Two Little Secrets From My Boss

Chapter 25

Xander insisted on driving me home.

"You're exhausted," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And I'm not putting you in a cab after the day you've had."

I didn't argue. My body felt wrung out, emotionally drained from everything—Gerald's hands, Archie's failure, Xander's fist, the kiss that had changed everything.

But beneath the exhaustion was something lighter. Something that felt dangerously like hope.

We sat in comfortable silence for most of the drive, the city lights blurring past the windows. His hand found mine across the center console, warm and steady, his thumb tracing absent patterns on my skin.

I didn't pull away.

When we pulled up to my building, Xander put the car in park and turned to face me. His expression was uncertain, almost awkward, like he wasn't sure what came next.

"So," he said. "I guess this is... goodnight?"

"I guess so."

Neither of us moved.

"Thank you," I said. "For the ride. For... everything."

"You don't have to thank me. Not for something like that." His eyes held mine.

The silence stretched between us, heavy with possibility. He was giving me an out—a chance to retreat, to take things slow, to be sensible.

Then, surprising myself, I turned to him. "Do you want to come in?"

Xander's eyes brightened. He tried to contain it, but I saw the happiness spread across his features—genuine, boyish, nothing like the controlled CEO mask he wore at work.

"Really?" His voice cracked slightly. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude, or…"

"I'm sure." And I was. For the first time in weeks, I was completely, utterly sure. "The girls would love to see you. And I... I'm not ready for this night to end."

He was out of the car before I could change my mind, opening my door and leading me inside the building.

The moment we stepped inside my apartment, chaos erupted.

"The Tall Man!" Nina shrieked, barreling down the hallway at full speed. "Mommy, you brought the Tall Man!"

“His name is Xander, honey.” I smiled at her gently.

Lisa followed close behind, her usual shyness forgotten as she tugged on Xander's hand. "Come see my drawing! I made a new one today. It's a unicorn family!"

"A unicorn family?" Xander let himself be pulled forward, genuine interest in his voice. "How many unicorns are in this family?"

"Four! A mommy unicorn and a daddy unicorn and two baby unicorns." Lisa beamed up at him. "The babies are twins. Like us!"

Something flickered across Xander's face—emotion he couldn't quite hide.

The babysitter appeared from the kitchen, taking in the scene with raised eyebrows. When her eyes met mine, a knowing smile spread across her face. "I'll just... head out, then," she said, gathering her things. "The girls were angels. Mostly."

"Thank you, Sarah."

She slipped out quietly, and I turned back to find Xander crouched down to the twins' level, examining Lisa's drawing with the same intensity he'd give a corporate report.

"This is excellent work," he said seriously. "The horn proportions are particularly impressive. And I like that the daddy unicorn is the tallest."

"That's because daddies are supposed to be the tallest," Nina informed him. "Like you!"

"Is that so?"

"Uh-huh. Emma at school says her daddy is tall too, but I bet you're taller."

Xander laughed—a real laugh, warm and unguarded. "I've never won in a height competition before. I'm honored."

I watched from the doorway, something shifting in my chest.

Xander in his expensive suit, sitting cross-legged on my living room floor, listening intently as Nina explained the complex social dynamics of her stuffed animal collection while Lisa showed him drawing after drawing.

This felt just right.

"Mommy, can Xander stay for dinner?" Nina turned to me with hopeful eyes. "Please? We can have pizza! Or Chinese food! Or both!"

"Both might be excessive," I said, but I was smiling. "What do you think?" I asked Xander. "Hungry?"

"Starving, actually." His eyes met mine, soft and warm. "I'd love to stay."

We ordered Thai food because Lisa insisted on pad thai and Nina wanted spring rolls.

The girls demanded we eat on the living room floor because it's more fun. So we spread containers across the coffee table and sat in a circle like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Xander asked about school, about their friends, about their favorite subjects. He listened like every word mattered, laughing at Nina's dramatic storytelling and nodding seriously at Lisa's quieter observations.

After dinner, while the girls fought over the last spring roll, I caught Xander's eye across the table.

He looked happy. Truly happy. The tension that usually lined his features had melted away, replaced by something softer.

"Can I talk to you two for a minute?" I asked, gathering Nina and Lisa close beside me on the couch. "It's something important."

The girls settled immediately, sensing the shift in tone.

"You know how you've been asking about the Tall Man?" I said gently. "About why Xander comes to visit, why is he nice to us?"

Nina nodded eagerly. Lisa watched me with those wise, careful eyes.

Xander sat across from us in the armchair, more nervous than I'd ever seen him. His hands gripped his knees, knuckles still bandaged from this afternoon.

"Well..." I took a breath, glancing at him for courage. He nodded slightly. "The Tall Man isn't just Mommy's friend from work. He's... he's your real daddy."

Silence.

Lisa's eyes grew wide. Nina's brow furrowed as she processed the information, her little mind working through what this meant.

"Our daddy?" Nina repeated slowly. "Like Emma's daddy? Like Sophie's daddies?"

"Yes, baby. Like that."

"But..." Lisa's voice was small. "You said we didn't have a daddy."

"I know. I'm sorry I said that." I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Mommy made a mistake. The truth is, your daddy was lost for a long time. But now he's found us. And he wants to be part of our family, if that's okay with you."

The twins exchanged a look—that silent communication they'd shared since birth. Then Lisa slid off the couch, padded across to Xander, and crawled into his lap.

Her small arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing tight.

Xander's breath caught. His arms folded around her automatically, and I saw his eyes glistening in the lamplight. Nina followed seconds later, launching herself at him with characteristic enthusiasm.

"We have a daddy!" she announced. "A real one! And he's the tallest daddy ever!"

"I'll do my best to live up to that, baby girls. I promise," Xander managed, his voice thick.

He held them both, one arm around each girl, his chin resting on top of Lisa's head. When his eyes found mine, they were wet with tears he wasn't bothering to hide.

"You have to stay tonight," Nina said firmly, pulling back to fix him with a serious stare. "We have to play. And read stories. And you have to tuck us in."

"Nina, sweetie, he might need to…"

"Please?" Lisa's quiet voice cut through. "Please stay, Daddy?"

The word hit Xander like a physical blow. I watched his composure crack completely, tears spilling down his cheeks as he pulled the girls closer.

He looked at me over their heads, silently asking permission. Asking if this was okay, if he was okay, if this fragile new family they were building could survive a single night under the same roof.

I smiled through my own tears. And this time, he stayed.