37 Chapter 37 – Meeting My Son
“Many nights,” he agreed, pressing kisses along my neck that made me shiver. “You’re exhausted, love. We worked hard today, and you barely slept last night. You need rest. I’ll pick you up for work tomorrow.”
I looked between them and felt my breath catch. “I know. That same rare violet–blue. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
And so we went to my house, my stomach doing nervous flips the entire drive.
“Would you like him to?” I asked, smoothing his hair.
Chapter 37 – Meeting My Son
Before I could process what was happening, Leo was reaching his little arms toward Liam, demanding to be held. Liam took him carefully, and I watched in amazement as they seemed to connect instantly. Within minutes, they were sitting on the floor together, building block towers and chattering like old friends.
We talked through the logistics, the concerns, the hopes. Liam was adamant that he didn’t want to hide our relationship at the office. I voiced my worries about Leo, about moving too fast, about the complications this could bring. He listened to every concern, addressing each one with patience and understanding that made my heart flutter.
“Leo likes everyone,” I teased. “He’s never met a stranger.”
After Chl said her goodbyes and headed home, Liam pulled me onto his lap, his hands spanning my waist. 2
“Did anyone in this house even notice I was gone?” I called out playfully, setting my purse down.
Chl appeared at my elbow, her voice low in my ear. “Now I understand why that doctor at the hospital assumed he was Leo’s father. The resemblance is actually unsettling.”
Hazel’s POV
His consideration for my son made my heart squeeze. “Thank you for understanding. We’ll have plenty of nights.”
37 Chapter 37 Meeting My Son
“His eyes,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “They’re exactly like mine.”
When we finally broke apart, his eyes were practically glowing. That devastating smile. of his spread across his face as he pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me possessively. “Definitely dating,” he murmured against my lips before kissing me again.
His words sent warmth spreading through my chest. This powerful, confident man looked almost nervous as he waited for my response. I couldn’t help but smile at how endearing he was in this moment.
Leo studied Liam with the serious concentration only a three–year–old could muster. Then his face broke into one of his brilliant smiles. But it was Liam’s reaction that caught me off guard. He stood frozen, staring at my son like he’d seen a ghost.
“You deserve this happiness, Hazel. You deserve someone who looks at you the way he
does.
I glanced over at them again, really looking this time. She was right. Beyond the eyes, there was something about the shape of Leo’s face, the way he tilted his head when he was thinking. It was startling how much they looked alike.
I stood up and walked over to where he sat, my pulse quickening with each step. “Well, if we’re officially dating now,” I said, settling myself across his lap with my legs on either side of his hips, “then I can do this.” I leaned down and captured his mouth with mine, pouring all my feelings into a slow, deliberate kiss that made his breath hitch..
I pushed open the front door to find Leo and Chl sprawled on the living room floor, surrounded by crayons and paper. Art supplies were scattered everywhere, and both of them had colored pencil marks on their hands.
After a lingering goodbye kiss that left me breathless, he headed home. I was still touching my lips when I turned around to find Chl standing in the doorway, grinning
like a cat.
50
“Sweetheart, I want you to meet someone very important,” I said, turning he could see Liam standing behind me. “This is Liam.”
“Uh–huh. He’s really nice. And he builds good towers.”
“No, he really likes me,” Liam insisted, and I had to admit he was right. The connection between them had been immediate and genuine. “I’d love to stay here with you tonight, but I think it might confuse Leo. I don’t want to complicate things for him, and
37 Chapter 37–Meeting My Son
you’ve been away from him enough because of me.
“See? Your son likes me,” he said with obvious satisfaction.
Leo’s head shot up, his face lighting up like Christmas morning. “Mommy!” He scrambled to his feet and ran straight into my arms. I scooped him up, covering his chubby cheeks with kisses while he giggled.
“Okay then. I’ll be ready.”
stream
The afternoon melted into evening as we played games, built elaborate block cities, and listened to Leo’s endless of stories about his toys. Liam was wonderful with him, patient and engaged in a way that made my chest tight with emotion. During dinner, he helped Leo cut his food and wiped his face without being asked, natural as breathing.
When I returned to the living room, I found Chl and Liam deep in conversation, both of them laughing at something she’d said. I settled next to them, and we spent another hour talking and joking around. The easy way they got along made something settle peacefully in my chest.
When Leo’s eyelids started drooping over his dinner plate, I scooped him up for bedtime. As I tucked him in, he sleepily asked, “Is Liam coming back tomorrow, Mommy?”
We settled in for a long conversation. I told her everything about the past twenty–four hours, about how incredible Liam was, about how right everything felt. Chl listened with the enthusiasm of the best friend she was, hugging me tight when I finished.
I called home to check on things. Chl’s voice was bright and reassuring as she told me everything was perfect. Leo had been an angel, she said, though I could hear him chattering happily in the background.
“Don’t rob me of the pleasure of spending every possible moment with you,” he murmured, brushing his lips against the corner of my mouth.
“Couch. Now. I want every single detail,” she commanded, pointing dramatically at the
sofa.
“You don’t have to do that, Liam,” I sighed, melting into his embrace.
stirred awake to Liam’s lips trailing across my skin, the morning light filtering
37 Chapter 37–Meeting My Son
through curtains we’d forgotten to close, Sleep had been a luxury we couldn’t afford last night. After losing ourselves in each other again in the tangled sheets, and then once more under the steaming shower spray, we finally made our way downstairs for
breakfast.
I went to bed that night feeling like I was already living in a dream.
After breakfast, we dove back into the mountain of paperwork that had been waiting patiently on Liam’s dining table. Time seemed to slip away as we worked side by side, our hands brushing occasionally as we reached for the same document. By the time we finished, the afternoon sun was already casting long shadows across the floor.
“Hazel, we need to talk.” Liam’s voice carried a weight that made me look up from the papers I was organizing. His expression was serious, almost vulnerable. “I need to make
what’s sure we understand each other completely. What happened between us, happening right now, it’s not casual for me. I want you in my life, in my bed, in every part of my world. And I want to be part of yours and Leo’s lives too. I need you to know that we’re not just having fun here. We’re dating. Really dating.”
“Liam?” I prompted gently, concerned by his strange expression.
“I want to meet him properly,” Liam said. “I want to spend time with all of you, see how we fit together as more than just the two of us.”
But people had doppelgangers all the time, right?
It was just one of those strange coincidences. I pushed the odd feeling aside and joined them on the floor.
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