4. Chloe

CHAPTER 4

Chloe

G etting attached to Rendal might be a mistake. But why does it feel so good to be around him? Why do I find myself thinking about him so much, especially during the days when we don't see each other?

I'm humming to myself as I get ready for the day, applying a light touch of makeup and choosing a cute sundress. It's become a habit, putting in a little extra effort whenever I know I'll be seeing Rendal. Not that I'd admit it to anyone, but there's something about that orc that makes me want to look my best.

My phone buzzes on the dresser, and my heart does a little flip when I see Rendal's name pop up. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I reach for it.

"Got a text from your boyfriend?" Penelope asks, peeking her head into my room with a cheeky grin.

"He's not my boyfriend, sweetie," I say, trying to keep my voice casual. "And shouldn't you be getting ready for school?"

She giggles and runs off, leaving me to check the message in peace. But as I read it, my smile fades.

"Hey Chloe, sorry for the short notice. Something came up at work, and I need to reschedule our playdate. Rain check?"

I feel a pang of disappointment in my chest. It's silly, really. We're just friends arranging playdates for our kids. But the thought of not seeing Rendal today leaves me feeling deflated.

I type out a quick reply, aiming for a breezy tone. "No problem! Work comes first. Let me know when you're free next."

Tossing my phone onto the bed, I sigh and look at myself in the mirror. The cute sundress suddenly feels like overkill for a regular day at the kindergarten. I consider changing, but Penelope's voice calls out from downstairs, reminding me we're running late.

As I grab my things and head out, I can't shake off the lingering disappointment. It's just one playdate, I tell myself. But deep down, I know it's more than that. It's the missed opportunity to see Rendal's smile, to hear his deep laugh, to feel that spark of connection that seems to grow stronger every time we meet.

I feel like I'm going crazy. What am I even doing? I'm not entitled to his time. We're not in a relationship… sort of. We're just two single parents with daughters who love spending time together.

Nothing complicated, right? Nope! Not here!

Soon enough, Rendal is already throwing out days for our next potential playdate. His initiative makes me smile to myself, grateful that he's so willing to include Penelope and I into his and Zola's life, even when he doesn't have to.

But we're not a couple. Get that through your head.

Still, it's hard not to count down the days until I get to see Rendal again. A few days later, it finally happens. Penelope and I arrive at the park, where Rendal and Zola are already waiting for us to arrive.

"Wow, Mommy! Zola's on the monkey bars!"

"I can see that, honey. Want to go join her?"

With a firm nod, she lets go of my hand and takes off. I watch Penelope run across the park, her laughter carrying on the breeze. It's a beautiful day, perfect for our rescheduled playdate. I approach Rendal and stand next to him, his presence both comforting and exhilarating. My heart thumps loudly in my chest, thanks to how close he is. I can smell his cologne, musky and attractive.

"She's got so much energy," he remarks, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. The rumble of his words seems to vibrate through the air between us, and I have to resist the urge to lean closer.

I nod, smiling as I watch Penelope scramble up the ladder to join Zola on the monkey bars.

"Sometimes I wonder where she gets it all from. I swear, some days it's like she's powered by a never-ending sugar rush." I laugh softly, stealing a glance at Rendal. His muscular arms are crossed over his broad chest, and the sunlight catches the green tint of his skin, making it look almost iridescent. "How about Zola? Is she always this active?"

"Always," he replies quickly. "I don't know where she gets it from, either. Maybe those are my genes acting up."

"Seriously?" I look him up and down. "You don't seem like the crazy type."

He snorts. "You didn't know me in college."

My eyebrows raise, curious to hear about those wild college days he's alluding to. Just as I'm about to ask, my heart sinks in my chest to hear Penelope's giggles turn into cries.

She stumbles and falls as she tries to run across the playground. Before I can even take a step, Rendal's already moving, his long strides carrying him swiftly to my daughter's side.

I hurry after him, but by the time I reach them, Rendal's already kneeling beside Penelope, his large hands gentle as he helps her up.

"Hey there, little warrior," he says, his voice soft and soothing. "That was quite a tumble you took."

Penelope sniffles, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looks at her scraped knee. My heart aches to see her in pain, but I'm struck by how naturally Rendal comforts her.

"You know," he continues, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I once tripped over my own feet and fell face-first into a mud puddle. Can you imagine? A big orc like me, covered in mud from head to toe!"

Penelope's sobs start to subside as she looks up at Rendal, curiosity replacing the pain in her eyes.

"Really?" she asks, her voice small but interested.

Rendal nods solemnly. "Oh yeah. I looked like a walking mud monster. I scared three cats and a postman on my way home."

A giggle escapes Penelope's lips, and I feel my own smile growing. Rendal's humor is working its magic, not just on my daughter, but on me too.

"There's that smile," Rendal says, gently ruffling Penelope's hair. "Now, how about we clean up that knee and get back to having fun?"

He reaches into his work backpack, pulling out a first-aid kit. As I watch Rendal tend to Penelope's scrape, I'm overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. His kindness, his gentleness with my daughter—it's all so unexpected and yet so perfectly Rendal.

He's funny, he's assertive, and he's strong. His demeanor makes that evident. But he has a soft spot for children that makes my heart flutter.

As Rendal finishes patching up Penelope's knee, he gives her a conspiratorial wink. "You know what? I think this bandage might have special powers."

Penelope's eyes widen. "Really?"

"Oh yeah," Rendal nods solemnly. "It's got super-fast healing abilities. I bet by the time you finish playing on the swings, you won't even remember you fell."

Penelope giggles, her earlier tears forgotten. "That's silly, Mr. Rendal!"

"Silly? Me?" Rendal places his large hand over his chest in mock offense. "I'll have you know I'm the most serious orc in all of Greenfield. Just ask Zola."

On cue, Zola pipes up, "It's true! Daddy never jokes. He's always grumpy and serious."

We all burst into laughter at Zola's perfect timing. Penelope, now fully recovered from her fall, jumps up.

"Come on, Zola! Let's go to the swings!"

As the girls run off and Rendal rises to his feet, I turn to him, my heart full of gratitude. "Thank you so much. You're amazing with her."

He shrugs, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "It's nothing. I've had plenty of practice falling on my face. I grew up playing football. Makes me an expert in cleaning up scraped knees."

I can't help but laugh. "Oh really? And here I thought you were just naturally graceful."

"Graceful?" Rendal laughs. "I don't know if I should take offense to that, Miss Chloe. I'm no ballerina."

"Now that's an image," I say, my eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'd pay good money to see that."

"Oh hell no," he jokes. "I'd rather see you in the pretty dress."

We continue talking, laughing, all while watching our kids in our peripheral vision. Time flies by whenever I'm with him. Minutes feel like seconds, and I hardly want to go home by the time we're done.

I've been so worried about getting too close, about letting my guard down. But after watching Rendal with Penelope, seeing how naturally he fits into our lives, I feel those doubts start to melt away.

Rendal's expression softens as we watch our daughters together. "She's a great kid, Chloe. You've done an incredible job with her."

His words touch something deep inside me. I've always been so focused on being everything Penelope needs, I never realized how much I needed someone to see and appreciate that effort.

As we stand there, watching our daughters play, I feel a shift. The walls I've built up, the fears I've held onto—they're starting to crumble. Maybe, just maybe, it's okay to let Rendal in. Maybe it's okay to want more than just playdates and casual conversations.