Damien’s POV
I was still staring at Lucas’s text when my phone rang.
Of course it was him. Because apparently a simple "yes" wasn’t enough anymore.
"Hey," I answered, trying to keep the exhaustion out of my voice.
"Dude!" Lucas sounded way too cheerful. "Did I just read that right? You’re actually coming to a party? Like, voluntarily?"
"It’s for Grace’s birthday. Of course I’m coming."
"Yeah, but..." He paused. "Man, you haven’t shown up to anything in like, two years. Riley was convinced you’d say no."
Guilt twisted in my gut. "I’ve been busy."
"I know, I know. Pack stuff. Rogue wars. Being Alpha." Lucas’s voice softened. "But Damien, seriously? We miss you. The kids miss you. Lily and Grace used to play together all the ti."
"I’m coming, okay? What else do you want from ?"
Before Lucas could respond, I heard Riley’s voice in the background. "Is that Damien? Give the phone!"
So rustling. Then Riley’s warm voice ca through. "Damien? Hi! Oh my God, we’re so excited you’re coming! It’s been forever!"
"Hi, Riley." I managed sothing that might’ve been a smile. "Yeah, it’s been too long."
"Way too long! And listen, I wanted to ask..." She paused, and sothing in her tone made my stomach drop. "The party’s kind of a couples thing. You know, family-oriented. Lots of moms and dads. Will you be bringing a plus-one?"
My jaw clenched so hard I heard my teeth grind. "A plus-one?"
"I an, if you’re seeing soone! No pressure or anything!" Riley was talking faster now. Nervous. "I just wanted to know for seating and food and stuff. But if you’re coming alone, that’s totally fine too! We just—"
"I’m not seeing anyone," I said flatly.
Silence on the other end. Awkward. Heavy.
"Oh. Well, that’s... I an, you don’t have to bring anyone! I just thought maybe after all this ti you might’ve..." She trailed off. "Never mind. Forget I asked."
I should let it go. Should just say thanks and hang up.
Instead, I heard myself say: "Actually, you know what? Maybe I shouldn’t co."
"What? No! Damien—"
"It’s fine. The kids and I, we’ll just—"
"PARTY!"
The shriek ca from sowhere behind .
I spun around to find Lily standing in the kitchen doorway, still wearing those damn mismatched shoes, her face lit up like Christmas morning.
"I heard party!" She bounced on her toes. "Did soone say party?!"
"Lily, go back to your room—"
But she was already running toward , grabbing at the phone. "Is that Auntie Riley? Can I talk to her? Please please please?"
I looked down at my three-year-old daughter’s pleading face and felt sothing inside crack.
"Here." I held out the phone. "Be polite."
Lily snatched it with both hands, nearly dropping it in her excitent. "Auntie Riley! Hi!"
Riley’s laugh ca through loud and clear. "Lily! Oh my goodness, is that you? You sound so grown up!"
"I am grown up!" Lily announced proudly. "I’m three and a half now! Almost four!"
"Wow! Such a big girl!" Riley’s voice was warm, genuine. "Did you hear about Grace’s birthday party?"
"Is there really a party?" Lily’s whole body vibrated with excitent. "Can we go? Please can we go?"
"Of course you can co! Grace would be so happy to see you! She talks about you all the ti."
"Really?" Lily’s eyes went wide. "She rembers ?"
"Of course she does! You two used to be best friends, rember?"
I watched my daughter’s face transform—from the sad, crying child at dinner to this bright, hopeful little person who just wanted normal things like birthday parties and friends.
"Daddy!" Lily turned to , phone still pressed to her ear. "Auntie Riley says there’s going to be cake and gas and everything!"
"I heard," I said quietly.
"Can we go? Please please please?" She clasped her hands together like she was praying. "I promise I’ll be good! I’ll eat all my vegetables and go to bed on ti and—"
"We can go," I said.
"REALLY?" She jumped so high both her mismatched shoes left the ground. "We’re really going to the party?!"
"Really."
She squealed so loud I winced. Then she was talking into the phone again, telling Riley about her week and her favorite toys and everything else that popped into her three-year-old brain.
I sank onto a kitchen stool, suddenly exhausted.
How could I say no to that? How could I look at her face and tell her we weren’t going?
After a few minutes, Lily reluctantly handed the phone back. "Auntie Riley wants to talk to you again."
I took it. "Sorry about that."
"Don’t apologize!" Riley sounded delighted. "She’s always adorable."
"Yeah, well." I rubbed my face. "She’s been having a rough day. This actually helped."
"I’m glad." A pause. "So you’re really coming?"
"Yeah. We’ll be there."
"Great! Oh, but Damien..." Her voice got careful again. "About the plus-one thing. I wasn’t trying to be nosy or anything. It’s just that most people are bringing their partners, and I didn’t want you to feel awkward being the only single parent there."
"I can handle awkward."
I was about to tell her I’d co alone when Lily appeared at my elbow again.
Her face scrunched up with thought. "Are all the other kids going to have mommies and daddies?"
The question hit like a punch to the gut.
"Most of them, yeah."
"Oh." She looked down at her mismatched shoes. "So I’ll be the only one with just a daddy?"
My throat got tight. "Lily—"
"It’s okay," she said quickly, but her voice was small. "I’m used to it."
Fuck.
I looked at my three-year-old daughter trying so hard to be brave about sothing that clearly hurt her. Thought about Adrian upstairs, angry and bitter. Thought about three years of them growing up without a mother.
"Actually, Riley?" I said into the phone. "I’ll bring soone."
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