I Picked Up a College Guy, Then My Mafia Ex Caught Me Chapter 10

After that day, Ava told me Tyler had transferred schools. The principal had also been replaced by a younger, female teacher.

I knew that was Dominic’s doing—he never let a slight go unanswered.

That evening, I picked the kids up early.

The weather was nice, so I decided to take them to the amusement park.

I hadn’t spent nearly enough time with Nathan. The doctors said his condition was congenital, but communication could help.

We ran into Jake outside the school gates. He was dressed casually, the same warm, gentlemanly presence as always.

I was surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I was worried about you. Thought I’d come check in.” He smiled.

Ava ran over and hugged his leg. He pinched her cheek. “Hey there, Ava. Long time no see. Miss me?”

“Yes!”

I instantly knew, Ava must have messaged him with her smartwatch.

He had been watching my bar for weeks. I owed him at least a meal.

We went to a nearby restaurant, catching up while the kids played in the playground.

“Are they both yours?” Jake asked.

“Yeah. There’s some conflict with their father, so we’ve been apart.
We’ve only recently reconnected.” I sighed.

Suddenly, he took my hand. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to be their stepdad. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”

He had worked up a lot of courage to say that.

I pulled my hand back, embarrassed. I had never thought of him that way.

I wasn’t looking to build a family with anyone, I just wanted to raise my kids in peace.

“How’s the bar doing?” I changed the subject, a polite refusal.

Jake understood. Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he let it go.

He told me business was steady, he knew his way around operations, after all.

I offered him seventy percent of the bar’s profits for the time he had managed it. He refused.

What he really wanted, I couldn’t give.