The replacement

"Yes, Mr. Alex."

I walked into the kitchen, made his coffee, and returned to his study.

He was already seated behind his desk, working with his laptop.

I placed the mug beside him.

"Your coffee, sir."

"Leave it."

I turned to go.

"Ryan."

I stopped.

"Yes, sir?"

"Come here."

I slowly walked toward his desk.

He took a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim of the cup.

"You seem uncomfortable."

"I'm fine."

"I didn't ask if you were fine."

My eyes met his.

He leaned back in his chair, completely composed.

"Last night happened. . And you're going to spend the entire day pretending it didn't affect you."

I swallowed.

"I have work to do."

A faint smile crossed his face.

"Then work."

He pointed toward the documents on his desk.

"Those need to be organized before noon."

I picked them up.

"And Ryan?"

I looked back.

"Yes?"

"Don't let your personal feelings interfere with your work."

My heart skipped.

Because somehow, coming from him, it sounded like a warning.

I nodded and walked out Alexander didn't need to touch me to make me nervous.

He only had to look at me.

I had to leave. I couldn't breathe.

Alex was at the Alex Sterling headquarters, he left, I was alone doing nothing.

That was it. I closed the files. If I stayed one more hour I was going to scream or quit.

I grabbed my bag.

"I need to go early. I have to pick up Leo."At least be a present mom for once, work have been keeping me busy, I can't remember the last time I picked my son from school.

I didn't tell Alexander I was leaving, I didn't actually cared I just needed my family.

I drove straight to Leo's school. I didn't even go home. I stopped on the way and bought ice cream and snacks, his favourites. Chocolate, vanilla, biscuits. The bag was cold in my hands.

I wanted to be early for once. I wanted Leo to see me first, not Ethan.

I pulled over in front of the school gate and alighted. The ice cream was already melting a little.

And then I saw them.

Just in front of the gate.

Laura was crouched down to Leo's height, one knee on the ground. Her hand was on his shoulder, soft. Leo was giggling at something she said.

Laura was the new mom at Leo's school. Single, pretty in a soft way, the kind of pretty that didn't need makeup. She always had time. Time to stay after the bell, time to crouch down and talk to the kids eye to eye, time to bring extra biscuits for everyone.

Her son was in Leo's class. I had seen her once or twice before, waving at the gate, laughing with the other moms.

Ethan was standing behind him, holding Leo's backpack, one hand in his pocket. He was leaning towards her, laughing. That easy laugh he never does at home.

They looked like... they fit.

I stood there with my plastic bag dripping.

Laura looked up and saw me first.

"Oh! You must be Leo's mom!"

Ethan turned. His smile didn't drop, it just changed.

"Oh. You came."

That's all he said. "Oh. You came."

Laura stood up, still smiling that nice mom smile.

"We were just saying, Ethan does all the pickups. That must be hard, doing it all alone. You're so busy with work, right?

I looked at Ethan. Waiting for him to say something. Anything to make me not feel like a guest at my own son's school.

He just shrugged. That nonchalant shrug.

"Yeah. She's always busy."

He said it to her, not to me. Like he was explaining me.

Leo looked at my bag.

"Mommy, you brought ice cream? But Laura already gave me one."

And he held up a half-eaten ice cream.

The bag in my hand was dripping onto the pavement.

Laura touched Ethan's arm lightly.

"See? I told you, you're doing amazing."

Ethan smiled at her. A real smile.

And I stood there, with melting ice cream that no one needed.

Ethan said, "Come on, let's go, buddy."

They walked to his car, while I had to drive in my own.

Embarrassing, right?

I watched them get in. I just stood there with melting ice cream in my hands.

That was my limit.