Night That Made a Father

"What was that about?" Ava had asked, eyes narrowing with the sharpness of someone too damn smart for her own good. Even Claire and Alina caught on, glancing between Cassidy and Parker as they all sat back down.

"Some ex?" Alina teased, though her voice carried a flicker of genuine curiosity.

Cassidy just shook her head, the picture of cool control, swirling her champagne without meeting anyone's eyes. "Nothing worth talking about."

Parker could feel their gazes shifting toward him next, but he wasn't answering either. Not because he couldn't. He just... didn't want to. Whatever that was, it wasn't about tonight.

And just like that, the subject slipped away, drowned in the next round of drinks as the celebration roared back to life.