I press a kiss to her wavy brown hair. “Yeah, it kind of is.”
We continue to move through the rooms slowly because Sera needs to touch literally everything. Every floating orb. Every shimmery wall. Every ripple reflected on the floor.
One of the rooms is filled with oversize balloons that change color when you brush against them. Then there is another room with mirrors angled in impossible ways so her reflection stretches and multiplies, then disappears.
She runs from one thing to the next, laughing, dancing, and completely narrating her own adventure in toddler speak, yet Alie and I understand everything she says.
“Wook!” she yells, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward a tunnel with glowing plastic bubbles. “Stars!”
I look up and smile. “They do look like stars; you’re right.”
Behind us, Alie asks us to turn around for a picture. Her phone is aimed toward us like she’s likely already taken a few.
“She’s going to sleep for, like, twelve hours after this.” She laughs.
“Happy to contribute to wearing her out. That’ll give you and Liam some quality time together,” I say, laughing and wiggling my eyebrows.
Alie blushes. “That sounds good to me. Liam is pretty intense during the season. I feel like he’s still trying to prove himself here, even though he doesn’t need to.”
“I think he’s having fun though. He has great chemistry with the team.”
“Yeah, you’re right; he does. I’m sure, next season, he’ll be more relaxed.”
“Absolutely,” I agree.
We walk through the tunnel, the lights changing from soft blues to pinks, then gold. Seraphina’s tiny hand is wrapped tightly around mine, and her head is tilted back as she watches the colors above us.
I look down at her, and everything feels simple. Easy.
Almost like the world outside this bubble-filled space doesn’t exist.
“You’re so good with her,” Alie says when we reach the next room.
We sit on a bench and watch Seraphina try to catch projected bubbles on the floor that disappear when she jumps on them.
“I love her.” I lift a shoulder in a shrug.
“I know you do. And she loves you.” She smiles at me. “You’ll be a great mom, Pres.”
The words unexpectedly hit me.
“Maybe,” I say with a tilt to my head.
“You will. I just know it.”
“I guess if I can keep grown men alive, I can probably handle a kid,” I joke.
“That’s exactly what I mean.” She turns to look at me on the bench. “You’re kind, patient, observant, and you stay calm under pressure.”
I nod. “When I’m on the field or working with one of the players, I’m definitely in my realm. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do, and I love what I do. Not a lot of people get to say that. We’re very fortunate, and I don’t take that for granted.”
We watch Sera throw herself dramatically on the floor when one of the bubbles escapes her.
“I agree with you. But I’m just saying, someday, Sera will want some cousins.” She pushes my knee with her hand.
Where the fuck is this coming from?
“Someday. We’ll see what happens.”
