Do You Like My Mom?

Nick felt a wave of awkwardness crash over him as he quickly moved his face away from Amelia's. Standing up a bit too fast, he cleared his throat, trying to cover the moment. "Your mom's just sleeping," he said, hoping to redirect the conversation. "Why don't you sit down? Your drink will be here soon."

Sean nodded, his eyes wide and curious as he climbed into the seat next to Nick. The boy was full of questions, and Nick could see the wheels turning in his little head. Nick signaled the flight attendant to bring Sean his drink, and when she arrived with a glass of cold water, Sean eagerly took it.

But the questions kept coming. "Do you like my mom?" Sean asked innocently, taking a sip of his drink.

Nick was caught off guard. He glanced at Sean, then quickly looked away, searching for the right words. "Why do you ask that?" he finally managed.

Sean shrugged, his expression serious. "Because I saw you. You were going to kiss her, right?"

Nick felt his pulse quicken. He shook his head, trying to come up with an explanation. "No, buddy, I wasn't going to kiss her. I was just checking her temperature. Her face looked pale, and I was worried she might have a fever."

Sean seemed to consider this, then nodded, as if satisfied with the answer. But instead of going back to sleep, he made a surprising decision. "I'll sit with you for the rest of the flight," Sean declared, settling into the seat beside Nick. "I want to make sure you don't do anything to my mom while she's sleeping."

Nick couldn't help but chuckle, though it was laced with frustration. Here was this kid, trying to protect his mom from him, of all people. Nick wanted to be annoyed, even angry. After all, Sean wasn't his kid; he had no obligation to like the boy. But as much as he tried, Nick couldn't muster up any real resentment. Sean was too innocent, too genuinely concerned for his mom, and there was no denying the kid's charm. He was a miniature version of Amelia, with the same sharp eyes and disarming smile. 

Despite his initial reluctance, Nick found himself enjoying the boy's company. Sean wasn't interested in the tablet the flight attendant offered him; instead, he pulled out a book from his backpack and began reading quietly. Nick watched him out of the corner of his eye, impressed by the kid's focus. Sean was different from most kids his age, and Nick couldn't help but be intrigued.

As they flew, Sean broke the silence with another conversation. "When I grow up, I want to be a great businessman like my grandpa."

Nick paused, considering the boy's words. "If you work hard and stay focused, I think you can be whatever you want," he said. "Being a good businessman takes a lot of dedication, though. It's not always easy."

Sean nodded seriously, as if he already understood the weight of what Nick was saying. Then he looked up at Nick, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Is the plane yours? And the Ferrari from last night? Are they all yours?"

Nick smiled, shaking his head. "The car was a rental, but I do have one like it back home. The jet belongs to my family, though. It's part of the Zhao family business."

Sean looked impressed, his eyes widening at the thought. But then he glanced over at his sleeping mother, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "My mom's pretty cool, too," he said quietly. "She really loves her work. She told me once that she didn't even like studying and research at first. But her iron-hearted professor pushed her, and now she's one of the best."

Nick's smile softened as he listened to Sean. "Iron-hearted?" Memories of the past flooded back, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. He was the one who had pushed Amelia. "She is amazing," he said softly, almost to himself. "I didn't think she'd end up as incredible as she is now."

When the flight attendant came around again, offering snacks, Sean politely declined, saying he didn't want to eat too much before landing. Nick couldn't help but smile at that—such a mature response for someone so young. He offered Sean a piece of candy instead, but the boy shook his head.

"I don't like sugar," Sean said politely.

Nick felt something off about the way Sean refused. It was like he'd seen someone act like that somewhere before. But that kind of rejection was all too familiar to him. He grabbed a chocolate bar while watching Sean more closely.

Not long after, Sean, who didn't want to sleep, ended up dozing off anyway. "Little tough guy," Nick chuckled quietly. He was tempted to let Sean sleep in the chair since it was pretty comfy, but for some reason, he couldn't just leave him there. So, he picked the kid up and laid him back down next to Maddie.