Page 56 of The Dating Pact

FIFTEEN

JUDE

I’d rigged up a television on the patio to play Shark Week shows, laid out a Slip ’N Slide across the yard, and filled up a plastic kiddie pool. I’d also bought some blue streamers and random shark decorations to stick on the back door. Sebastian used to be really into sharks when he was little, and the tradition had started as ordering pizza and a marathon of shark videos. Two years ago, we’d had a little picnic. Last year, a party. This year, a bit bigger. Why not?

Sebastian had invited a couple of friends over, and the four of them took turns throwing themselves down the slide, hopefully avoiding breaking anything. Amelia hung out in the kiddie pool with Scarlett and Tucker, playing with plastic fish.

I stationed myself at the grill, sipping an ice-cold beer, courtesy of Nate.

“It’s hot as shit,” he said, swiping the hem of his tank top with a cartoon shark on it over his forehead.

Dylan nodded in agreement, turning his hat backward as he repositioned his feet, propping one hand on his hip, allowing Evie to slip her arm through his. “What’d I tell you about that?”

“What?” he asked, bending his head to her, a ghost of a smile on his face, and I swore I’d never seen that guy smile more than since he’d started going out with her.

She tipped her head flirtatiously. “Don’t play all innocent. You know.”

Dylan playfully smacked her butt, and Nate winced, face strained like he wanted to say something about one of his best friends and his sister but didn’t.

Making real progress.

“Rawr!”

We all whirled around at the screech. Finn sprinted into the yard with Kennedy jogging after him, a big bag hanging off her shoulder. “Be careful! You’ll slip and?—”

“Ah!”

We snickered as Kennedy picked up Finn, brushing him off, while Liam shook his head, bringing up the rear, a Tupperware of what appeared to be cupcakes in his hands. He set it on the table then crossed the yard to his family. Kennedy wrestled with Finn, swiping sunscreen over him as he kicked and shrieked to get down.

“Tucka! Tucka! Help!”

Tucker came to his rescue, water gun in hand, squirting at Kennedy. She set Finn down to run behind Liam, forcing him to take on the water. He lunged at both boys, eliciting screams of delight as they scampered off.

“How’s everybody doing?” I asked when the pair approached, Liam’s arm around Kennedy as she wiped water from his face and neck.

“Not bad.” Liam accepted a beer from Nate.

Evie greeted Kennedy with a hug. “Do you want a margarita?”

“Yes. Definitely,” Kennedy answered with a clap, the two women headed inside to my kitchen, and all at once, the four of us men started talking.

“Finn got tall.”

“You and Kennedy seem to be doing good.”

“How was the kids’ trip with your in-laws?”

“What do you think girls talk about? Do you think they’re in there, drinking margaritas and gossiping about us?”

Liam nodded at Dylan. “Yeah, it’s like he grew three inches overnight. He’s eating everything.”

Then Liam looked at me, a goofy grin slashed across his face. “Kennedy and I are doing well. Really well.”

In response to his question, I told him, “The kids had fun. Seb’s been in a good mood since they came back home.”

And the three of us turned to Nate. He answered his own question after glancing to the girls now sitting at my kitchen table with margaritas, laughing over something. “They’re definitely talking about us.”

We all nodded.

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