Page 128 of When We Were Us

As we gently redirected the curious toddler, Sadie turned to me, her eyes searching. "So, it's good with you?" she asked, her voice low and tinged with concern.

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Yes, really good. He got me another puppy."

Sadie's eyebrows shot up. "Really? What kind?"

"A tan Frenchie," I replied, unable to keep the affection from my voice. "I'm calling her Maggie."

Sadie's expression softened. "At least he's trying."

I paused, considering my words carefully. "He never stopped. He was afraid I would reject him."

"Men are ridiculous," Sadie sighed, shaking her head.

I chuckled softly. "Yes, they are," I agreed, "and more vulnerable than us sometimes."

Sadie laughed as she scooped Teagan into her arms, carrying her back to my mother. I followed, settling into my seat and drawing my niece onto my lap. As I began a game of peekaboo with her, I caught Oliver watching us from the corner of his eye. His gaze was intense, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite name.

Once we were alone in the privacy of our vehicle, Oliver turned to me, his expression a mix of curiosity and something deeper.

Oliver's eyes softened as he turned to me, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "You really like Teagan."

I shook my head, a warm smile spreading across my face. "No, I love her. She's your niece too, you know."

He nodded, his gaze distant. "I know. You'll make a great mother."

My heart swelled at his words. I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "And you'll make a great father."

Oliver's fingers tightened around mine, his brow furrowing. "I wonder sometimes," he murmured, doubt clouding his features.

I squeezed his hand reassuringly. "All you can do is try your best."

His expression cleared, determination replacing uncertainty. "I plan on it. I want our children to have a good life, but I don't want them spoiled."

"They won't be if you teach them properly," I assured him. "Matthew, Finley, and I had a good upbringing. Anders almost always gave us what we wanted within reason."

Oliver's lips quirked into a small smile. "He’s a good stepfather."

I nodded, a shadow passing over my face. "My father was good too. I wish I didn't know about his dirty dealings."

Oliver's expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry you found out. I didn't want you to know."

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "It's not your fault. Eventually, I might have found out anyway."

As Vlad pulled up to our building, the conversation faded. We stepped out of the car, the warm afternoon sun washing over us. Just as we moved towards the entrance, a familiar voice cut through the air, stopping us in our tracks.

"Oliver!"

We turned to see Jonah standing a few feet away, looking disheveled. His sandy hair was long enough to be held back in a ponytail, and his tanned skin couldn't hide the exhaustion etched into his features.

Oliver's body tensed beside me, his voice dropping to a low hiss. "What do you want, Jonah?"

Jonah took a hesitant step forward, his eyes darting between us. "I need to talk to you."

Oliver's jaw clenched, anger flashing in his eyes. "I haven't seen you in months, and now you surface just when things are getting back to normal?"

“It’s been almost a year. I didn’t have anything to do with the shit that went down during your honeymoon. I tried to help.”

“Where did you go?”

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