Oh, Jason!!! Why did you have to show up!?
Jason’s face flushed with anger and hurt. The class clapped politely, but Jason barely noticed. His son’s words felt like a punch to the gut, and his ego was severely bruised. After the introductions, the parents and children dispersed to different activities. Jason seized the opportunity to confront Pietro again, this time in a quieter corner of the classroom. “I don’t appreciate you stepping into my role,” Jason hissed, keeping his voice low. Pietro met his gaze steadily. “Jason, I’m not trying to replace you. Jared asked me to come today, and I’m here to support him. This isn’t about us; it’s about him.” Jason’s fists clenched at his sides. “He’s my son.” “I’m not denying that,” Pietro replied calmly. “Fighting over him isn’t going to help.” Just then, Jared ran over, clutching a piece of artwork he had made. “Look, Pietro! I made this for you and Mom!” Pietro smiled warmly. “That’s fantastic, Jared! Your mom is going to love it.” Jason stood there, feeling a pang of
Skylar sat at a round table in the break room of the kindergarten, sipping on her lukewarm coffee. The room was cosy, filled with the soft chatter of teachers and the occasional laughter from outside. Tiffany, her friend and co-worker, slid into the chair opposite her with a mischievous grin.“So, Sky, when’s Pietro coming to pick you up again?” Tiffany asked, nudging Skylar’s arm. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen your hot boyfriend around here.”Skylar chuckled, rolling her eyes. “He’ll be here this afternoon, actually. I told him I’d treat him to lunch. My brother is picking Lorenzo up today too, and also to get my car since i wouldn’t need it.”Tiffany’s eyes sparkled. “You’re really living the dream, girl. First Pietro, then your hot brother Emilio a few weeks ago. It’s like you have all the attractive men in the world wrapped around your finger.”Skylar sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Emilio was just doing me a favour because my car was in the shop. Besides, he’s seein
Pietro pulled up in front of Skylar’s house, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the lawn. He turned to her with a soft smile. “I had a great time today.” Skylar leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Me too. Thank you for joining me for lunch, Pietro.” “Anytime,” he replied. “I’ll wait until you’re inside.” Skylar nodded and stepped out of the car, waving as she walked up to the door. She fumbled with her keys for a moment, then disappeared inside. Pietro waited until he saw the light come on in the entryway before driving off, reassured that she was safely home. Inside, Skylar kicked off her shoes and headed straight upstairs to check on her sons. She knew Jared had had a tough day, and she wanted to make sure he was alright. She found both Jared and Lorenzo, in Valentina’s room. Jared was playing with a set of toy cars while Lorenzo was engrossed in a story book, reading it to Valentina although the words he could read were limited “Hey, guys,” she
The house was eerily quiet when Emilio emerged from the home office. He had been working for hours, absorbed in a project that demanded his full attention. The silence was a welcome change from the chaos of his work, but something felt off. He decided to check on the kids before taking a break. Finding them napping peacefully, he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and headed downstairs to the kitchen for a much-needed drink. As he entered the kitchen, he found Skylar sitting on one of the stools, staring into space. A worried frown creased her forehead. Emilio immediately knew something was wrong. “Skylar,” he called softly, but she didn’t respond. He moved closer and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Skylar, what’s wrong?” Skylar blinked, snapping out of her trance. She looked up at Emilio, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and exhaustion. “Emilio! Sorry, It’s nothing really. At least I think it is. Jason called me a few hours ago.” Emilio’s expression dar
The morning light filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the quiet house. It was Saturday, and the usual hustle of the weekday was absent, allowing its occupants a rare moment of stillness. Skylar and Emilio were the first to stir, both reluctant to leave the comfort of their beds after the stressful events of the previous day.Eventually, Skylar rose, wrapping herself in a robe and padding quietly out of her room. As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Emilio emerging from his own room, looking equally groggy.“Morning,” she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep.“Morning,” Emilio replied, his tone equally flat. They both knew they needed their morning coffee to kick-start their systems.They descended the stairs together in silence, their footsteps a soft thud on the carpeted steps. In the kitchen, Skylar automatically went to the coffee maker while Emilio started gathering the ingredients for breakfast.As the coffee brewed, filling the kitche
Pietro and Sofia pulled up to Skylar and Emilio’s house, the morning sun casting long shadows across the quiet suburban street. As they approached the front door, Pietro couldn’t help but feel a knot of anxiety in his stomach. Sofia squeezed his hand reassuringly before they rang the doorbell.Skylar answered almost immediately, a tight smile on her face. “Hey, you two. Come on in.”“Morning, Skylar,” Pietro said, stepping inside and giving her a quick hug and a kiss. “How are you holding up?”Skylar’s smile wavered slightly. “As well as can be expected, I guess. Come on, the kids are in the living room.”They walked through the hallway into the cosy living room, where a large fort made of blankets and cushions dominated the space. Inside the fort, Jared, Lorenzo, and Valentina were giggling and whispering to each other, lost in their own world. Emilio emerged from the kitchen, balancing a tray of snacks.“Hey, Pietro, Sofia,” Emilio greeted, setting the tray on the coffee table.
Jason’s POV I remember the first time I saw Skylar. It was one of the worst days of my life, a day I wish I could erase from memory. I had just received the devastating news that my grandpa had passed away. We were incredibly close, and losing him felt like losing a part of myself. Numb and disoriented, I found myself sitting on a bench in the library, tears streaming down my face as I tried to process the loss. The library was usually a place of quiet refuge for me, but that day, it felt like the walls were closing in. I was too consumed by grief to care if anyone saw me crying. I must have looked like a mess, lost in my sorrow, when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I looked up through tear-blurred eyes and saw a girl sitting next to me. She couldn’t have been much younger than me, with a gentle, sympathetic expression on her face. “Here,” she said softly, handing me a tissue. “Thank you,” I managed to choke out, taking it from her. She didn’t ask why I was crying, which wa
Jason’s POV I remember the first guy who approached Skylar romantically. His name was Mark, a smooth-talking guy from our economics class. Skylar, being the kind person she is, tried to let him down gently when he first asked her out, saying she wasn’t interested in any relationship. But Mark was persistent, and after a while, she finally agreed to go on a date, probably hoping it would make him back off or give her some closure. When she told our friend group about the date, I felt a surge of anger that I could barely contain. It was like a fire igniting inside me, burning hotter with every word she spoke. I masked it with a tight-lipped smile, but inside, I was seething. How could she even consider someone like Mark? “Yeah, so I’m going out with Mark this Friday,” Skylar said casually, not noticing my reaction. “That’s great, Skylar,” one of our friends said, clearly happy for her. “He seems like a nice guy.” I forced myself to join the chorus of congratulations, but my min