Page 102 of Secret Love

It's his turn to look suspicious as he tries to figure out what we're up to. Later that night, I realize we’re going to have to make our opportunity because the day has been flawless from start to finish. We've caught enough fish to eat for supper. We've swam in the pool, eaten till our bellies are full, and laughed more than I have in a long time. It’s been the best day.

When Henley gets up to turn off the grill, I lean in and whisper, “Okay, here's what I'm thinking. When we go in for the night, we could stage jump scares around the house…” I look around and they nod in agreement. “Who wants to be behind the door in the kitchen?”

“I do,” Gracie says.

“I’ll hide in the closet by the stairs and jump out when he passes,” Audrey says.

We all giggle quietly.

“I’ll be in the bedroom,” Cassidy says.

“Oh, this is all good. Okay, I'll be in the bathroom. And remember, we have to be quiet.”

They agree, and I stick my hand out in the middle of the table and they pile their hands on top. In that moment, I get a wave of giddiness. Henley’s girls are accepting me. I love being around them and I think they love being around me too…even knowing I’m their dad’s girlfriend. I want to laugh and cry and jump in the air and dance and scream out the loudestwoohoo!

But instead, I just smile at them conspiratorially. “All right, it's on.”

By the time he comes back to the table, we've got our game faces on. I look at Gracie and she stands up with her plate.

“I think I'll go inside now. The bugs are starting to bother me,” she says.

I’m impressed by how convincing she sounds.

“Is the citronella candle not working?” Henley asks.

“No, I think I got a bite,” she says, grinning at me.

He looks at me to see what's so funny and when I'm just smiling, he shakes his head.

“Okay, I guess we can take it in,” he says.

Audrey and Cassidy jump up faster than I’ve seen them move all day and they head inside.

“Wow, I guess they're all ready to go in.” He looks toward the house in surprise.

“I think I will too. I kind of need to check on something I left in there earlier,” I mumble.

I pick up as much as I can carry and hustle into the house. We each get in our places and when Henley walks in, I can hear one by one as they jump out and scare him, and he yells and cracks up each time. I'm trying so hard not to giggle in my place behind the bathroom door. I have to wait a while. I hear him calling me, but I don't answer. When I hear him startled by Cassidy, it takes everything in me not to giggle out loud.

“What is going on, you guys? Is this payback for the maggots or what?”

I cover my mouth and laugh. I almost miss it when the door starts opening, but just in the nick of time, I jump out and say,ha!He jumps so high and groans, laughing.

“It's like the first time should have been my clue, but you've all gotten me every time.” He leans against the back of the bathroom door, breathing hard and laughing.

“You're just too innocent, Mr. Football Player,” I tell him.

“Or are the four of you just up to no good? My kind of no good,” he adds, putting his hands on my waist.

“Ah, ah, ah,” I say.

“No little eyes are looking,” he says.

“Not until later,” I sing.

“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” he promises.

And he makes good on that promise after the girls go home.

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