AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emmy and I held hands until all the kids finished, and they lined up to receive their certificates. We all descended the steps, and Avery rushed up to us, a towel tucked around her waist. She held up her certificate and her new googles. “I did it!”
Uncaring that I’d get wet, I pulled her into a hug. “You did, baby girl. I’m so proud of you.”
Zach produced a little tiara from his backpack. “And now you’re the princess of the pool.”
Avery beamed and let her uncle place it on her wet head. “Soon I’ll be the queen.”
We all laughed, and after Beck, Sabrina, Aunt Lori, and Wyatt all hugged her, Avery walked up to Emmy. “Did you see how fast I was, Emmy? Did you swim like that when you were on the swim team?”
Emmy hugged her. “Not until I was a lot older. You’re a natural, Avery. I bet you’ll be even faster than I was, if you want to keep swimming, that is.”
“Oh, I do. I love moving through the water. It’s relaxing, kind of.” Avery looked up at her dad. “Can I keep taking swim lessons?”
I chucked my daughter under the chin. “I think we can manage that.”
Emmy jumped in. “You can use my pool any time to practice, as long as the weather’s warm enough.”
Avery nodded. “Thanks, Emmy. I don’t know if I’ll have a lot of free time once school starts, but maybe on the weekends. Will you watch me?”
I opened my mouth, but Emmy beat me to it. “I’ll try. Until I finish my big wedding, it might be difficult.”
Avery shifted her goggles to the hand that held the certificate and took Emmy’s in her free one. “Are you going to get ice cream with us afterward?” She paused and added softly, “Unless you’re too busy. Then I understand.”
Maybe a stranger would think she was guilt-tripping or trying to make Emmy feel bad. However, I knew it stemmed from her mother always deflecting and not spending time with her.
Emmy swung their clasped hands. “I almost never say no to ice cream.”
Avery’s face lit up. “Awesome, I can’t wait.”
“Then you’d better go with your class and change. We’ll wait in the reception area for you.”
“I won’t be long.”
She waved at us before hurrying away.
And as Emmy started asking Wyatt about his karate classes and joking with Zach about how Wyatt might be able to kick his ass soon, I barely stopped myself from grinning. I was so fucking happy and hopeful and halfway in love with Emmy already that I couldn’t wait for her big wedding to be over. After so many years of merely accepting my fate and making the most of it, I wanted to grab the dream hovering just out of reach and make it reality.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Emilia
Me:Since I woke up so early and got a lot of work done, I have my night free.
West:Are you propositioning me at an ice cream parlor?
Me:Maybe. We have some unfinished business.
West: Me at 9 p.m. tonight.
Me: I’ll make sure to have snacks.
West:Why? I plan on eating only one thing—you.
Me:Maybe it’ll be ON me.
West:Are you trying to kill me?
Me:It’s fun to try.
