Avenging Luna -
Chapter 132: My Little Wingman
Chapter 132: My Little Wingman
Chase POV:
I took the little champ—Ash—to the bathroom, and from the moment we stepped inside, it was like a floodgate of words opened.
Boy, could he talk.
He was brimming with energy, bouncing between topics like a hyper little storyteller. Most kids his age could barely string a sentence together, but Ash? He was practically a chatterbox, and I found myself genuinely amused. It wasn’t often that I found joy in small, mundane moments like this, but this kid was something else.
As he prattled on, I decided to steer the conversation toward something more... informative. "So," I asked casually, "does your mom have a boyfriend?"
Ash giggled, his laugh echoing off the bathroom tiles. "You’re silly, Handsome man! Mommy doesn’t like boys."
Ash continued, completely oblivious to the shift in my mood. "Mommy says boys are a pain. When they like her, she gives them the look. You know, the scary one. Then they stop talking to her!"
I couldn’t help but laugh at that, picturing Leila scaring off anyone who dared to get too close. It didn’t surprise me—she’d always had a fiery streak. But knowing she hadn’t let anyone in since she left me stirred something in my chest. Relief? Hope?
Then, as if he’d sensed my train of thought, Ash added, "But my school teacher likes Mommy. He looks at her funny. Like, really funny. He stares too long."
That comment hit me like a punch to the gut, jealousy flaring up despite my best efforts to squash it. I didn’t let it show, though. I kept my face neutral, nodding as if it didn’t bother me at all.
"What’s your teacher’s name?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.
Ash tilted his head, considering. "Mr. Jacob... something. He’s kinda boring, but he always gives me extra stickers for my homework. Maybe he thinks I’ll tell Mommy he’s nice." He giggled again, clearly finding the whole situation funny.
I didn’t.
Before I could dwell too much on this Mr. Jacob, Ash turned the tables. "What’s your name, Handsome man?"
I smiled, crouching down to his level. "My name’s Chase."
"Uncle Chase," he repeated, testing it out like it was the most important name he’d ever heard. "That’s cool. Uncle Chase, are you Mommy’s friend?"
The nickname "Uncle Chase" sent a flicker of warmth through me. I wasn’t one to get sentimental, but hearing it from him made me feel... included, in a way I hadn’t expected.
I hesitated for a moment, then decided honesty—well, partial honesty—was the best route. "Something like that. I’m someone who cares about her a lot."
Ash gave me a thoughtful look, then nodded, as if he understood more than he let on. "You’re nice. I like you, Uncle Chase. You should come visit us."
Hearing that from him made my undead heart swell a little. This kid had no idea the power he held over me now—not just because of the imprinting, but because he was hers.
"Maybe I will," I said softly, standing back up as he finished washing his hands.
"It’s my birthday today! What are you gonna buy me?" Ash asked, his voice brimming with excitement and his dark eyes wide with expectation.
I crouched slightly, so we were eye to eye. "What about some ice cream? And after that, I take you roller skating."
The mention of ice cream lit up his face like a Christmas tree, and he practically jumped with joy. "Yes! Ice cream!" he exclaimed, fist-pumping the air.
But as soon as I mentioned roller skating, his enthusiasm faltered, and his lower lip jutted out in a pout that could melt even the coldest vampire’s heart. "But I don’t know how to skate," he admitted, his voice small, as if I’d just suggested something impossible.
I chuckled softly, ruffling his already messy dark hair. "Don’t worry, little champ. I’ll teach you."
His pout transformed into a tentative smile. "Really? You’re gonna teach me?"
"Of course," I said with a grin, straightening up. "By the end of today, you’ll be gliding around like a pro. Trust me."
Ash’s smile grew into a full-blown grin, his earlier hesitation forgotten. "Okay! But I still want ice cream first!"
I laughed, taking his small hand in mine. "Ice cream it is. Let’s go."
I couldn’t help but notice how natural it felt, holding his hand, as if it was something I’d been meant to do all along. Leila’s little boy wasn’t just a part of her—he was quickly becoming a part of me, too.
For the first time in a long time, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was the start of something new—something that could finally bring us all together.
"Good!" he declared, grabbing my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Then you can teach Mommy how to skate, too. She’s bad at it."
I laughed, letting him lead the way back to Leila. Ash was my ally now, even if he didn’t know it yet. If I was going to win her back—and I would win her back—I needed every advantage I could get. And with Ash on my side, I had a feeling my odds were getting better by the second.
As we stepped back into the hallway, I spotted Leila waiting for us, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed. She looked like she was bracing for the worst, but Ash’s laughter rang out, lightening the tension in the air.
"Mommy!" he called out, running toward her. "Uncle Chase is the best! He’s gonna teach you how to skate!"
Leila’s glare shifted to me, and I met her gaze with a small, smug smile. Game on, my love.
Leila’s eyes blazed with the kind of fire that could scorch a man to ashes, and believe me, I’ve faced actual fire before—this was worse. Her expression went from polite, wary mother to full-blown mama bear as soon as Ash spilled the beans about our "ice cream and roller skating plans." That was a look. The kind that made most men reconsider all their life choices and head in the opposite direction.
"Ashton, come to me right now," she said, her voice sharp and commanding. "And he isn’t your uncle."
Ouch. That one stung, but hey, I wasn’t about to give up so easily.
My little accomplice, though, was way ahead of me. He darted behind my legs, peeking out at her with those big, mischievous eyes. "Ooh boy, Mom’s mad," he whispered dramatically, as if he were narrating a dangerous wildlife encounter.
I crouched down to his level, fighting back a laugh. His little face was full of mischief, and the way he motioned for me to lean in closer was downright adorable. "C’mon, Uncle Chase, be a man and defend me. We’re both men... charm her a little," he whispered. It wasn’t exactly a whisper, because I knew Leila heard every word. Her already stormy expression darkened further. Yep, she was really contemplating murder now. Probably my murder.
Her death glare made it very clear that she heard every word, and she looked like she was debating how long it would take to actually kill me.
"The kid is right, you know," I said, straightening up and putting on my most diplomatic tone. "It’s his birthday, and it’s the one day a child gets what he wants."
Leila turned her fiery gaze fully on me, crossing her arms in a way that screamed, You’ve got some explaining to do, mister. "I can’t believe you. I give you a few minutes with him, and you turn him against me?"
Maybe she had a point, but I wasn’t about to back down. This was my shot, after all. Okay, fair point. I might’ve encouraged him, but only because it worked in my favor. I let the smirk fade, softening my tone. "I don’t want a repeat of what happened," I said softly, dropping the smugness for a moment. "I’m not ready to lose you for another three years. Just... calm down. Let me fulfill the promise I made to the kid, and then we can talk. About us."
Ash chimed in immediately, his big brown eyes wide and pleading. "Please, Mummy? You don’t even know how to skate. Maybe he can teach you, too? And you did promise me ice cream... only this time, he’ll buy it, and you can use the money for something else for me."
Smart kid. Definitely deserved the five scoops I was planning to buy him.
"Looks like the kid’s got a point," I said, keeping my voice light but watching her carefully.
Leila exhaled sharply, shooting me one last glare before turning to Ash. "Fine," she said, her tone reluctant, but I could see the corner of her mouth twitch as though suppressing a smile.
And just like that, my little wingman and I scored.
Leila and Ash had already finished their meal by the time our little deal was struck. Not that I cared—I wasn’t about to go back to my table and pretend to enjoy food when my beloved was so close after all these years. I wasn’t going to waste even a second.
When Leila asked if I needed to finish my own meal, I waved it off casually, lying through my teeth. "I’m done," I said, giving her a smile. "No point in sitting around when there’s ice cream to buy and skating to master."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, clearly not buying my casual demeanor but choosing not to comment. Instead, she sighed and turned to Ash. "Alright, let’s get your things, and then we’ll go."
We walked back to her table, where she quickly gathered their belongings. I couldn’t help but glance at her every chance I got. She hadn’t changed much—still as beautiful and captivating as the day I first saw her. Her hair gleamed in the light, and even in her cautious movements, there was an undeniable grace.
Ash, on the other hand, was bubbling with energy. "Uncle Chase, do you like chocolate or strawberry ice cream? I want to pick the same flavor as you!"
"Chocolate," I said, grinning down at him. "Classic choice for champions."
Ash nodded firmly, as though my preference had sealed his own. "Okay! Chocolate it is!"
Leila didn’t look at me as we walked, her hand on Ash’s shoulder, guiding him out of the restaurant. She was guarded, her steps careful, as if trying to keep a boundary between us. I could feel her unease, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
But I wasn’t deterred. She was here, and that was all that mattered.
As we made our way to the ice cream shop, Ash chattered excitedly about all the flavors he wanted to try, blissfully unaware of the undercurrent between his mother and me. And for now, that was enough. I had her near, and no matter how guarded she was, I would find a way to break through.
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