Chapter 113: Let’s Have Our Own Some day
The proprietress looked a little embarrassed.
"But..."
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Luca Hale. On the contrary, she remembered him quite well. Although she didn’t know his name, he had stopped by her barbecue stall for late-night meals many times in the past.
She simply felt it was too much trouble to leave her daughter with the young couple.
However, when she saw Sophie Kennedy happily holding Daisy’s little hand, her beautiful face glowing with genuine delight, she finally gave in.
"Then I’ll have to trouble you two."
After thanking them, she crouched beside her daughter and gently reminded her, "Daisy, be a good girl. Stay with your big brother and big sister, and don’t go running around."
Once the proprietress returned to the grill, Sophie patted the empty seat beside her.
"Daisy, come sit here."
The little girl obediently climbed onto the chair.
"Here, try some roast beef. It’s really delicious."
Using her fork, Sophie carefully slid the meat off the skewer into a small disposable paper bowl before placing it in front of Daisy.
The little girl immediately shook her head.
"My mommy and daddy said I can’t eat food from other people."
Despite her firm refusal, her bright eyes never left the steaming beef. Her tiny throat bobbed as she swallowed quietly.
Luca couldn’t help laughing.
"Your mom is absolutely right. If little kids accept food from complete strangers, bad people might carry them away."
He playfully curled his fingers into claws and made a silly "I’m going to catch you" gesture.
Daisy immediately shrank back with a squeak.
Then Luca smiled, gently rubbing her little head.
"But your mommy already asked us to take care of you tonight."
"So we’re not strangers anymore."
"It’s perfectly fine to have a little."
"Really?"
Daisy turned hopefully toward Sophie, her round little face filled with anticipation.
Sophie nodded with a smile.
"Really. Go ahead."
"Yay!"
Daisy clapped her hands excitedly before carefully picking up the beef. She stuffed the entire bite into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out adorably as a look of pure happiness spread across her face.
Not far away, the proprietress watched the three of them chatting and laughing together.
The tension on her tired face gradually melted away.
Running a barbecue stall meant afternoons and late nights were always the busiest hours. Back when the grandparents were around, someone could help look after Daisy. Now, simply picking her up from kindergarten every day had become difficult, let alone finding time to play with her.
Tonight was probably the happiest her daughter had been in weeks.
’Maybe...’
’I’ll talk it over with my husband later.’
’We should close the shop for a couple of days and take Daisy somewhere fun.’
By the time Luca and Sophie finished eating, it was already eleven o’clock.
[Ding!]
[The host spent 12 dollars.]
[Triple cashback activated.]
[Reward: 360 dollars.]
There wasn’t a huge critical hit this time, but Luca was perfectly satisfied with the extra money.
Although Daisy looked incredibly reluctant to see them leave, she obediently grabbed her mother’s apron and waved her tiny hand.
"Bye-bye, big brother! Bye-bye, pretty sister!"
Luca found Sophie’s reaction especially amusing.
Even after they had walked several steps away, she kept looking back toward the barbecue stall. After climbing onto the back of the electric scooter, she still couldn’t resist turning around for one last look.
"So reluctant to leave her?" Luca teased with a grin.
"Then let’s have one of our own someday."
"N-No way!"
Sophie’s face instantly flushed bright red.
"Stop teasing me."
Right now, she was busy taking care of her mother while juggling her part-time job. On top of that, she was preparing for her postgraduate entrance exams. She barely had enough time for herself, let alone raising a child.
Seeing Luca remain silent, Sophie slowly reached forward and pinched the back of his shirt.
She lowered her head, remaining quiet for a long while before finally gathering enough courage to whisper against his back.
"...Wait until I’ve finished all my exams."
"Then..."
"Then we can... get to that point..."
Her voice became softer with every word until it was barely audible.
By the end, her face was almost buried against his shoulder.
The cool night breeze brushed across her cheeks, yet they burned as though they had been placed beside an open fire.
Luca’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"Get to what point?"
"You..."
"Hmph!"
Feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, Sophie lightly punched his back.
’This man is hopeless.’
He clearly knew she was too shy to talk about these things, yet he always insisted on making her say them aloud. Then, the moment she blushed, he’d grin like he’d won some grand victory.
How could someone be so shameless?
As they passed a brightly lit pharmacy that was still busy late into the night, Luca told Sophie to wait on the scooter before jogging across the street.
The moment Sophie noticed the large pharmacy sign, she immediately guessed what he was buying.
She rolled her eyes helplessly, her cheeks growing even redder.
Still...
She didn’t stop him.
Instead, a tiny flutter of nervous anticipation quietly blossomed inside her chest.
"Hehe, young man."
The shopkeeper glanced through the glass door at Sophie waiting obediently beside the scooter outside before giving Luca a huge thumbs-up.
"You’re one lucky guy."
Luca laughed.
"I know."
The two men exchanged a knowing smile that required no explanation whatsoever.
When Luca came back outside, he held out a small black plastic bag.
"Here. Hold this for me."
"I don’t want to."
"You really won’t?"
"No!"
Sophie’s answer was unusually firm, though she stubbornly refused to look him in the eye.
Luca leaned closer until his lips were beside her ear.
"So..."
"You’re saying you’re ready to skip all those exams and give me a big, healthy son instead?"
His warm breath brushed lightly across her ear.
An electric shiver shot through Sophie’s body.
Her heartbeat instantly spiraled out of control, while a wave of heat spread from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Luca Hale!"
She glared at him, completely flustered.
"If you keep teasing me like this..."
"I’m really not talking to you anymore!"
"Hmph!"
"Take me home right now!"
Luca pretended to look confused.
"Home?"
"Whose home?"
"O-Of course..."
Sophie’s voice caught in her throat.
"...Your house."
The words barely escaped her lips.
By the time she finished speaking, she felt as though every ounce of strength had drained from her body.
Under the bright moonlight, Sophie clung tightly to Luca’s back for the entire ride home.
No matter how much he teased her afterward, she stubbornly refused to say another word.