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“I know, sweetheart. But knowing you aren’t alone will help easemymind. I’m not sure how long Owen and I will be gone, and I don’t want to worry about you,” I tell her genuinely. “Plus, I’m sure she’ll keep youplentyentertained.” Considering Everleigh never stops talking, Katie will be begging for boring alone time.
“Fine, but if you come home and I’m drunk on virgin margaritas, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
I snort, licking my lips. “Alright, deal.”
“Noah!” Owen strolls in. “Are we leaving soon? I’ve got my tool belt!”
He shows it off around his waist, and I smile. “Yeah, buddy. As soon as you eat breakfast, okay?”
I take over making the pancakes so Katie can hang out with Owen for a bit. Though I’ve enjoyed working on the house and making it perfect for her, I’m glad it’s almost done so I can go back to spending my free time with them.
After we eat, I kiss Katie goodbye, then press my lips against her stomach. It’s become my ritual anytime I leave.
“Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
Owen bounces in the back seat as he looks out the window toward the freshly painted house. “Whoa, what’s that?”
Grinning, I park on the street so the delivery driver has room to back into the driveway later when they bring the furniture. “It’s your early birthday gift.”
“A basketball hoop?”
I hop out of the truck, then walk around to open his door. “Yeah, I thought we could play together and invite Anthony over to play with us too. What do ya think?”
Owen crashes into me, hugging my waist and burrowing his head in my stomach. “I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, buddy. Wanna go check it out? There should be a basketball in the garage.”
“Heck yes!”
As he runs toward the house, I click the garage opener, and he grabs the ball. I meet him in the driveway as he bounces it around.
“You know how to play one-on-one?” I ask, knowing he played in a youth league earlier this year.
Owen shrugs, keeping his eyes focused on what he’s doing. “Kinda. What are the rules?”
“I’ll teach you,” I tell him, effortlessly swiping the ball from under him. “First one, don’t let the other person steal it from you.”
“Hey!”
I laugh, then dribble out of his reach before shooting it into the hoop. Owen runs after it, and I give him pointers as I try to block him from the basket.
“Now, pretend you’re going right but fake and go left instead,” I instruct.
He does what I say and actually gets around me to take his shot.
“Nice!” I cheer for him.
“Can we do that again?” The excitement in his voice has me grinning ear to ear.
“Sure.”
We set up the play again, but this time, the ball bounces off the rim and goes flying down the driveway. “I’ll get it!” he announces and takes off before I can stop him. Just as he runs toward it, I realize the delivery truck has arrived and is backing up into the driveway.
“Owen, wait!” I shout, but he doesn’t hear me over the truck’s beeping. There’s no way the driver can see him, and since Owen isn’t paying attention, I run toward him. “Owen, move!”
He finally turns around, and I grip his shirt, yanking him out of the way. “You tryin’ to get hurt?” Owen blinks as if he just noticed the truck. I pull him in for a tight hug and sigh. “You scared me. You could’ve been hit.”
