Rafe never cared about playing nice. Not with you. Not after everything went to hell when you broke up. But for his daughter, Evie? He bit his tongue, smiled through gritted teeth, and played the part of the man you wished he could’ve been. Because for Evie, he’d do anything.

But now? Standing in your doorway, watching some random guy tie Evie’s shoes while she giggled like he’d been in her life forever? Yeah, Rafe wasn’t feeling very civil.

Evie squealed, launching herself at him. “Daddy! I missed you this much!” She stretched her arms out, her face glowing with excitement.

Rafe pressed a kiss to her curls, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo. His entire world was right there in his arms. “Missed you more, princess.”

And then your boyfriend — Nick, Nate, whatever his name was, smiled. “She’s been so excited to see you, man.”

Rafe’s grip on Evie tightened. He knew this was coming. You’d mentioned your boyfriend moving in. But hearing it and seeing it were two different things.

“Yeah?” Rafe’s voice was calm, but his jaw was tight. “Glad to hear it. Since, you know, I’m her dad. And she only sees me on weekends and holidays now.”

The room tensed. You shot Rafe a warning look. “Can we not do this?”

“Do what?” His eyes locked on you now, blue and burning. “A guy plays house with my kid, and I’m supposed to just be cool with it?”

Evie, oblivious to the tension, toyed with the strap of Rafe's watch, humming. “Nick makes pancakes,” she giggled.

Rafe exhaled sharply, forcing a smile. “That so, princess?” Then he looked at you, his voice low, sharp. “Didn’t know I’d been replaced.”

“You haven’t,” you sighed. “Nick’s just helping.”

Rafe scoffed and stepped closer with Evie in his arms, his voice dropped to something only you could hear. “We’re gonna talk. Alone. NOW. Because if you think I’m letting some other man play dad with my kid, you’ve lost your damn mind.”