Chapter 7

The next morning, I hear Noah talking to Sebastian as soon as I come downstairs.

“...Then of course I like Ms. Morgan the most.”

My hand tightens around the stair railing.

I tell myself not to jump to conclusions.

Sebastian wouldn't ask him something like that.

Just then, Noah suddenly runs over and hugs my leg.

“Mom, I haven't seen you in forever.”

I smile and crouch down.

“Didn't we just see each other yesterday morning?”

Noah pouts.

“But we used to see each other so many times every day. Sometimes we even slept together at night.”

His eyes start turning red.

“And now you don't even kiss me anymore! Do you have another baby outside?”

I freeze.

Noah has never been the type to act clingy.

But now his eyes are watery, like he'll burst into tears if I say yes.

I immediately shake my head.

“No. You're Mom's only baby.”

I touch his face.

“My friend came back yesterday, so I had to go pick him up. That's why I came home late.”

Then I kiss his cheek.

It takes me a while to finally calm him down.

After breakfast, Noah insists that I take him to preschool.

Sebastian nods too, then glances at his watch.

“Let's go together.”

Sebastian carries Noah toward the front door.

Then Noah suddenly says,

“Mom hasn't kissed Dad today!”

My whole body stiffens.

I look up and meet Sebastian's dark eyes.

Memories from last night immediately rush back.

My face starts heating up.

“We should hurry. Noah's going to be late.”

I clear my throat.

The expectation in Sebastian's eyes disappears.

Then he gets into the back seat with us.

On the way there, Noah is completely different from his usual reserved self.

He keeps trying to find things to talk to me about.

I smile and stroke his hair.

For a moment, my decision to divorce Sebastian starts to waver.

We have barely reached the entrance of the preschool when I hear a woman gasp beside us.

“You?”

I turn around.

It's the girl who was chasing Ryan at the airport yesterday.

“Aren't you Ryan's girlfriend?”

She looks at Noah.

“Is this your child?”

Then she points at Sebastian.

“Then who is he?”

Sebastian's face instantly darkens.

I quickly wave my hands.

“No, that's not—”

“He said you two were together in high school!”

She cuts me off.

“He even showed me pictures of you two as a couple!”

“No, they weren't!”

Noah shouts before I can say anything else.

His little face turns bright red.

He grabs onto both Sebastian and me.

“These are my mom and dad! It's not what you said!”

The girl looks at me.

Then at Noah.

Her expression suddenly changes.

“Oh!”

She nods like everything finally makes sense.

“I get it now!”

Then she turns around and runs off.

I stand there, completely confused.

Wait.

What exactly does she think she understands?