Page 18 of Catching Feelings

“Hey Paisley Pickles. How’s the water?” I crouch by the edge of the pool and dip my hand in.

“Come play with me. Please?”

“Yes, Bucky. Please?” Kendall parrots from a pink tube shaped like a donut.

“Mom can’t throw me in the air as high as you can.”

“I bet your weakling dad can’t either.” I’m surprised Nash isn’t in the pool with his daughter. Like Bankes, he’s wrapped around his kid’s finger.

And his wife’s.

Not a bad place to be considering how cool they both are.

“Daddy went to get auntie Rowan’s birthday cake.”

I snap my head around and look for the object of my obsession. “It’s Rowan’s birthday? I didn’t know she was here.”

Kendall slides off the tube and floats to the edge of the pool, sloshing water over my slides.

“We didn’t tell her about the side party we’re having for her or she wouldn’t come. She hates being the center of attention.”

“Yet you’re throwing her a surprise party in front of fifty of your husband’s teammates.”

“So dramatic.” Kendall lifts herself out of the pool and intentionally splashes more water over my legs.

Whatever. It’s hot out, the water’s refreshing, and I’m wearing my swim trunks. I give her a friendly kiss on the cheek and am kinda bummed her husband isn’t around. It’s fun riling him up.

“We’ll do the cake and present thing off to the side when all you guys are deep into your drinks and corn hole tournament.”

I glance at the lawn to the right of the pool and the row of eight corn hole games. Bankes became obsessive last summer and sets up tournaments on his iPad to keep track of placements. Total dork.

Now that I know Rowan is coming to the party, I relax a little and strip off my shirt, tossing it onto one of the loungers. Partly because Paisley asked me to play with her in the pool, and mostly because I’m vain enough to want to strut around half naked in front of Rowan.

I work hard for this body, and there’s nothing wrong with showing it off. Without warning, I leap off the edge of the pool and cannon ball in the middle. When I surface, Paisley’s laughter fills the air.

She’s a beast in the water, never slowing down, and demanding I toss her in the air over and over again. It isn’t until my arms are actually aching, and I slow my pace with the whirlpool I’ve been making, that I notice Rowan sitting under an umbrella on the patio with Riley, and little Emmitt cocooned in her arms.

“Hot dogs are ready, sweet pea. Time to come out.”

Paisley swims to the stairs and steps into the towel Kendall has open for her. Kendall wraps her up like a burrito and kisses her nose.

I take my time climbing the ladder and hold out my arms. “Where’s my towel and kiss?”

“Find your own woman,” Potato says as he scoops up Paisley and puts his foot on my face, pushing me back into the pool.

“Fucker,” I call as my back hits the water. I come up sputtering and shake the droplets out of my eyes.

Like an arrow on a compass, my eyes gravitate to Rowan. She’s watching me with a smile and her body shakes with laughter. Could be at something Riley said. Could be at me. Hell, even if she’s laughing at my expense, I’ll take it.

I’ll take anything Rowan’s willing to give. I shake my hair as I glide through the water and walk up the steps closer to her.

Not caring about a towel anymore, I make my way to the patio and greet Riley with a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for hosting this year, Riles. Especially after popping out the bambino.”

“I can’t take much credit. Walker did all the planning, shopping, and prepping.”

“As it should be. You did all the work growing little Emmitt. Walker’s a lazy fuck who likes to gloat and take all the credit for making the perfect kid.”

Riley chuckles. “That’s exactly what I’ve been telling him as well.”

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