“He has no idea what he’s getting himself into,” Hayleigh whispers, and I chuckle because she’s right.
I stay in the child’s pose, but everyone else moves on to the next one, silently watching the two spar with their words.
“Handstand, please,” she instructs Ethan, and he complies.
“Easy.” He’s goading her, and he knows it.
“Ethan, don’t be a dick about it.” Archie, trying his best to do the tree pose, tries to reason with him.
“It’s okay, Archie, he doesn’t scare me.” She turns that dazzling smile on Ethan, and I could swear I heard him grumble about her remembering Archie’s name. “Sorry, what was that?”
Ethan shakes his head. “Nothing. Next pose, princess.”
She bristles. “Feathered Peacock. Seems fitting to me.” She demonstrates how to do it, her forearms out in front of her, hands clasped as she throws her legs back and in the air, straight as a pin.
Hayleigh, ever the inappropriate one, blurts out, “Shit, she’s fucking flexible. That’s pretty hot.” She fans herself, and Ethan’s jaw ticks as Daisy brings her legs down fluidly and stands straight up.
Despite his attempts and failures ten times, Ethan finally gives up. The rest of his brothers whoop and laugh, high-fiving Daisy, and I swear there is something, like a bit of pride, gleaming in his eyes when she sticks her tongue out at him.
We finally finish up the session, for real this time, and Daisy is packing away her mats. Cole comes up behind me, wraps his arms around me, and turns my face back towards his and kisses me softly and slowly.
Everything is silent until I hear…
“Ugh, guys, guys are you seeing this? They’re kissing!” Archie’s shocked voice travels through the air, making me snigger. Cole rests his forehead on mine and sighs.
Nate must smack Archie on the arm. “How did you not know? Did you not get that from the scan? Or earlier, when he kissed her?”
“I just thought they were like, you know, really friendly!”
“Oh, sweet Archie, you’re so out of the loop, considering you’re Cupid.” Hayleigh laughs him off, and we break apart.
“Cat’s out of the bag now.” Cole shrugs and, not caring, I fist his T-shirt and drag him down so I can kiss him some more.
“Guess that’s our queue to leave…” someone says, but I have no idea who.
Chapter 19
Cole
25weekspregnant.Babysize – Squash
“So tell me, how has your week been?”
I sit in front of Sandra and blow out a breath, shaking my head. “This week? It’s been great, better than great. We did some shopping for the baby and bought some more supplies for when she’s here.” A smile spreads across my face at the thought of her.
“That’s good, but there is something that is still bothering you. So, what is it?”
I let out a chuckle. “How do you do that?”
“Stop deflecting, Cole.” She gives me a pointed stare.
“Ted, the baby’s biological dad, was asking Lacey for money to get out of her life, and I lost my shit.” I shake my head again.
“Okay, first thing, and this might not be professional of me, but I like you and your family, so here goes. Ted is a prick; he’sa sperm donor, not a dad. Second, what he’s doing is illegal, so I seriously advise you and Lacey to see a solicitor. Third, you lost your cool. Tell me about that.” She scribbles something down on her pad.
“I punched him in the stomach. To be fair, he swung first but…I’ve never hit anyone before. I don’t fight, I use my words, or I walk away. But I got so angry at him for thinking he could buy their freedom.”
She tilts her head slightly, assessing me. “Upon reflection, how do you feel about it?”
