“Daddy!” Hunter flew around the corner from the living room and wrapped his arms around Shane’s legs.
“Whoa, there, Buzz Lightyear. You’ll knock me over.”
He giggled. “Sorry, Daddy.”
Shane scooped him up into a hug, then lowered him back to the floor. Hunter was getting too heavy to carry around the way he used to.
“Where’s Dylan?” he asked Bex, who’d followed a few steps behind Hunter.
“Toilet,” she said. “He’s done his homework.” She glanced over her shoulder, then said, “Come and sit down.” She led him to the dinner table, and he took a seat, concerned by her expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Bex’s lips pressed together. “I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about, but Dylan was late home. He walked from the bus stop, but I think he might have stopped somewhere along the way.”
“Okay, thanks for telling me. Otherwise, they were all good?”
“Just like always.” She smiled. “I swear, your boys make Izzy look like a terror.”
“It’s because Hunter follows her lead. Isn’t that right, Hunt?”
Hunter nodded, and they both laughed.
“Speaking of, where is she today?”
Bex crinkled her nose. “With her father.”
“Ah.” Izzy’s father had only recently entered her life. Shane knew Bex was having a hard time sharing her with him after having had Izzy to herself for so long. He could sympathize. God knew how he’d feel if Diana reappeared and insisted on sharing custody of their kids.
Bex propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “I hear you and Faith are fake dating.”
“Has everyone heard that?” He raked his fingers through his hair. “It’s only for a week. I’m going with her to Erica’s wedding.”
“To keep the matchmaking sharks away?”
“Yeah.”
Hunter’s eyes widened. “What sharks?”
Shane ruffled his hair. “Not real sharks, buddy.”
“Oh.” He deflated. “I wanna see a shark.”
“Maybe someday.” From a safe distance. Preferably on land.
“Okay.”
Bex’s mouth curved into a sly smile. “Has it occurred to you to wonder why Faith chose you? She could have asked Logan or Kyle, and they’d have done it, no questions asked.”
He shrugged, uncomfortable with the way she was looking at him like she knew more than he did. “Right place, right time. I turned up just a few minutes after her parents arrived.”
“Perhaps,” Bex allowed. “Or perhaps you’re the only one she could actually imagine being with.”
“Yeah, right. Because sleep-deprived single dads are such a catch.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re oblivious. Forget I said anything.”
The toilet flushed, and a moment later, Dylan appeared in the doorway.