Page 143 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

He beams at me as if I just handed him a medal.

We sit on the grass with our toes in the water. His legs are short enough that he has to scoot forward twice to reach.

“Now it’s cold!” he squeals, delighted.

He leans into me without thinking, small shoulder bumping my side.

“Tell me a story,” he demands.

“What kind of story?”

“I don’t know... you choose.”

“Okay,” I say softly, thinking fast. “Well, there’s this girl who finds a town with mountains and a café that makes the world’s best muffins. And she thinks she’s just visiting. But the town… likes her.”

He processes that, brow furrowed. “Does she have toys?”

“Yes.”

“Does she have friends?”

“Yes.”

“Does she have a little boy?”

I swallow. “Yes.”

He nods, satisfied. “Good.”

Then he splashes me.

Full hand. No mercy.

“Explorer day!” he shouts.

I splash him back, and he laughs so hard he falls over sideways in the grass.

We head into town for lunch because explorer days require fuel. The Redwood Run Café door jingles when we walk in.

Millie leans over the counter. “You look damp.”

“Water fight,” Evan announces. “I won.”

“I believe that,” she says.

He climbs onto a stool with both hands and a lot of determination. His legs dangle a full foot from the floor.

“Chocolate muffin, please,” he says, very serious.

“Of course, sir,” Millie replies.

While she plates it, he turns.

“I’m six soon,” he informs a random stranger at the counter.

The stranger nods solemnly. “That’s a very important age.”

Evan nods back. “Very.”