Page 81 of Laws of Love
Knox liked the sound of next time. It meant that they were both on the same page. Intermingling their families and friends was a step usually only taken when you were serious about the relationship. Though he had been from the moment he asked her out, he hadn’t expected her to be right away. It hadn’t taken him long to realize she was, too.
When Yasmine skipped over twenty minutes later, they got food from one of the food trucks and sat at a table under a canopy. Wolfe, Ezra, and Coen joined them a few minutes later when someone else took over the obstacle course and hula hoop areas to give them a break.
Aiva laughed when Yasmine picked up the pickle spear from Wolfe’s plate that he’d told Coen he could not have and passed it to the other man.
“You don’t even like pickles,” Yasmine stated. “So, you can share it.” She held up her boat of nachos. “Here, you can have one of my nachos to make you feel better.”
“He’s a completely different person when Yas is around. She’s got him wrapped around her finger,” Coen stage whispered to Aiva.
“I see that,” she responded. “But I’ve heard he isn’t the only one,” she teased, and Coen made a noncommittal sound. “Yas,” Aiva called, gaining her attention. “I’m going to need you to teach me how to do that.”
“To share?” Yasmine asked, confused. “You’re already good at sharing.”
The adults laughed at her response, and Knox caught Aiva’s eyes. “I already told you that you do.”
She smiled at him. “I know, but it never hurts to make sure it sticks.”
“Trust me. It’s sticking.”
“Get a room,” Ezra mumbled, and Knox rolled his eyes. But he might have to see if he could make that happen.
Aiva sat beside Kaley and Yasmine as they planted the flowers they’d picked up from the gardening section that morning. She’d been sure to get pairs of gardening gloves, sun hats, and little spades for them to have the total experience. Music played from the Bluetooth speaker on the patio table, and the two girls sang along. Knox had stepped inside to order pizza for lunch.
She’d been letting the two do the planting independently, only stepping in when they had an issue or asked her to. They were using one side to plant the different flowers they’d picked up and the other for the vegetables. They’d started with the flowers since both girls seemed excited to see how pretty it would look when it was finished.
Even as careful as they were, Aiva knew both girls would need a bath when done. They were inside the boxed-off area in the dirt. It was on their shorts, and they’d already got a few smudges on their faces.
When Knox returned from inside, they were halfway finished with the flowers. They were taking their time, spacing them apart as evenly as possible, so each one had space to grow. Yasmine had told her she enjoyed gardening with her grandmother, but she hadn’t thought the five-year-old would take it so seriously. It was clear she wanted the best garden she could have.
Knox watched with her, letting the kids do their thing for the next twenty-five minutes while he checked the delivery tracker. When it showed the driver was pulling up, he went inside to retrieve their lunch.
“Come on, girls. Let’s take a break for lunch, and then we’ll start on the vegetables,” Aiva told them. “Let’s go inside and get you cleaned up some.”
“Can we eat lunch outside, Aiva?” Kaley asked once they’d washed their hands, and she’d cleaned their faces.
“Sure. You can go back outside, and I’ll get Knox.”
They cheered as they hustled out of the bathroom. Aiva entered the kitchen to find her boyfriend pulling out some paper plates.
“The little ladies would like to have lunch outside,” she informed him.
“Let’s not keep them waiting then,” he responded.
“If you want to take that, I’ll grab drinks.”
Knox nodded before kissing her and leaving the kitchen with the pizza boxes and plates. Aiva grabbed some plastic cups, the pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator, and a roll of paper towels. Once back outside, she placed everything down, and Knox opened the boxes.
As they ate, Yasmine and Kaley asked them how long the vegetables would take to grow once they planted everything and what they could make with them when they were ready to harvest. Aiva found it amusing because it wasn’t as if they were planting a large farm full, but she was glad they were excited about it. There was a moment of silence before Kaley piped up.
“Oh! You know what would be fun? A sleepover. Can we, Aiva?”
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I have to work in the morning.”
“Ah man,” Yasmine responded.
“Can we do it next weekend?” Kaley tried. “We’ll have to come over to check on the garden, anyway.”
Aiva looked at Knox. “Does that work for you?”
