“No,” he lied.
And she knew it. Her eyes glimmered with something like amusement. Or something else more dangerous.
“But you’re sure I can come over on Sunday?” She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Sydney won’t mind me coming over?”
His chest tightened. He remembered he hadn’t shared the news with her about him and his ex. Sydney and Tachina had a strained relationship. When he’d first started dating Sydney, he had been up front with herabout his son and the arrangement he and Tachina had. His son was top priority for him, and he’d ensured she was cool with that before they’d gone any further.
“Actually, Sydney and I broke up.”
“Oh, Vic. I’m sorry.” Her face softened into genuine sympathy.
Kian came barreling back into the room with one shoe on, the other in his hand and his bag hanging off his shoulder.
“Mom, I told you she moved out!” Kian said.
Tachina blinked.
Busted.
“I…he told me? I thought he meant something else. You never know with kids,” she tried to cover up.
Vic smirked. Here she was, lecturing him about listening to their child when she did the same damn thing.
“Are you okay?” she asked, empathy in her eyes.
“Yeah. I guess it was time.” He sighed.
Three years with Sydney, and he still couldn’t articulate what was missing. He’d tried. He’d dated her, lived with her, and tried to picture a future with her. But it had never clicked the way everyone assumed it would.
Sydney wanted a ring and a version of Vic he hadn’t been ready to become. She’d packed up and stormed out of his life.
Maybe it should have hurt more than it did, but it didn’t.
“Mommy? Where’s Mr. Blankie?” Kian asked, looking around the room.
“I’ll go grab it.” She ruffled Kian’s curly light-brown hair then headed out of the room.
“I need help,” Kian mumbled and dropped his things onto the floor.
“You sure do.” Vic crouched in front of him to help straighten up his clothes and put his shoes fully on. “Want to go get burgers from Johnny’s for dinner?”
“Yes!” Kian jumped up and down. “Can I get a milkshake?”
“Of course, big man.” Vic pushed up and stood. He took Kian’s bag and opened it to make sure there were actual items in there and not Kian just throwing toys in it, but he should have known better. Tachina had packed it. Not that Kian needed much. He had clothes and everything he needed at Vic’s house. “Then we can watch the game tonight. The Browns are playing.”
“Yes!” Kian ran over to the window.
Vic loved being able to share things he loved with his son. He had grown up with a father who’d treated parenting like jury duty. An obligation to be fulfilled, not enjoyed. Vic had always promised himself he would be different.
“And we’ll get to have movie night tomorrow?”
“Yep.” He had plans for them. Father-and-son stuff. Things that he thrived on. They were going to have an amazing weekend together.
“Here it is.” Tachina returned with the blue blanket in her hand. She folded it neatly and handed it to Vic.
He took it, his fingertips brushing her skin. His breath caught in his throat. Hers caught, too.
Electricity.