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“Dad! I got you! I got you!” Ethan hollered, holding the biggest water gun known to man.
Ariel and I were walking toward the ocean when Caleb suddenly grabbed me from behind, using me as a shield in front of his body.
I gasped. “Ethan, don’t—”
A spray of rapid-fire cold water released all over my body. Ethan soaked me from head to toe while Caleb’s laughter vibrated against my bones.
“Oh my God! You’re using me as protection?”
He shamelessly replied, “Oh, this you need protection from?”
I elbowed him in the ribs, snatching the water gun out of his grasp. “How’s this for protection?”
He went to tackle me, but it was my turn to give him a taste of his own medicine. My trigger-happy finger exploded, drenching every inch of his skin until he tackled me to the sand. Ethan and Ariel came to my defense, dousing him again.
“Get him!” I encouraged, making everyone fall into a fit of laughter.
I smiled, thinking of the fort he’d helped them build last night.
“Daddy, I’m the princess of forts, and Ethan is the prince.”
“Okay, Princess Ariel. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Dad, you’re the king, and Evie is the queen. You don’t answer to us.”
“How did I get dragged into this?” I asked Ethan from the couch. “I’m over here reading my book.”
“That’s what queens do, Evie.” Ariel hopped up onto the couch next to me. “The king and queen are married, so we need a baby.”
Caleb and I locked eyes for a second.
“That can be arranged,” he simply stated, grinning like a fool.
I was the first to break our connection, wrapping my arm around Ariel’s waist, as I sat her in my lap.
“You’re the baby,” I clarified, ignoring Caleb’s remark as I tickled Ariel. I tried to break the unexpected tension I was feeling.
“I’m not a baby!” She giggled, whipping her legs around.
But my favorite memory by far was the breakfast they served me in bed this morning.
“They made you breakfast,” Caleb announced, stepping into my stateroom with the kids.
My eyes shifted to him. “Did you make them do that?”
He shook his head.
I beamed. “You guys did this for me?”
“We wanted to do something nice for you,” Ethan explained.
“You guys…” I coaxed, trying not to cry.
I pulled them both into a loving hug.
Ariel declared, “We love you so much, Evie!”
I sniffled. “I love you guys too.” Closing my eyes, I held them as tight as possible against my body.
