“Mommy, can we watch cartoons?” Ella asks, mercifully breaking the tension.
“Sure, baby,” I say, grateful for the distraction. “Why don't you go pick something out while I have my coffee? I'll be right there.”
She slides off her stool, her face sticky with syrup, and pads into the living room. The moment she's out of earshot, Jamie and I turn to each other, both speaking at once.
“About last night—”
“I hope it's okay that—”
We stop, laugh awkwardly, and he gestures for me to go first.
“I was just going to say thank you,” I tell him, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. “For taking care of Ella this morning, and letting me sleep in.”
“Of course,” he says immediately. “She was up early, and I was already awake, so—” He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck. “She showed me where everything was. The kid's a natural teacher.”
“She gets that from you,” I say without thinking.
His eyes widen slightly. “Me?”
“Yeah. Haven’t you noticed? You were great at teaching Ella, and you’re the only person who could make that math problem make sense to me the other night,” I clarify, remembering how patient he'd been. “You have a knack for breaking things down and making them understandable.”
His lips purse, and his brows furrow in surprise. “I, uh, thank you. That means a lot.”
“It’s the truth.”
I stare down at my mug as we fall into a somewhat comfortable silence. If we hadn’t slept together, it might be a little easier to navigate.
“Tiff,” Jamie begins, leaning over the island. “About last night—” he whispers.
I take in a sharp breath. I knew this was coming. I knew we needed to talk about this, but then why do I feel so surprised by it?
The front door opens behind us, the sound of keys hitting the entry table making us all turn.
“Uncle Z!” Ella shrieks, practically sprinting over to him. When I see him, I freeze.
Zach's standing in the doorway in the same clothes from yesterday—jeans and his St. Michael's polo—his hair disheveled, but that's not what stops me cold.
It's his face.
He's smiling. Not the tight, controlled expression he pastes on for sponsors and reporters. It’s a real, genuine, megawatt smilethat transforms his entire face and makes him look like the cousin I remember from before everything fell apart.
“Hey, princess!” He scoops Ella up, spinning her around even as his eyes find mine over her head. There's a challenge there, daring me to say something. “Did you have a good morning?”
“Jamie made pancakes!” she announces. “With chocolate chips! And we're going to the funfair tonight!”
“That sounds awesome.” He sets her down, ruffling her hair. “You know what else sounds awesome? Cartoons. Think you can show me which one we’re watching today?”
Ella nods eagerly. “It’sSir Peepers the Talking Parrot.”
“You mean the parrot Princess Blanca accidentally froze in her bathtub?” She nods. “He’s got his own show now? Well, this is something I’ve got to see. Will you start it up, and I’ll be there in a minute?”
She giggles, already making her way back to the couch. “Okay!”
Zach watches her go, then glances back at me and Jamie. There’s a flicker of curiosity in his expression, but he doesn’t say anything. He just saunters into the kitchen as though finding me here with my baby daddy is a regular occurrence.
“Where have you been?” I ask, stepping closer to him, opening my arms out for a hug. Zach never stays out.
He’s so hell-bent on looking good for his draft prospects that he’s usually in bed before I am.