Page 17 of I Loved You First

“I mean, yes, please,” Brady clarified, remembering his manners before he opened up and took Fi’s offering. Instantly, his mouth was covered with chocolate as he chewed. “This is good.”

“It’s pretty much the best flavor,” Fiona agreed.

“Yeah,” Brady said before he swallowed. “My dad likes Freezies, too. He wants some, too. Right, Dad?”

Fiona’s gaze flew to Cam’s.

Willing to be a little rude, Cam shrugged. “He’s not wrong if you’re offering.”

Trapped by manners, Fi stepped closer, holding his stare as she held up a spoonful.

He accepted the bite, nodding as he chewed. “That’s as good as I remember it. Thank you.”

She took a step back. “You’re welcome.”

“Fiona Willis, do you want to see my cool new trick at the playground?”

She nodded as she chuckled. “I do. But you can call me Fiona. Willis is my last name, just like Bennet is yours.”

“Okay,” Brady said as he ran off. “Come watch what I can do on the glide thing.”

Fiona followed.

“Thanks for being a good sport,” Cam said, falling into step beside her.

“It’s fine. It’s a beautiful day.”

Brady made it to his destination, grabbing hold of the glider handle. “Here I go like Captain America,” he said, pushing off and holding on, gliding halfway to the other end.

“Great job,” Fiona praised as Cam said, “Nice work, bud.”

Brady beamed his pride. “And watch this cool thing.” Comfortable with a captive audience, he ran to the small chin-up bar, situating himself so he hung by the back of his knees. “Pretty cool, right?”

Fiona blinked. “That’s impressive.”

Brady grinned again as he let himself fall to the rubber mulch. “Someday, I’m gonna swing really high on those swings over there and jump off like the super big kids do, but Dad says I have to wait ’til I’m twenty because he likes me in one piece.”

Fiona laughed full-out this time. “A one-piece Brady sounds like a good thing.”

“Yup,” he said as he ran toward the twisty slide.

She chuckled again as she shook her head. “Cam, he’s such a sweetie.”

Cam met her gaze as he grinned, hoping that Brady would keep talking. Because he’d missed the hell out of that amazing sound. He’d missed staring at those spectacular dimples. “I feel pretty good about keeping him.”

She sighed as her smile faded. “I should get going before my mom’s pint of rocky road completely melts.”

He nodded, even though he didn’t want her to leave. “Thanks for hanging out with us for a few minutes.”

“Thanks for the laughs.”

“Anytime.” He looked at his son as Brady reached the bottom of the slide. “Brady, Fiona needs to go.”

“Aw,” Brady said as he ran over. “You’re not gonna play?”

Fiona shook her head. “I’m afraid I can’t. My mom needs my help, and our ice cream’s melting.”

“But you’re coming to my dinosaur party?”