Page 279 of Steeling Her
After all that we’ve been through, I’m finally with my forever and ever.
Epilogue Three
Carter
The heat from the sun is beginning to burn my skin, even though we have umbrellas down where we’re camped out. It’s because of the constant hiding we have to do from the paparazzi around us. I have to move around a lot to shield myself and the kids.
Danielle, Chris, Haley, TJ, myself, and Nick are all at Clearwater Beach in Florida. We all decided to do a big family vacation down to the south during the off season for two weeks. We were originally going to fly to the Caribbean but then changed our minds at the last minute. We knew the kids wouldn’t appreciate it as much now, only when they’re much older.
Mainly, all the kids wanted to go to Disneyland because none of them have had the chance because of busy schedules and events. It was hard to coordinate everyone’s schedule but we made it work. They have been so excited since Chris mentioned “Disney.” They got so hyper for it, it became difficult to keep them settled during the flight. We just couldn’t say no to them.
We went to the theme park yesterday for the very first time, and they were all so unbelievably excited to see Mickey and the gang. Taylor adored the princesses and the rides that she was tall enough to get on. The younger munchkins mainly stayed at the outdoor play centers that was next to the restaurants so we could keep an eye on them.
The good thing about the park is that it caters to kids of all ages, so they have a wide variety of options to choose. The adults that went really enjoyed the day out, especially when they got to see the happy faces of the kids. All in all, was a great day trip for us.
I am currently lying in the sun, watching people around us take photos of us and acting like we can’t see them, mainly photos of the guys on the beach. I’ve become so accustomed to it, Nick just ignores it as best as he can.
I understand that Nick, Chris, and TJ are famous because of the sport that they play—their faces are everywhere with sponsorships and endorsement deals—but sometimes, I just want some alone time with my family and friends. I’m normally fine with it, but I really don’t like it when the kids can be seen. I want to be able to keep them out of the media as much as possible. I want to keep their privacy as much as I can until they are old enough to make their own decisions.
I have my beige sun hat on to block the rays as best as I can and also to block the pictures being taken of me in my lilac bathing suit and black sandals. I brought a ton of snacks, water, and sun block for everyone, too, so we’ve covered all the bases.
I’m distracted with keeping my eye on everyone as they play with each other in the sun-baked beach.
Below me, I feel a small hand tug on my towel with all the strength he has in him to get my attention.
“Hey, buddy,” I say down to him. He pulls himself up using the support of the sunbed I’m on and stands up so he’s a little more level with me. “You building Mama a great big sandcastle?” I ask my son, Aiden.
His bright, whispy blond hair flies around with the gentle breeze. I lift him up so his feet are on my thighs and place him down on top of me. That big devilish grin of his is just like his dad’s, dimples included.
I can’t help it sometimes. He looks exactly the same as Nick was as a kid. My child is full of energy, just like his dad.
He loves the football that his uncles gave him for his recent birthday when he turned two. Ever since he got it, he never puts it down. His dad, uncles, and granddads have already started training him, and scouting is about to begin.
With his yellow swim trunks on and his adorable grin, I know my boy will break a few hearts when he’s older. I sometimes cannot keep up with him. Every time I bring him out, he starts running and I have to go and catch him. At least Nick is always on the ball with him.
Like father, like son, right?
“You like building sandcastles?” I bounce him on my legs and he starts to giggle.
“Football.” He points at the ball resting in the sand in its netted bag.
“You want to play some football?” I ask him and sigh to myself. I know he’ll climb off me anyway if I wasn’t going to get up from the bed. I lift him up into my arms and then go up from the bed. I wander over to the netted bag where all the toys and play things are, including his football.
I crouch down and reach inside the bag to get it for him. Once I hand it to him, he smiles happily. I walk him over to TJ, who is busy with the twins, Reece and Logan, who are just shy of four years of age. They look almost exactly like TJ, it’s crazy. Logan is wild while Reece is very shy, but both kids have one thing in common: they are very athletic, just like their dad.
We call them “running backs in training.” They have TJ’s power and drive when they play the game. They just constantly run all the time, especially away from you when you’re trying to get a hold of them.
“Throw it and you will be in time out, you hear m—LOGAN! I mean it!” TJ has become such a great dad. His kids adore him because he’s still partially a child himself.
Logan is a little rough around the edges at times, but he has a great mom to keep an eye on him. Sometimes, she doesn’t even have to be around him to know he’s up to no good. There’s no better woman for the job.
“LOGAN! Put it down now! You heard Daddy!” Haley yells over her magazine in a no-nonsense tone that the kids don’t ever mess with. Logan drops the shell that he was about to throw at his brother. I snort, and TJ smiles once he turns around to see me coming closer with Aiden in my arms.
“Look who it is.” He grins and tickles Aiden under his chin, making him chuckle loudly in my arms. “The newest Chargers quarterback. You got your football all ready to go, buddy?” TJ points to the ball in his hands. Aiden squirms out of my arms and I set him down on the sand gently and prepare myself for him to take off. He races into the ocean, where his dad and sister are swimming around.
The first thing I did once the kids could walk was put them in swimming lessons. I don’t want my fear to get to them. I have mastered the pool but not the ocean as of yet. It took me years to get the hang of it, and I’m still practicing. I don’t swim with my head under the water, but I can swim in the deep end of the pool now.
“Wait for it. He’ll be back out and ready to run around the beach with his uncles and cousins covered in sand,” I huff. TJ rests a hand on his chest and laughs.
