Lake rolls her eyes and stalks off with her friend at her side.
“She looks happy,” I say.
“Oh, Penelope, you just wait. These pre-teens are like a keg of dynamite—there’s always a risk of an explosion with one wrong move.” Hayes walks to the entrance of the bouncy house. “I’m coming in!” he shouts to all the kids inside and reaches in as though he’s going to grab them.
The girls squeal and huddle in a corner, but Hayes gets half his body in there.
“Lame, Haymaker.” Easton toes out of his shoes and slides through the opening.
“Good—fun Uncle Easton is here.” Hayes straightens and nods to someone behind us.
I’m not going to turn around and look because I have a feeling I already know who it is.
“You’re late,” Hayes says.
“You’re early for once in your life.”
Goose bumps race up my spine at Decker’s voice.
“Leighton has that effect on me. But I got three kids plus one out the door, and you couldn’t get your sorry single ass here on time.”
“Don’t forget, I’m responsible for Easton.” Decker’s deep chuckle has me wanting to press my thighs together.
“Stop throwing shade, Goldie!” Easton shouts, proving he’s never out of earshot.
Everyone laughs, but the man-child is in the bouncy house playing Marco Polo with the girls.
“Decker!” Lincoln shouts and tosses the football over before anyone is ready.
“Watch out, Pen.” Decker’s voice is tight.
I glance to my right and see a youth-size football coming right for me. When I go to step back, I run into a firm chest. Two arms extend around me above my head, grabbing the ball right before it can hit me square in the nose.
“I got you.” Decker’s whisper in my ear has me suppressing a shudder.
“Linc, you gotta wait until he’s ready.” Hayes jogs away, holding up his hands for Decker to throw him the ball.
Decker hasn’t moved away from me yet, and I greedily soak in his body heat, his scent. He’s everything I crave late at night. Especially when my vibrator makes an appearance.
“You good?” he asks.
I wordlessly nod like a teenage girl whose biggest crush just said hi to her in the school hallway.
He steps away from me and throws the ball to Hayes. The three of them form a triangle to play catch.
“Whoa, that was… should I tell you how hot that was?” Leighton sips her drink, fanning herself with her other hand.
“No need. I felt him everywhere.”
“I can imagine.”
“No gossip until I get there!” Callie calls, walking over to us with her own drink in hand.
“Reap!” Hayes shouts, but Foster points toward the carrier and puts his finger over his mouth.
Ellis is strapped to his chest, and the diaper bag is swung over his shoulder.
“Man, you sure have him trained.” Leighton chuckles.
