Page 121 of Say My Name

Cliff picks up his water. “That isn’t usually a team sport.”

“It is now.” Sophie crosses her arms. “Daddy cheats.”

“I guessed the napkin.”

“You guessed white. Everything is white.”

She gestures at the tablecloth, plates, napkins, and the restaurant’s exterior wall with an outrage suggesting Cliff has compromised the integrity of the entire game.

“I understand,” I tell her solemnly, enjoying the simple absurdity of it. “We’ll make sure he’s held accountable.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re encouraging this.” Cliff points at me with his fork.

“I’m supporting my teammate.”

Theo reaches for one of my fries while everyone is distracted. I move the plate closer to him.

Cliff catches me and shakes his head. “Unbelievable.”

For the next ten minutes, Sophie invents rules, Theo eats most of my lunch, and Rachel tries to convince Cliff that guessing something blue when the sky is visible should also qualify as cheating.

It is loud, disorganized, and completely removed from the controlled quiet I’m accustomed to.

I like every second.

Months ago, fatherhood was a responsibility I was willing to accept because Elena wanted a child and the idea of her choosing an anonymous donor woke something primitive and possessive inside me.

Now Theo is using my chest as a backrest, Sophie is demanding I challenge her father’s interpretation of the rules, and Elena is laughing with Rachel as though this has always been our table.

The child I imagine is no longer theoretical.

Neither is the woman beside me in that future.

Elena glances over at me. Her gaze lands on Theo, then lifts to mine. The warmth in her expression is unguarded for one dangerous second.

I feel it in the center of my chest.

She looks away first, returning to whatever Rachel is telling her, but the moment stays with me.

Sophie tugs on my sleeve. “Your turn.”

I search the patio for something that won’t cause another argument. “I spy something green.”

“The plant,” Cliff says immediately.

Sophie gasps. “Daddy!”

“What?”

“You aren’t on our team.”

“You took too long.”

“Disqualified,” I tell him.

“You don’t get to disqualify me.”