“Yep.”
“And Mel, who is the captain, is coming with her son Leo, who is also Alex’s son because she is married to his ex-wife, and everyone is good with that.”
“Yep! They are neighbors and co-parent like a dream.”
He nodded like he was trying to commit it all to memory.”There was one more, right?”
“Yep, Robin Sherwood. Although her derby name is Robin Banks, so you might want to keep an eye on her,” I said with a chuckle.
He nodded and took a deep breath. Because I knew him so well by now, I could see the small tells of nerves setting in. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him chew his bottom lip quite like that.
“You got all that, big guy?” I said with a playful pat to his forearm.
“I believe I can manage,” he said.
There was a knock at the door followed by voices.
“Good, because they're here.”
A moment later, Geoffrey rounded the corner with a familiar-looking group of women carrying pool bags who looked familiar but out of place all at the same time.
“Wow, this place is incredible,” Eleanor said, breaking the ice.
“Welcome, we’re happy to have all of you. Is Eleanor correct?” he said, taking her hand in a firm handshake.
“Yes, I’ve seen you around. It's nice to officially meet you.”
He made the rounds, shaking hands and introducing himself like he was at a business lunch, that was, until a little hand pulled on his sleeve.
“Excuse me, sir? Is your castle haunted? Do you have ghosts?” Ava asked so matter-of-factly.
He looked at her, taking her question seriously. “I haven’t seen any, but in a house this big, it’s hard to tell.”
Ava just nodded, her serious expression never leaving her face.
“Can we swim now? I want to swim!!” Leo said, bouncing up and down.
“Of course, that’s why we are here. Right this way, sir.” Raph said as he started guiding them all out onto the back patio.
He guided them down the steps to the lower area of the yard where the pool and pool house was. “If anyone needs anything or to change, the pool house is open. I will join you all in a moment.”
Raph turned and walked back to the house, and before she could even turn around, there was a big splash. Leo was already in the pool.
“I need to go change,” Mel said.
“I got him,” Alex answered as he set the pool bag next to one of the loungers and slipped his shirt off, ready to get in with Leo.
I looked around the pool as Ava slowly got in, testing the water carefully while Leo was already pretending to be a mermaid. Alex was being the best pool dad around as the women all took a moment to sit poolside. Eleanor, with her blue one-piece and long blond hair, sat next to me. And Robin, with her short dark bob and curious green eyes, sat on the other. Then Mel came out of the pool house, her box braid pulled up into a bun on her head in a Yellow bikini.
“So this is where you live?” Robin finally said.
“I guess, at least for a while," I shrugged.
“Has he yelled at you again?” Mel asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, I heard about that,” Robin said with a glare.
“Yeah, we talked about that. We’re good. It was a bad night. He apologized.”
