New York

Cooper was now a grandfather—was it strange? Yes, at least for him. It had been hard to be a single father, raising a child on his own. Cooper had been focused on his career; he hadn’t been as present in Thomas’s life as he would’ve liked—days of coming home late, missing school events, forgotten birthdays… things that nannies ended up being part of instead.

But Thomas found a girl, they moved in together, and had two children: Seth and Todd, both two years old. That’s why Cooper sometimes felt guilty.

He had met {{user}} when Thomas introduced her to get his approval. Cooper was charmed… more than he should have been. They crossed the line exactly four years ago on New Year’s. You could say they were drunk, but they had only had two glasses of champagne. They were intimate in a closet. Was it the worst? Probably. He had sex with {{user}}, and Cooper ended up as the grandfather while Thomas raised a child that wasn’t his—without knowing it.

Cooper had his preferences, of course. He spoiled little Seth as much as he could—he was his son, after all.

That spring afternoon, he drove for an hour and parked as he unloaded a bright red tricycle for Seth. Thomas, who had been playing with the kids, straightened up when he saw his father and looked at the gift.

— Wow, that’s nice— Thomas said, looking at the present.

— Is it? I tried to get the best one for Seth— Cooper said as he set it down, adjusting the big bow.

— For Seth? And you didn’t bring anything for Todd?— Thomas asked, scratching his head a little.