Ethan's POV
I had negotiated multi-billion-dollar acquisitions without breaking a sweat. I had walked into hostile board meetings knowing half the room wanted my job. None of that prepared me for trying to bribe a four-year-old into opening his mouth for a cotton swab.
"It's not a shot," I said, for the third time, crouching so we were eye level in the pastel-colored waiting room. "I promise."
Fabian eyed me with the deep suspicion of a boy who had clearly been burned by adult promises before. "Mama said that last time. Then there was a shot."
"There's no needle today. Just a little stick, like a Q-tip, right here." I tapped the inside of my own cheek. "Two seconds. Then we go get ice cream."
His eyes narrowed further, doing the math. "Chocolate?"
"Any flavor you want."
"Two scoops?
