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Ellery picks her up and holds her to her chest, praising her for her walking.
It feels like a flash of our future—Elle with our own daughter one day in this same position. God, she’ll be a great mom. Her bedside manner with her patients is always loving, caring, and supportive.
“She’s getting way too big,” she says to Adeline, letting Clover down since she squirms in her arms.
“And nosy and defiant and… bratty.” She whispers the last word.
“Sounds like Damon.” Bryce laughs.
“She threw a fit today because she didn’t want to leave the playground at the park. Like threw herself on the ground and wailed. Then she threw sand at Damon when he went to get her.”
All of our mouths drop open. Damon’s definitely the more relaxed parent when it comes to discipline. He thought it was funny when Clover started throwing food, but Adeline put a stop to it.
“I almost lost it in front of a bunch of parents,” Adeline says.
“What did you do?” I ask.
Adeline laughs, handing Clover her snack cup.
Damon looks at Adeline like, “Shut the hell up, it wasn’t funny.” “I went over, picked her up so her back was facing me, and she couldn’t get sand in my eye. I then took her to an empty bench, sat her down, and scolded her.”
“And what did she do?” Miles asks.
“She rolled on her stomach, got off the bench, and went back to the park,” he grumbles.
“You’ve babied her. She doesn’t take you seriously when you try to discipline her.” Adeline shakes her head.
“What can I say, I’m weak for the women I love.” Damon smiles wide.
We all say, “Ahh…” in unison.
“Unless you want a child we’re always being dragged into school about, I suggest we double down on her. I can’t imagine what she’ll be like when she’s two.” Clover walks over to Adeline and takes her sippy cup from her, handing back the snack cup.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Ellery walks over to me behind the breakfast bar, and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close as she eats more appetizers. I catch Adeline watching us with a smile on her face. Apparently, we’re the new attraction. She catches me watching her, and her smile grows bigger before turning away.
“PDA alert!” Damon shouts. “Holy hell, that’s about fucking time.”
“Damon,” Adeline scolds. “If her first coherent word is the f-word, I’m writing down how it’s all your fault in the baby book.”
He holds up his hands and turns back to me and Ellery. “So, does it feel different?”
Ellery looks up at me, and we both shrug. “No,” I answer for us.
“It wasn’t weird when you saw each other naked?” He keeps prying.
“We’ve seen each other by accident before,” Ellery says, like it wasn’t a big deal to be totally naked with her at the cabin.
For me, it was at first. To unapologetically be allowed to just stare at her perfect body after imagining it for so many years. It wasn’t weird, it was more like wanting something for so long that when you finally get it, you’re afraid to ruin it.
“Okay, but it had to be weird watching his dick go into you.”
“Damon!” we all shout at once.
“Fine, well, you look good together, but we all knew that years ago. Congratulations on finally listening to what people have been telling you forever.”
“I should get some drinks so we can all celebrate.” Miles walks over to the fridge.
