The Single Dad Next Door

Chapter 10 | The Wait

Dante's POV

_I told her to stay._

Monday.

Rent day.

₱8,000.

Due by 5PM.

Cassie had ₱12,000.

She was safe.

I had ₱0.

I was fired.

Mimi didn’t know.

She was busy coloring _FAMILY_ on another paper.

Yellow crayon. Big letters.

Cassie came to 4B at 8AM.

Hair in a bun. Shirt with paint.

“Rent’s paid,” she said.

“I gave it to Mr. Dela Cruz myself.”

“Good.”

“He asked about you,” she said.

“If you’re still here.”

“What did you say?”

“I said you’re my neighbor.”

I nodded.

Silence filled the kitchen.

“Dante.”

“What?”

“Dreame emailed.”

My hands stopped on the mug.

“When?”

“6AM.”

I looked up. “And?”

“Under review pa rin,” she said.

“3-5 days. Today’s Day 1.”

So we wait.

---

We waited all day.

Cassie opened her shop.

20 dozen sunflowers for a wedding.

She was busy. Loud. Alive.

I stayed with Mimi.

Cooked. Cleaned. Fixed the cabinet hinge that’s been loose for 6 months.

At 2PM, Mimi asked while coloring,

“Daddy, are we poor now?”

“No, anak.”

“Then why are you home?”

“Because I chose you,” I said.

And I meant it.

She dropped her crayon. Ran to me.

Hugged me hard.

“You’re the best daddy.”

At 6PM, Cassie came back.

Tired. Hair falling out of her bun.

But smiling.

“All 20 dozen sold,” she said.

“The bride cried. She said the sunflowers looked like hope.”

“Good.”

She looked at me. “You didn’t go out.”

“I was here.”

“For us.”

“Yes.”

She sat on the floor. Back against my couch.

I sat too.

2 feet away.

Like always.

“I’m scared, Dante.”

“Of what?”

“Of waiting,” she said.

“Of hope. Because hope leaves.”

I looked at my hands. Calloused. Empty.

“Then don’t hope,” I said.

“Know.”

“Know what?”

“That I’m not leaving.”

She turned to me.

“You said that 9 days ago too.”

“And I’m still here.”

Mimi came out.

“Ate Cass, Daddy, eat!”

We ate. Sinigang. Again.

But this time, Cassie didn’t sit on the couch.

She sat at the table. With us.

---

At 9PM, Mimi was asleep.

Cassie didn’t go home.

She sat at my table. Laptop open.

“What are you doing?”

“Writing Chapter 10,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because waiting is easier when you’re doing something,” she said.

“Write with me?”

“I don’t write.”

“You cook,” she said.

“Tell me a recipe. I’ll turn it into a scene.”

So I did.

“Arroz caldo,” I said.

“Ginger. Garlic. Chicken. Pepper.

You boil it slow.

Or it’s tasteless.”

Cassie typed.

`He boiled it slow. Because fast things break. Like hearts. Like families.`

I stared at her.

“What?” she said.

“Nothing.”

We wrote until 12AM.

Chapter 10 ended with Dante and Cassie on the floor.

Not touching.

Just waiting.

2 feet apart.

Cassie closed the laptop.

“Dante.”

“What?”

“If Dreame says no…”

“They won’t.”

“But if they do—”

“Then we open another shop,” I said.

“Together.”

She blinked.

“Together?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not temporary,” I said.

“And I’m done pretending I don’t need you.”

The words were out.

I couldn’t take them back.

Cassie stood up. Slow.

“Dante Morales,” she said.

“What?”

“Come here.”

I didn’t move.

“Please,” she said.

_Please._ Again.

I stood up.

We were 1 foot apart.

Close enough to see the blue paint on her cheek.

Close enough to hear her breathing.

“Dante,” she whispered.

“If you tell me to go away now, I will.

And I won’t come back.”

I looked at her.

Tired eyes. Brave mouth.

The woman who yelled sunflowers for me.

Who stayed when I told her not to.

“I’m not going to say it,” I said.

“Then what will you say?”

I reached up.

Wiped blue paint from her cheek with my thumb.

Her skin was warm.

“Stay,” I said.

Her breath hitched.

“Stay for dinner.

Stay for Mimi.

Stay for… me.”

Cassie’s eyes filled.

“Okay,” she whispered.

I didn’t kiss her.

I didn’t hug her.

I just stood there.

With my hand on her cheek.

And she didn’t pull away.

---

At 12:03AM, my phone buzzed.

*Dreame.*

Cassie saw it too.

She pulled back.

“Check it.”

My hands were shaking.

I opened it.

`Subject: Contract Offer - The Single Dad Next Door`

`Dear Author Miss E,`

`Congratulations. Your book has been approved for contract.`

`Please sign within 7 days.`

I read it. Twice.

Cassie read over my shoulder.

“Dante.”

“Yeah.”

“We’re signed.”

I nodded.

She screamed.

Loud. Full. Alive.

The sound bounced off the walls.

Mimi ran out. Half-asleep.

“What happened?”

“We’re signed, baby!”

Cassie picked her up. Spinning.

“Daddy’s book! Our story!”

Mimi laughed.

“What’s signed?”

“It means we eat,” I said.

“Every day. For real.”

Cassie put Mimi down.

Looked at me.

“Dante.”

“What?”

“Thank you for not saying go away.”

I shook my head.

“Thank you for not leaving.”

She stepped forward.

This time, she hugged me.

Arms around my waist.

Face in my chest.

I froze.

Then my arms went around her.

Slow. Careful.

Like she’d break.

She didn’t.

Mimi hugged both our legs.

“Family hug!”

So we hugged.

The three of us.

In my kitchen.

At 12:05AM.

After 10 chapters.

After a faucet.

A fever.

A sidewalk.

After “go away” turned into “stay.”

Cassie pulled back.

Eyes red. Smiling.

“What now?” she asked.

“Now,” I said.

“We write Chapter 11.”

She laughed. Cried. Both.

“Okay,” she said.

“Chapter 11.”

Mimi yawned.

“Can Chapter 11 have pancakes?”

“Yes, anak,” I said.

“Chapter 11 has pancakes.”

And for the first time in 3 years,

tomorrow didn’t feel like a threat.

It felt like a beginning.

_End of Chapter 10_