LAAVANYA SAT ON his couch as Ryker tugged Rain to bed. Rain had fallen asleep in the car back home itself so he had texted her mother to let her sleep with him for the night. From the looks of it, it seemed like his goddaughter stayed with him a lot and he was used to having her around so much that he knew her allergies, likes, dislikes and even her tantrums.

Rain did not stay still in the aquarium. Running from one side to the other, her eyes popping at every big fish she could see. Her blue eyes reflected under the water and it was enchanting to watch her look at everything with such great curiosity. She would even tug Ryker by his feet and ask him to read the information panel. After the aquarium, they went to a little restaurant in the city before they went to a kid's amusement park closeby. She never seemed to run out of energy. Even before falling asleep, she wanted to have ice cream. But since it was past her bedtime and had school tomorrow, Ryker said no.

"She likes you a lot," Ryker said as he walked towards her with two glasses in his hand and a wine bottle. He sat beside her and poured them a glass each. "Can't tell why." He joked and took a sip.

"Hey!" She jabbed his arm. "I just helped you babysit your goddaughter for an entire day. The least you could do was say thank you."

"Thank you, Laav," he said sincerely. He peered towards her and raised his glass "I owe you one."

She shot him a smile and took another sip. "You'd make an amazing father, you know."

Ryker stayed silent, probably processing what she had said. She grew up with a father who didn't give her the required amount of love and affection but it bloomed her heart to know that there were good fathers in this world. She never expected this from Ryker. She would have never guessed him to be a father figure but after watching him today, she knew it was possible. The hateful image she had created of him in the back of her mind after he rejected her was slowly crumbling and it both made her happy and scared.

They sat in silence but something was going on in his head. Ryker placed his wineglass down on the table and dropped his gaze between his thighs. In a low voice, he muttered, "I am."

"What?"

"Rain is not my goddaughter or my friend's daughter. She is mine. Paris and I had her when we were 21."

"What?" She repeated.

Rain's eyes. The pictures. Their routine.

It made sense.

"Why...why did you lie to me?"

"I don't want anyone...uh, I don't want my family to know."

"Why? They would be so happy for you! Julie would have been such a great aunt. She...she would take her out on playdates or babysit her when you and Paris need a nanny. And Savannah, she would buy her clothes and Grandpa John—" Laavnaya said. "He would love her."

"It's complicated, Laavanya. You won't understand. You don't know them like I do."

"I never had a family growing up. But yours made me feel at home. I was no one to them. Just Julie's friend. They took a stranger into their house as if I were their daughter. Do you really think they would treat Rain any differently?"

"Laavanya..." He breathed. "I can't. I will tell you why when I am ready but now is not the time. I just...I had to tell someone and I chose to tell you. I want to be a great father to Rain. Paris and I, we had already broken up by the time she found out she was pregnant. We were never anything serious to begin with but then Rain came along and it changed me completely. I had just finished college with a degree that my family never supported me for because it was so risky. I had to work multiple jobs to provide for them. And I could never miss not being there for Rain or Paris." He fidgeted with the hem of his t-shirt. "You asked why I stopped coming to Bayfort. This is why."

Laavanya gulped and shifted in her seat. The words from her throat had dried out. The image of Ryker had crumbled completely and a whole new one was building blocks in her mind.

"Why are you telling me the truth?" Her voice came out rough.

"Because I am done hiding from you. The truth is–" He took a deep breath. "When I asked you to stay away from me seven years ago, it wasn't because I didn't want you or found you annoying. It was because I was...scared—I was scared that I wouldn't be a good father and I was scared that you would run away if I told you the truth."

She snapped her head to him. "You pushed me away because you were scared of being a disappointment?"

"I had been a disappointment for my father ever since I lost my scholarship because of a bad accident. I didn't want the same thing with—" He stopped himself. "It's too late now anyway."

"Ry...Ryker..." Her lips quivered as her eyelids pooled with tears she never shed for him. Laavanya scooted closer and rested her forehead on his shoulder, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I had no idea you had been going through so much. If I had any clue...I am sorry I hated you so much for rejecting me that I..." She hooked her arm around his, holding him close. "I never asked how you are."

"I am sorry too."

She looked at him and suddenly, she realised the closeness between them. She could feel his wine breath on her lips and she almost leaned in closer, giving into the urge of pressing her lips against his when her phone buzzed in between them and she jumped away. She looked at her screen. "It's, um. It's Cameron. He's downstairs. I should go."

Laavanya wiped her teardrop and hurried towards the door. Before she left, she turned around once again and watched Ryker standing–watching her leave. She held her breath and ran towards him. Almost crushing him as she circled her arms around his neck. He was taken aback by the sudden impact but he quickly recovered and brought her even close, sniffing into her neck. "Will you be okay, Ryker?"

"Yeah," he said when they pulled apart. He places a longing kiss on her forehead. "I hope he is keeping you happy."

Laavanya looked at him for a moment. "Goodnight, Ryker."

now the fun begins hehe

the following chapters are really going to dive deep into their individual characters and their relationships as a whole. i hope you are excited because I sure am!