Chapter 151

Alaric’s POV

As Cara goes into the house to speak with her brothers, I take a moment to just stand and breathe, inhaling the fresh air. My family is safe once more, and that gives me immeasurable peace.

For the first time since this all began, I can relax. The assassin is no longer pursuing Cara. Mia and Ethan are safe. For the first time in a long while, I can finally let down my guard.

Immediately, I start to feel the exhaustion creep in. My whole body feels sluggish. I’m also voraciously hungry.

When was the last time I ate? I genuinely can’t remember.

What I need is a meal, a shower, and then my bed. With my family safe, everything else can wait. At least that’s what I tell myself, right up until Noel turns to look at me. His expression is one of quiet contemplation, but I know that won’t last. He wants to talk to me.

I guess I owe him that much.

The only other people outside now, beside he and I, are the security guards I hired, but with the excitement mostly finished, they’ve each returned to their places, no longer paying much attention to me or what I’m doing.

I hold in a sigh as Noel finally builds up the nerve to come over.

“Alaric,” he says.

“Noel,” I tell him.

He’s done a lot for me and my family during this ordeal, I can’t just discount him. In fact, if anything, I should be showing my gratitude. He’s still my rival, but he really stepped up for all of us here. I need to let him know that I recognize that.

Turning toward him, I hold out my hand. Noel glances at it for a moment.

“Thank you,” I tell him. “I’m not blind to all you’ve done for Mia and Cara. We can go on hating each other or being rivals after this, but for now. Please accept my gratitude.”

Noel looks at my hand for so long, I think about pulling back. But then, finally, he reaches out and shakes it.

“Does this mean you trust me now?” Noel asks, laughing a little.

“Don’t overdo it,” I reply.

“You know, I don’t need thanks from you, Alaric. I didn’t do any of this for you,” he says. “But I’ll still take your thanks all the same.”

I nod stiffly, then our handshake ends. I think that will be the end of it, but Noel lingers.

“In the interest of fairness, I think I should make clear to you now that our temporary truce is now off,” Noel says. “I have feelings for Cara, and I am going to pursue her. In fact, you should know my full intentions, I intend to make her my wife.”

I suspected he wanted to do as much, but I suppose it is somewhat kind of him in a way, to tell me first.

“Then, in the interest of fairness, allow me to tell you,” I say, preparing. “I am the one who is going to win Cara’s heart. I apologize for your broken dreams in advance.”

Noel hums pleasantly, though his eyes narrow at the same time.

Our friendly truce is over now, that much is clear. Now the rivalry will truly begin, to win Cara’s heart.

This is one matchup I have no intention of losing.

Inside, I find Ethan and Mia playing in the living room and join them as they play. Ethan’s army men toys are making short work of Mia’s doll’s beach house defenses. The doll is preparing for the invasion by making irresistible plastic cookies in her plastic kitchen.

I’m fairly certain that they are playing two very different games, but they both seem to be having a good time so who am I to break that up?

Mia hands me some of the plastic trays of cookies to hand to the Ethan’s solders. As I do so, per Ethan, this seems to change the tide of the battle. The soldiers like the cookies and it’s viewed as a sign of peace. On the beach house back patio, the treaty of cookies is signed. Both sides decide on peace… and cookies.

Mia laughs bright and happy, and it’s awe-inspiring. After everything she’s experienced, no one would blame her for wanting to hide in her room. Instead, she’s here, playing with her dolls and with Ethan and I. She’s laughing and joking and making up stories.

There are moments of quiet, though, even in the fun, where her face starts to shift and she looks like she’s somewhere really far away. Fortunately, Ethan is a good kid, and can often read her faster than I can. He’s quick to bring her back into their game.

“Here, Dad,” Ethan says, and hands me one of the solider toys.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“As part of the cookie treaty, we are now sharing our army,” Ethan says.

I didn’t realize that I was involved in this cookie treaty, but clearly I am. “Thanks, Ethan.”

He nods. “We all have to do our part… For the cookies.”

“Right,” I say.

I’m so used to Ethan being rigid or frosty with me, that this newfound acceptance takes a few moments to set in. I don’t want to look too far into it, or make a big deal of it. After all, Ethan isn’t.

Suddenly, he’s just accepting me, and that’s okay.

“Mia, hold the line,” Ethan says. “I want to talk to Dad for a minute.”

“Okay,” she says, playing with her doll, still in the kitchen. “Betsy is making more cookies.”

“Good idea,” Ethan says.

With Mia busy, Ethan says to me, “Can we talk over there a second?”

“Of course, Ethan.”

Not sure what to do with the soldier, I tuck him into my pocket. This treaty feels to important for me to leave him behind. With luck, this gift won’t be the only one I receive from Ethan. But it is the first, and that is something to be treasured.

I follow Ethan over to the couches. We don’t sit down, but we are across the room from Mia. Here, if we keep our voices down, she might now be able to hear us as readily as before, especially with the cartoons blaring on the television.

“I want to talk to you about something…” Ethan starts.

I wait for him to continue. When he doesn’t right away, I prompt, “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I just… Thank you,” he says. “For getting Mia back, I mean. You aren’t as terrible as I thought you were.”

Nodding, I try not to show too much of an outward reaction, even as inward, I am celebrating. My son doesn’t hate me. This feels like a cause for massive celebration. I don’t want to embarrass him though, not when he’s obviously trying to keep things low key.

“I’m glad you think so,” I allow myself to say.

“Yeah,” Ethan adds. He looks toward the kitchen, where his mom and her brothers are talking. Then he looks back at me. “I guess this means you want to date Mom again, huh?”

“I would love the chance to date your mother,” I say. “If I do… would that be something you’d be okay with?”