Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
His mouth stretched into a grin.
There it is, I thought. God, this man should always be smiling.
“I never thought I’d say this,” Nathan began. “But now I’m actually hoping that happens. I’d love to see that.”
“Right? Me too.”
We laughed together.
Oliver and Olivia joined us after their turn on the slide and begged Nathan to play with them. After passing Marley off to me, he tossed Olivia across the pool and then guided Oliver into a backflip when it was his turn. Nathan could lift my kids above his head, no problem. Damn, he is strong. They sailed through the air. Olivia climbed on his shoulders and pumped her arms to the music, which stayed fast-paced. I hummed “A Groovy Kind of Love” while I guided Marley around the perimeter. I couldn’t get that song out of my head.
We swam until the kids complained about being starved for food. Then we dried off and made our plates.
We chose a table in the shade and ate hot dogs and chicken wings, macaroni salad for Nathan and myself, and chips for the kids. Marley sawed on an ear of corn. Nathan said it was her first time having that. She loved it. Halfway into our meal, I watched Oliver stuff his mouth, his eyes on the game of catch that had begun on the beach between Davis and two other men.
“Oliver, you have plenty of time to play with them.” I reached across the table and touched his wrist, grabbing his attention. “Slow down please. Take smaller bites.”
“Sorry, Mom.” His words were muffled. Bits of hot dog bun shot out of his mouth, making his sister giggle. “Oops,” he mumbled, scooping up the mess. He glanced across the table at Nathan, who sat beside me. Marley was in his lap.
“We’ll go out there as soon as we’re done,” Nathan said, forking macaroni noodles. “They’ll still be playing. Trust me.”
“Cool.” Oliver resumed watching the game, appearing more at ease. His next bite was half the size of his previous one.
I knew my son was worried he’d miss this unbelievable opportunity—throwing around with a professional football player. I was surprised Oliver hadn’t faked being full and fled the table already. I knew how anxious he was to get out there. But I hadn’t expected Nathan to read Oliver the way I had. Maybe I should’ve? He’d eaten with us before. He knew Oliver needed the occasional slow down reminder, even without a pending activity hurrying him along.
A thought bloomed inside my head. Nathan was becoming familiar with my kids. I hid my smile behind a napkin.
While the boys played catch, Marley, Olivia, and I got ready for the fireworks show.
I pulled on my tank and shorts, and then I took the girls inside and got them changed in the bathroom. I hadn’t packed clothes for myself, but I was dry enough. I hadn’t gone completely under the water. My top had barely gotten wet.
When we made it back outside, I laid out their swimsuits to dry, along with our towels, then grabbed one of the picnic blankets Davis had provided from the basket labeled TAKE ONE.
Once we stepped off the tiled patio, Olivia and Marley ran ahead, kicking up sand and waving at the boys. I wasn’t sure where the fireworks were going to be set off. I’d simply been told the beach. Well, Davis seemed to own a massive stretch of it. I couldn’t see another house for miles.
I glanced around. It was beautiful here. Colored lanterns were strung up between posts. Tiki torches were lit. There was even a bonfire going.
I spread the blanket out near a group of others already set up and smiled at the families. Everyone was eating Popsicles.
“Help yourselves!” a woman said, pointing to her cooler.
“Awesome. Thank you!” I grabbed five, returned to our blanket, and sank to my knees just as the girls rushed over, holding hands.
“I think the fireworks are gonna start soon,” Olivia said, her eyes lighting up when I held out a Popsicle. She dropped to her butt and tore the wrapper off. Her nose wrinkled. “Gross, green. Marley, do you like lime?”
Marley collapsed next to Olivia on the blanket and leaned over, licking the Popsicle my daughter held out. She hummed in delight.
Olivia giggled. “Guess that’s a yes!”
“Here, Olivia. I think this is cherry.” I passed her another one.
After confirming the flavor, Olivia put her back to me and scooted to the edge of the blanket, digging her feet in the sand. Marley did the same. I opened another cherry and was halfway finished with it when the boys wrapped up their game. Oliver rushed over to us while Nathan jogged to the house.
“Mom, you know what Davis said?” my son asked, his cheeks flushed and a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. “He said he’ll get us tickets to a game! And we can go on the field and stuff. He actually said that!”