AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I missed you too.” Ari returned the embrace then hugged the rest of her family.
“Zander and I weresoworried we’d miss the swimming time. The traffic wasn’t moving at all. It was beyond horrible.”
“We ran into some of that too,” Ariana said. “But even if you did miss swimming with everyone, all the facilities are available all weekend. Grayson rented everything through Sunday.”
Zander’s eyes lit up. “Brayden’s here, right?” He was referring to Grayson’s oldest, who he’d grown close to when he stayed with Ari and Damon a few weeks earlier.
“I saw him not long ago,” Damon said. “He was asking about you. He’s staying with his grandparents, if you need to find them.”
Zander ran ahead.
“I take it he’s fully recovered?” Ari said with a laugh.
Dad chuckled. “You’d never know he had surgery last month.”
“That’s great news.”
Laney hurried to catch up with her twin.
“And he’s been doing okay with everything else?” Damon asked, referring to the kids learning that despite being twins, Zander had a different biological father. Zander had spent a week with Damon and Ariana, giving the guys bonding time over having serial killer parents.
What a thing to bond over. But Ari was so grateful for Damon jumping into help her brother so eagerly.
“It’s been up and down,” Mom admitted. “But his sessions with Macy are helping, and he loves texting with you.” She squeezed Damon’s arm. “We really can’t thank you enough for how much support you’ve given him through all of this.”
“I’m just glad I can help. I never imagined any good would come from being my father’s son.”
“You’re doing him a world of good. His whole face lights up when he talks about you.” Mom’s voice cracked. “It means so much to us.”
Damon gave her a hug. “I’ll keep doing what I can. It’s been fun getting to know him better. He’s really a good kid. It’s just hard dealing with having a sociopath for a parent — a biological parent.”
“We know what you mean.”
Ariana wrapped an arm around Damon’s waist, too choked up to speak. It broke her heart that both he and her brother had so much to deal with, but it also meant the world to her that they were able to bond over it. Who knew, maybe one day Zander would join the two of them in their work trying to prevent innocent people from falling victim to monsters like their fathers.
Chlorine tickled her nose before she saw the pool. They had to be close.
Up ahead, her brother and sister bolted through a doorway. Shouts and laughter mixed with the sounds of fans blared from inside the room. The warm humidity clung to her skin even while still in the hall.
The swimming area lights were dimmed, allowing for a clear view of the sky through the massive skylight that took up much of the ceiling. Pink hues tugged on the blue sky, and a few stars had begun to sparkle.
At least half the guests were already in the water, and there was plenty of room for everyone else. All fifty people could have been splashing around, and nobody would have felt crowded.
Ariana put her bag on a chair then dipped a toe in the water. It was surprisingly warm. After descending the steps, she made her way over to Olivia, Maya, and Lia. Ari had half-expected Lia and Charles to be no-shows. Her relationship with Rita had been tumultuous at best, and she’d felt slighted when not chosen as part of the wedding party.
But Lia had chosen to come, and she had a big smile on her face as she spoke with the twins. She even gave Ari a wet hug when she joined them. “Can you believe this place?”
“It’s amazing,” Ariana agreed. “I already told Damon we need to come back for our anniversary.”
“What a great idea! I’m going to tell Charles the same thing.”
“And Maya and I can return for our birthday,” Olivia said.
They all laughed.
“Rita’s here.” Lia glanced toward the door.
The bride and groom entered the pool area. Rita was clearly not trying to hide her pregnancy as her swimsuit accentuated her rounded belly. She was still gorgeous as ever, if not more so now.
