His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

Fear flickered in Brock's eyes. Casper placed a firm hand on Brock's shoulder. "Do you want to win first place?"

Brock's eyes welled up as he shook his head.

Casper narrowed his eyes. "I'll ask you again. Do you want to win first place?"

Brock hesitated.

He saw Casper with a certain charm. Casper could make him believe anything was possible, even winning first place.

"Mhm." Brock agreed.

Casper felt a surge of pride. Brock still had some fight in him. "Alright then, let's go get that first place."

Casper and Brock joined the kindergarten relay race. These kiddie races were really all about the adults. The kids' abilities were pretty much the same across the board. Watching from the bleachers, Dillon raised an eyebrow. Hadn't Casper and Eliza had a huge fight? So, Casper caved in after all.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," a woman's anxious voice piped in from beside him.

Eliza. He lowered his

it. Brock's about to compete, and we can't wait to watch the race," the principal said with

then looked toward the field. She

was he doing here? Why was Casper with Brock at his sports day? Could Casper have figured something out? She shook her head. Brock looked

The race started.

made it about twenty or thirty meters before

clenched, her eyes brimming with worry. She thought Brock would burst into tears like he always did when he fell. He'd always been a bit fragile and not good

Brock showed incredible resilience. He quickly got up, brushed the dirt off, and, without a second thought,

time Brock was passing the baton, the parents in the other lanes were already

in this last-minute "father and son" duo to be so fast and powerful.

surprisingly, Casper took

stuck close to Casper, his big, clear eyes shining with excitement and a touch of caution. Casper bent down and extended his large hand. "Want to sit on

but then gathered his courage

him up, and

Brock's first time sitting on a man's shoulders, and

below, Eliza