I sat up, “Really? You’d be okay with that?”
“Yes. Please. Invite them.”
“You’ll be nice and won’t growl.”
“I’ll be on my best behavior. And if I’m honest, I fear I may not have made the best impression on them and would like a chance to correct that.”
I smiled as I settled into his embrace.
There was still a lot to figure out, but I was beginning to believe we just might figure it out. Maybe I would get to keep this man after all.
30
BELLE
Isat on the sidelines at Reaper practice. Again. I hated it. I wanted to be out there knocking my best friends down.
When Mel blew the last whistle, everyone came and collapsed, breathing hard.
“Bet you’re glad you sat that out,” Robin said as she started taking off her wrist guards.
“Are you kidding? I want to get out there. No one can block Mel like me.”
“How much longer until you can get back out there?” Mel asked.
“Eight weeks tomorrow, so as long as everything goes well at my next doctor’s appt, I should be out there again soon.”
“Good, we need you out there,” Eleanor said as she bumped me with her shoulder.
“So, I was going to ask. If any of you are free tomorrow, do you want to come out to Raph’s and swim? He’s got a great pool.”
“Seriously?” Mel asked, pulling back in surprise.
I nodded.
“Can Ava come?”
“Of course! He said I could invite you and the kids.”
“We’ll be there, it will be a great end of summer,” Eleanor said.
“With school starting next week, I know Leo would love it too,” Mel said.
“Like at his house? The ginormous one on the edge of town,” Robin said with an air of disapproval.
“That’s the one.”
She looked at me with a judgmental look that only Robin can give. “I’ll be there. I need to know more about this guy.”
“Okay. Good. This will be good!” I’m not sure if I was trying to convince myself or them.
***
The next day, I had made lemonade, Rice Krispies treats, and a pitcher of margaritas in preparation for everyone's arrival.
Raphael was standing by the bar with a deep V between his brows.
“So Eleanor Tremaine is coming with her ten-year-old daughter Ava and her boyfriend Alex Prince.”
