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“Yeah,” I admit.

She smiles, satisfied with herself. “Good. Now you can sleep.”

“Thanks,” I reply.

She studies me like she wants to say something more. Instead, she just smiles again. “Text me when you wake up?”

“Yeah. I will.” I let out a slow breath.

“Okay. Good night, babe.”

“Good night, Ronnie.”

We linger a second longer before ending the call.

The screen goes dark, and I toss my phone onto the nightstand and lie back, staring at the ceiling until sleep finally gets me.

Chapter six

Blaire

Itake a second to check my phone during passing period, standing behind my desk while students filter in and out of the hallway. It’s loud, lockers slamming and voices echoing, but I barely notice as I open my messages.

Simon and my dad have both sent pictures.

I open my dad’s first.

Theo is sitting between my dad and Simon. My dad has his arm around Theo’s shoulders, and Simon is leaning in slightly, both of them smiling straight at the camera. Theo looks so happy sitting there between them, grinning so wide his cheeks push into his eyes.

Then I open Simon’s.

It’s clearly taken towards the end of the event. Theo is by himself this time, sitting at the table, chocolate smeared across his face and hands, another donut already halfway to his mouth.

I smile at the photo and give it a heart react before reading the text beneath it.

Simon

I’m taking him home early btw. I have the whole day off.

Do you want me to just bring him to your place when you get off work?

The bell rings, snapping me back into the classroom as students start filing in. I type quickly before tucking my phone away.

Yeah, that’s fine.

I’ll be home around 4:30.

I lock my screen and set the phone face down on my desk, already shifting back into teacher mode as the first student walks up to me with a question.

***

It’s just after six when the doorbell rings, followed immediately by Theo’s voice shouting from the other side.

“Mama! We got food!”

I open the door and barely have time to step back before Theo crashes into my legs, wrapping his arms around me.

“We brought tacos!” he announces.