Page 26 of Shattered Dreams

“I know… I just hate it when he’s mad at me,” she says softly. “Makes me feel like the worst mom ever.”

I let out a heavy breath. “I hate it, too. But you’re not, and he’ll get over it. I’m sure by tomorrow, he’ll be on to something else.”

She relaxes, a soft sigh escaping her.

“Thanks, Paul.”

I nod and say my goodbye as I head for the Jeep, pulling my phone back out to text Dre as I get into the driver’s seat.

Dre: You guys can come over here if you want. Pool’s open. Can order pizza.

My stomach does that weird flippy thing again.

Me: That sounds great, actually.

Dre: Cool. Just come around back whenever. I’ll be out here with the little mermaid until the sun goes down and she turns back into a human.

I chuckle, a smirk forming on my lips. I send Dre the thumbs up and turn to look at Maddox.

“So, how do you feel about going swimming today?”

He looks up at me with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

“Really?”

I nod, and the grin that splits his face makes me smile, too.

It’s quarter till two by the time Maddox and I finally get over to Dre’s, because we had to stop at the apartment to grab our suits—well, Maddox just changed into his out of excitement, but I packed some clean clothes for him and myself, and also Dre’s sweatpants and hoodie, which I need to return. Then we stopped by the store to grab stuff for s’mores. I’m barely out of the car before Maddox is tearing off around the house to the back.

I grab my duffel and find my way around back leisurely, and can’t help but smile when I see Andre blowing up yet another raft.

“Is that a—”

“Llama!” Maddox yelps as Rylee spins around in her donut raft. I can’t see her eyes through her heart-shaped sunglasses, but judging by the sudden squeal, I’d say she’s happy to see us.

“Her name is Lulu!” Rylee shouts.

Of course it is.

I don’t miss the genuine smile on his face. That weird flippy stomach thing starts again, and I watch as Maddox heads over to Andre in the shallow end, not bothering to take his tank off.

He splashes water everywhere, but Andre doesn’t seem to care, and neither does Rylee as she tries her hardest to paddle her feet in the right direction, but instead, she ends up spinning in circles.

Andre finishes his last breath and closes off Lulu’s plastic valve, then nods to my son.

“You think you can handle the Llama Drama?”

Maddox laughs and nods as Andre gestures for him to back up and holds the raft still, so he can climb on. And of course, he does perfectly now that he no longer has a cast.

I make my way over to the porch and drop off my duffel, watching as Andre carefully pushes the raft off and Maddox starts making weird “llama” noises. Rylee giggles, and there’s this weird sort of flutter in my chest.

I shake it off, and that’s when I notice Andre’s gaze on me.

“You good while I—”

“Yeah, of course,” he says. “Take your time. They’re good.”

I grab my trunks, feeling strangely on the spot, but manage my way into the house to change. When I return, I put my clothes in my duffel and take a moment to just appreciate the sight of Rylee trying to keep up with Maddox and the llama, all the while splashing her dad who can’t stop laughing.