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Emmy:West, if I don’t have the time, I’ll say so. You’ve been super supportive, but it’s okay to ask me if I can do things. I just can’t always say yes.
Me:I’m out of practice.
Emmy:I know. But even when I’m busy, I make time for what’s important. I’ll be there.
Me:Then tell me about this sign and I’ll see if I can add to it…
At the end of August, Wyatt, Aunt Lori, Zach, Beck, Sabrina, and even Nolan sat inside the community center, at the poolside bleachers, waiting for my daughter and her classmates to come out.
It was the final swim class, when they would display their skills before receiving certificates to mark their graduation. The younger classes also got stickers or little toys, but the older kids got a pair of goggles.
Avery had been up at dawn and ready to go, long before I’d had a cup of coffee. She’d even woken up her brother despite the fact Wyatt was taking karate classes and wasn’t quite as excited as his twin about the day.
As we waited for the kids to enter in their swimsuits, I kept glancing at the door, wondering if Emmy would make it.
The last month had been fucking amazing, and I’d never seen enough of her. Even with her being so busy, she’d made time to eat lunch some days with my kids, and we’d brought her dinner a few times.
The nights when I had her to myself, I’d done my best to ruin her for all men. I knew exactly how hard she liked to be fucked, or how I should use my tongue on her clit, or even how she liked it that I got a little bossy when naked.
To say I craved her was an understatement. But I was being a fucking adult and doing my best to support her.
Keeping it from my kids got harder by the day, though.
At least they’d be in school again next week and would have less time to ask Emmy when they could eat lunch with her again. She’d told me how hard it was to keep saying no. Not because she didn’t want to eat with them, but her workload was off the charts.
The door opened, and Emmy’s brown eyes soon found mine. I grinned and waved. She smiled as she made her way to us.
I patted the spot I saved for her. “Just in time.”
She waved at my family—they knew we were dating, just not my kids—and sat next to me. “Sorry. I had a last-minute disaster I had to clean up with the caterer.”
I wanted to kiss her so bad but settled on taking her fingers and squeezing them. “What, were they going to serve maple syrup spaghetti for dinner instead of chicken and asparagus?”
“I’m sure there’s been anElfmovie–themed wedding before, but my movie star one isn’t it. No, I just had to talk the groom’s mother out of changing the meals. Again.”
“This is why I work with plants—they can’t talk.”
She snorted. “But they can die, which ruins things too.”
“Let’s not talk about dead plants,” I whispered in her ear. “I’m just happy to see you.”
She released my fingers to lightly rub my thigh. “Me too. Just a few more weeks, and then I’ll have so much free time that I won’t know what to do with myself.”
I kept my voice low. “Oh, I know how to fill the nights. I still have a naughty student to punish.”
She sucked in a breath. “West, this is a children’s swimming event.”
“No one can hear us.”
Nolan sat next to me, and he cleared his throat. “Some of us can.”
I glared at my brother. “A gentleman doesn’t eavesdrop.”
“It’s not eavesdropping when I’m merely sitting here, and you’re loud.” He leaned forward and waved. “Hey, Emmy. Still glad I recommended you to Zara?”
Emmy nodded. “Of course. It’s a much grander scale than I’m used to, but I enjoy the challenge. Maybe one day I can plan another big one.”
Nolan smiled wryly. “Probably not mine.”
