me? I can’t move. I can’t think. I can barely even breathe.
Dad.
The word echoes in my head, over and over, slamming into my chest like a hammer.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to breathe. Before Leo can move back, I pull him into another hug. My body is moving faster than my mind can keep up. I press his head gently against my chest making sure it lies against the zipper of my jacket. Then I pull back and look down.
Mission successful.
There’s a strand of his hair on my jacket zipper.