CHAPTER FIFTY - ONE

NICK WALKER ©

This morning felt different from my usual routine.

Most mornings, Mira would always wake me up with endless questions, especially about what we were going to eat.

“What do you want to eat today?” I asked as I packed my books into my bag while we got ready for school.

“I'm not hungry,” she replied, and I let out a quiet sigh.

“You need to eat something before school,” I told her, but she stayed silent.

I reached out to her, but she pulled away and picked up her bag.

“You should talk to me,” I said with a sigh.

“Mira.”

“Mira, would you please listen?”

She slowly sat on the floor, her face filled with sadness.

“I don't want her. I don't want her to be part of this family.”

I sat down on the floor across from her.

“I never said that. I...” I began, but she cut me off.

“I don't even want to meet her. Why did you bring her home?” she asked, her voice about to break down.

I sighed and moved closer to her.

“No matter what happened, she's still our mum. And it's okay if you don't want anything to do with her.”

“I'm sorry for bringing her home without thinking about how you'd feel.”

“But we just have to at least hear what she has to say.”

She frowned at me.

“I know,” I said before she could speak. “I know you don't want to see her, but everyone deserves a chance, Mira. That includes Mum.”

She quickly got to her feet, her face full of anger.

“No matter what she says, it's your choice how you want to treat her.”

I gently took her hands in mine.

“I can't lose you. I've always looked out for you, and I don't want Mum coming back to change that.”

She quietly played with her fingers.

“I'm sorry for yelling at you,” she whispered, and I let out a slow breath.

“It's okay,” I said, gently smoothing her hair.

“Come here.”

I pulled her into my arms.

For a moment, I thought I was about to lose the person I had always protected.

I never truly understood the meaning of responsibility until I became both a father and a mother to Mira.

“What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you,” I said.

She pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes.

“Burger,” she answered, and I raised an eyebrow.

“Huh? Where do you expect me to get a burger?”

She pouted.

“I want Enzo.

∆∆

~ COLLEGE ~

“How do you think things will go with you and your mum?” Avery asked as we left the exam hall.

“I have no idea. I can barely think straight,” I replied.

She sighed.

“I understand what Mira has been through now. She's only nine, but she already knows what's right.”

Just then, I sighted Enzo walking toward his office with the female professor. They were deep in conversation, glancing at each other as they walked.

I watched them, biting the inside of my cheek. I didn't like seeing them together, but there was nothing I could do.

“Ugh. Our exams end tomorrow. I seriously need a break,” Avery said.

I forced a smile before my eyes drifted back to Enzo.

I let out a sigh.

Right. It seemed he still hadn't ended things with Professor Douglas.

A wave of sadness washed over me. I couldn't explain what I was feeling, but I knew I didn't like what I'd just seen.

I pulled out my phone to text him, then stopped and slipped it back into my pocket.

“I'll be back,” I told Avery before heading toward his office.

I couldn't bring myself to stop imagining Professor Douglas kissing him the moment I walked into his office. Maybe the door would even be locked.

The thought made me clench my fists as I stopped outside his office.

I turned the doorknob and stepped inside. He was hanging up his coat when he looked up at me.

I walked straight to him, grabbed his tie, pulled him closer, and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed me back.

I led him to the couch, and he sat down while I settled on his lap, facing him.

I wasn't good at kissing, but I knew I kissed aggressively. I didn't like the thought of Professor Douglas lips on his.

He tried to pull away to say something, but I only slipped my arms around his neck again and kissed him.

“Hey... what's wrong?” he asked, pulling away from the kiss.

He held my shoulders and gently moved me back.

“What's wrong?” he asked again.

“Is it bad that I also want to kiss you?” I blurted out.

He stared at me for a moment.

Then a small smile slowly spread across his face.

Why was he smiling?

“Did you see me with Douglas, the female Professor?” he asked and I looked away.

“We ended whatever was going on between us,” he said and I turned back to face him.

A faint smirk crossed his lips.

He gently held my shoulders, turned me onto the couch, and leaned over me.

“What... what are you doing?” I asked, trying to sit up, but his body kept me from moving.

“We can't just move on from that kiss like it never happened. It's kind of cute seeing you jealous,” he said before pressing gentle kisses to my fingers.

“Who said I was jealous?” I asked.

He smiled and placed kisses against my neck as my fingers slipped into his hair.

Was it wrong that I wanted Enzo so bad and I didn't want him to stop?