CHAPTER FOUR

Celine's POV

My roommate officially moved out this morning, which means I have two weeks left to find my own place. I’ve seen a few apartments I like, and Uncle Will agreed to come with me today to look at them. I’m meeting him at his office, so I swipe in with my visitor badge and stop to chat with Maureen, his secretary. She’s sweet, and obsessed with asking me for fashion tips.

I push open Uncle Will’s office door and freeze.

He’s sitting on the couch with a kid, both of them eating pizza while the little boy explains something on a phone. I recognize the music instantly Super Mario Odyssey…or Mario Kart. I grew up with Leo; I know those sounds anywhere.

“Hi,” I say.

They both glance up.

“Shoot, you’re showing me the apartment today?” Uncle Will blurts. “I totally forgot. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, I can reschedule. You look busy.”

He gestures to the boy.
“This is Jack.”

I smile and walk over. “Hi, Jack. I’m Celine.”

He studies me carefully big, sharp eyes then gives a shy smile and a little wave before turning straight back to the game.

I sit beside them. “Super Mario Odyssey? Or Mario Kart?”

Jack’s head snaps toward me, amazed. “You know it?”

“Yeah, I do.”

His whole face lights up. “I’m teaching Uncle Will, but he’s really bad.”

“Buddy! I thought I was getting better.” Will says, offended.

Jack giggles. “He’s better at this than Fortnite. He’s terrible at Fortnite.”

Will groans. “Wow. Just casually exposing me.”

I laugh. “I’m good at Fortnite.”

Jack gasps. “Really?”

I nod, and he immediately scoots closer, already handing me the phone.
“Do you wanna play?”

Before I can answer, Uncle Will says, “There’s pizza and Coke, Celine.”

“Great.” I get up to grab a plate. When I reach the mini-fridge, Will meets me there.

“Sorry for canceling today,” he says with a sigh. “Unexpected babysitting. His dad, Alex is in a meeting.”

My heart drops.
His partner Alex.

Of course he had a kid. Of course he was taken. Of course he was older, settled, probably with a perfect wife. Why that stings, I have no idea nothing was ever going to happen between us.

And then I really look at Jack.

Goodness. He’s Alex’s clone. The same dark hair, same eyes, same everything. I’m not even sure his mother was involved in making this child.

“He’s sweet,” I say quietly, glancing at Jack as he calls out.

“Celine! Come see! I beat the level!”

I go back to the couch, and within ten minutes we’re taking turns playing, laughing, fully absorbed. Jack is pure sunshine polite, funny, and painfully adorable.

An hour later, the door opens.

Alex walks in.

My heart does something stupid.

He’s in another perfectly tailored suit, dark and sharp, holding Jack’s Superman backpack. He looks brooding and exhausted, but still…impossibly striking. And seeing him next to Jack? The resemblance is so strong it’s almost funny.

He stops when he sees us.

Jack and I are side-by-side on the couch, leaning over the phone, while Uncle Will works at his desk.

Will glances up. “How did it go?”

“We finalized everything. I’ll fill you in tomorrow,” Alex replies. He turns to Jack. “Ready to go, buddy?”

Before Jack answers, Will says, “You remember Celine?”

Jack beams his eyes still on the game.

“Yes! The computer genius!” Alex says and my heart does a little somersault.

I blush and stare at the pizza box.

“Apparently I’m not good at games,” Will grumbles.

Jack shakes his head, serious. “No, Uncle Will, you’re okay. Celine’s just better.”

I bite back a laugh as Will clutches his chest theatrically.

Alex steps closer. “Okay, buddy. Say bye to Celine. Let’s head home.”

“Already?” Jack pouts.

“Yes, come on.”

Jack stands. “Rematch soon?”

“Of course, sweetie,” I say, ruffling his hair. He grins like I just handed him the moon and then gives me a quick hug that completely melts me.

“Bye, Uncle Will!”

“No hug for me?” Will teases.

Jack gasps. “I forgot!”

He runs over and throws his arms around him.

“I see how it is,” Will mutters. “Didn’t forget a hug for Celine.”

I laugh, but my attention flickers unintentionally to Alex.

He’s watching Jack, soft and proud…and then he looks at me.

Really looks.

His gaze travels from my high-heeled boots to my short miniskirt to my pink v-neck cashmere sweater and up to my lips glossy from reapplying clear lip gloss after eating pizza. His eyes linger. Heat curls low in my stomach despite myself.

It means nothing, I remind myself.

He’s probably with Jack’s mother.

He’s older.

He’s my uncle’s partner.

“Bye, Celine,” Jack says again as they leave.

“Bye, sweetheart.”

Alex pauses just long enough to say, low and smooth:

“Bye.”

And then they’re gone.

My uncle and I leave the office soon after. He’s dropping me home, and we’ve already made plans to go see the apartment tomorrow.

“I’m so sorry again about today,” he says as we get into the car.

“Really, it’s fine. I liked hanging out with Jack,” I say.

“Okay, good. Have you started looking for a job? Or thought about what you’ll be doing until the semester resumes?”

“No… but I was thinking of applying to an art gallery? I’m not sure yet. I’m worried I might not like it, and the hours are weird,” I explain.

“Hmmm.” My uncle hums, and a smile ghosts across his lips.

“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

“What do you think of babysitting?” he asks.

“What?” I stare at him, confused. “Are you and Sybil expecting?” The words leave my mouth too fast, and guilt hits immediately. My uncle and his wife have struggled to conceive for years. Adoption was once discussed, but nothing ever happened. I avoid asking; it’s too sensitive.

“Oh, no,” Will says quickly, though the smile stays. “I mean for Jack.”

I blink. “Alex is looking for a nanny,” he continues, “and I think you’d be great at it.”

“Me?” I ask, shocked. “Uncle, I have no experience in nannying.”

“Yeah, but you were great with Jack. And you took care of Leo as a kid,” he reminds me, mentioning my younger brother.

“I don’t know, Uncle…”

“Come on. You and Jack hit it off right away.”

“Yeah, but Jack is an easygoing kid.”

Will shakes his head. “He’s been having some issues recently. His parents are divorced, and it’s been taking a toll on him.”

My chest tightens. Jack really is a sweet boy. The thought of him struggling makes me feel awful.

“You’d be good at it, Celine,” Will says gently. “Alex is having a hard time finding someone. You could help temporarily, just until he finds someone full-time.”

I already feel myself giving in.

“Okay,” I say finally.

“Great,” he says, excited. “I’ll call Alex right away.”

We pull up in front of my building. I unbuckle and grab my bag.

“Bye. And say hi to Sybil for me,” I tell him.

I head into my quiet apartment, closing the door behind me. The silence wraps around me as I lean back against the door.

“How did I just agree to that?” I mutter to myself.

I drop my keys in the bowl near the entryway and step out of my boots.

Also… Alex is a divorced dad.

Single, maybe?

I wonder and instantly scold myself for it.