Page 9 of Tides of Change
“I didn’t know what you wanted.” He nodded toward the boxes.
The savory aroma made my stomach growl audibly. I grabbed two slices of pepperoni, and the cheese stretched as Ilifted them to my plate. The first bite was heaven—gooey, salty, and rich. I groaned loudly, the sound escaping before I could stop it.
Ethan raised a brow, and his brown eyes twinkled with amusement. “Good?”
I swallowed quickly, and heat crept up my neck. “Excuse me,” I mumbled, embarrassed by my lack of restraint. “I was hungry.”
“You’re excused,” Noah said primly, his face the picture of disapproval. “But don’t do it again.”
Ethan turned his laugh into a discreet cough, and the sight of his barely contained smile sent a fresh wave of warmth through me. He had a way of making everything feel easy.
“So, Noah.” Ethan leaned forward. “Tell me about school.”
It was all the encouragement my son needed. “My teacher is Mr. Matsumoto, and he’ssofunny. He tells jokes all the time!” Noah rose to his knees. “Knock-knock!”
“Who’s there?” Ethan asked. His mouth quirked as he braced for what was coming.
“Boo!”
“Boo who?”
“Don’t cry—it’s just me!” Noah exploded into a belly laugh, his joy infectious. I laughed, despite having heard the joke roughly, oh, a gazillion times.
Ethan chuckled along and nodded appreciatively. “That’s a good one. Knock-knock.”
Noah’s face lit up, surprised and delighted that Ethan was playing along. “Who’s there?”
“Cow says.”
“Cow says who?” Noah’s face wrinkled in confusion
“No, silly. A cow says moo!”
Noah squealed with laughter and nearly toppled off his chair. Ethan laughed with him, the sound rich and full. I watchedthe two of them, my heart swelling at how seamlessly Ethan fit into the scene. His patience with Noah, his genuine interest—it disarmed me, to say the least.
As Noah rattled off stories about school, his words tumbled over one another. Ethan listened attentively and asked questions that made Noah light up even more. I couldn’t help but admire the way he handled my son, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
After Noah finished his second slice and drained his lemonade, he looked at me expectantly. “Can I be done?”
“Yeah, buddy. Take your plate and cup to the kitchen and we’ll watch a movie.”
“Yay!” He threw his hands up in the air and nearly knocked over his cup. With all the speed and energy of a five-year-old, he dumped his dishes by the sink. In no time, he bounded onto the couch.
I shook my head, and a smile quirked my lips. He was a handful, but he was my handful, and I wouldn’t trade him for the world. As I turned back to the table, Ethan was watching me, his expression gentle, almost unreadable.
“What?” I asked quietly.
He shook his head, and his smile returned. “Nothing. You’re a wonderful dad, that’s all.”
The compliment meant more to me than I expected, and I had to look away. I busied myself with clearing the table and ignored the tightness in my chest. I brushed off the praise with, “Ready to watchFrozenwith a hyperactive five-year-old? Brace yourself.”
CHAPTER SIX
Garrett
The buttery scent of popcorn filled the air as I carried the bowl from the kitchen and placed it on the coffee table. Noah vibrated with impatience, perched on the couch with his legs folded under him. He bounced as he rattled off every detail aboutFrozen—his favorite parts and characters, and how many times he’d seen it.
“Too many times,” I groaned and plopped onto the couch beside him.
