Riley's POV
Regret tastes a lot like burnt coffee and exhaustion. And today, I was running on both.
Four hours of sleep, two cups of coffee, and one screaming baby strapped to my chest. That was my morning routine at Carter's Crumbs, my bakery that was barely holding itself together—kind of like me. The morning rush had been brutal, customers flooding in like I was giving away pastries for free. Which, in hindsight, I probably should have, considering I was one late bill away from losing the shop altogether.
Emma, my five-month-old daughter, let out a wail that made three customers jump.
"I know, sweetie, I know, just give mummy some few minutes" I muttered, bouncing her lightly as I tried to frost a cupcake with my other hand.
And then the bell above the door jingled.
I glanced up, half expecting another rushed customer, but instead, the universe decided to spit in my face.
Ethan Walker. My ex. My mistake. The father of my child. The man who married me on a drunken whim, then disappeared before the ink on our rushed courthouse marriage certificate had even dried.
I gripped the piping bag so hard that pink frosting squirted out the top.
He didn't notice me at first, too busy adjusting the strap of that stupid messenger bag he always carried. His shaggy brown hair still looked like he hadn't seen a brush in years, and that ridiculous leather jacket was still patched up like some kind of thrift store disaster.
"Hey, do you guys have any croissants?" he asked Tina, my best friend and part-time cashier.
Tina's brows shot up, and she side-eyed me. "Yeah, right there on the sign."
Ethan turned and finally saw me.
His lips curled into that cocky, easy grin I used to fall for.
"Riley! Wow, it's been…what? A year?"
"Yeah," I said flatly.
"Right. Wow, you look… busy." He gestured at the chaos around me, the long line of impatient customers, flour smudged on my apron, and the tiny, very noticeable human strapped to my chest.
His eyes landed on Emma, and his smile faltered. "Uh… whose baby?"
I arched an eyebrow and ignored him while trying to get off the the flour on my apron.
"Huh?" He asked again, his tone flat.
"Yours" I said, glaring deep into his soul.
Silence.
Even the espresso machine seemed to stop mid-hiss. The customers shifted awkwardly, some pretending to be interested in their muffins but clearly eavesdropping.
"What?!" Ethan choked out, voice cracking.
Tina, always the nosy one, leaned on the counter like she was watching a live soap opera. I let out a shaky breath.
"Emma" I said gesturing towards her "Your daughter. Surprise."
Ethan blinked. "Wait. How? When? I mean, obviously, I know how, but… how?"
I rolled my eyes "You're seriously asking that right now?" I snapped. "Do you want me to draw you a diagram?" I paused, staring at him "The night that ended in a courthouse, and then poof—you vanishing into thin air the next morning?"
His face paled. "Riley, I—"
"Save it." I turned back to the cupcakes, trying to focus. But my hands were shaking, and not just from anger. From exhaustion, from stress, from everything.
His mouth opened, then shut. He looked utterly shell-shocked. "But… we only—"
"Once," I said. "Guess what? That's all it takes. Congratulations, you're a dad."
He exhaled sharply. "I didn't know. You never told me."
I laughed. Actually laughed. "Oh, really? Did you leave a forwarding address? A phone number? A carrier pigeon?"
He scratched the back of his head. "Uh… no. But, look, I didn't mean to disappear. Things just… happened."
"Things?" I repeated. "That's the best excuse you've got?"
He looked genuinely remorseful, but I wasn't in the mood to hear it. I had bills to pay, a baby to take care of, and exactly zero time for his playboy nonsense.
"Okay, so…" He swallowed, glancing at Emma. "What now?"
"Now?" I huffed a bitter laugh. "Now, I finish these cupcakes, try not to collapse from exhaustion, and keep this bakery from going under. You, on the other hand, can go right back to whatever carefree, responsibility-free life you were living and get the hell out."
Ethan's mouth tightened. "That's not fair. I want to be involved."
I stared at him. "You? The guy who couldn't even commit to breakfast, let alone a family?"
His jaw clenched. "I've changed."
"Oh, really? Let's test that theory. Where are you living?"
His hesitation was loud. Finally, he sighed. "In my van."
Tina let out a snort of laughter, quickly covering it with a fake cough. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Wow," I deadpanned. "Father of the Year."
Ethan exhaled. "Come on, Riley. Give me a chance. Let me prove I can do this."
I crossed my arms. "You? Living in a van? With zero parenting experience? Yeah, that sounds great."
"Hey, I'm good with kids!" he said defensively. "I used to babysit my nephew all the time."
"How old is your nephew?"
"Fourteen."
I snorted. "Yeah, Ethan, because dealing with a moody teenager is exactly the same as raising a newborn."
Ethan's grin returned, sheepish but hopeful.
"Okay, so I'm not perfect. But I can learn. Give me a chance. I'll prove I can do this."
I hesitated. I should have slammed the door in his face. But exhaustion and desperation made me pause. I wanted to believe him.
But I wasn't going to make it easy.
It was at that moment I reliazed I had been talking too much, I had customers waiting and I needed to attend to them first. Ethan would have to wait till I'm done with them.
Finally, I exhaled sharply. "Fine. Wait for me"
Ethan's smile faltered. "Uh… what do you mean?"
I shoved a notepad at him. "I mean, you're working. You're on dish duty, cleaning duty, and diaper duty. If you're serious, prove it."
He gulped. "Diaper duty?"
I ignored him.
He reached for a croissant, and I smacked his hand away.
"Not free, Baby Daddy."