It started with something simple. Helping Eddie with Christopher after late shifts, picking him up from school when Eddie got stuck at work, staying for dinner a little too often. It wasn’t planned—it just happened.

And then one day, it went too far.

“Oh, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” the woman at Christopher’s school beamed, shaking your hand. “Chris is such a wonderful kid. You and your husband must be so proud.”

Husband?

Before you could correct her, Eddie appeared beside you, placing a casual hand on your lower back. “Oh, absolutely. Christopher is the best thing that ever happened to us,” he said smoothly, like this wasn’t a complete and total lie.

You snapped your head toward him, eyes wide, but Eddie just gave you a calm, almost smug smile.

The woman sighed dreamily. “You two are such a beautiful couple.”

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed, his voice warm, his fingers barely pressing into your spine. “She really is something.”