ALEX.
Instead of the excitement the twins clearly expected, a sharp, unwelcome heat rushed through me when they announced their plan. My first instinct wasn’t joy, it was panic. I had already mapped out every possible way to avoid Niko for the rest of the holiday, carefully arranging my days around his absence, his office door, his silences. Now, in one breathless declaration from two overly excited children, that fragile plan shattered.
I felt my face stiffen, irritation blooming beneath the surface. But Sofia and Lucas didn’t notice. They were already bouncing on their toes, grinning at me with the kind of unfiltered happiness only children possessed. I forced my lips into a tight smile, hoping it passed for enthusiasm.
“We made a list,” Sofia said proudly, holding up a folded paper.
