Page 119 of The Perfect Spiral
“Okay, kids, let’s go play over here.” I brought them over to another section of the water, away from the slutty admirer. I played with Adam who was sitting on my hip and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
I started to walk further into the water, letting it go up to my waist. Playing with him in my arms and squeezing him tighter to my body.
“Could you be my first kiss?” His question sent me into a fit of laughter. I looked back into his adorable doe eyes.
“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? You want me to be your first kiss?” As he bobbed his head up and down, I leaned in and placed a peck on his small lips. He grabbed each side of my face.
“There you go, sweetie. I’m officially your first kiss!”
“Yay! I had my first kiss! I had my first kiss!” He chanted, his voice filled with joy.
“I leave you alone for two minutes and you’re already kissing my nephew?” Knox teased, while Adam giggled, waving my hat around in the air.
“I got my first kiss from Alex! I like kissing you! Can I kiss you again?” Adam asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Woah, hold your horses, little man. I think you’ve had too much sun today. Your mom is calling you over, buddy.”
I gently put Adam down in the water. He swam over to the shallow end with his floaters attached to his arms and ran out to his mom, who scooped him up in a towel, releasing a squeal of laughter.
I couldn’t help but smile at him. I wanted my kid to be just like him.
“He’s so in love with you,” Knox observed.
“I’m so in love with him. He’s such a great kid. If only he was older,” I replied, my eyes still on Adam.
“Take it from me, that means you’re so in love with me. You know, some people say he’s the younger version of me.”
“Not even close! Who said that? You telling yourself in the mirror doesn’t count. Did you know he uses you to get to me?”
“What? Who told you that?”
“Mila. She says that he uses you so he can come to see me because you’re always around.”
“My hero! I don’t blame him. If you treated me like that, I would want to see you all the time too. Maybe you should work on that.”
“Maybe I’m doing the opposite on purpose to keep you away. Ever think of that?”
“Haha! Who would want to be away from this?” He pointed to his body, his abs mainly. I raised my hand and he grabbed my arm, pulling it behind my back, causing me to stumble back a little.
His other arm snaked around my waist to hold me up. I began to fight back, so he grabbed my other arm and put it behind my back. We started laughing as I continued to struggle in his strong grasp.
“Let me go,” I managed to chuckle out.
“You two! That’s not how I pictured you tying her up, Knox! But we’re going to Sonny’s for food later, you two in?” Andy teased. I could feel my cheeks heat up. We both nodded our heads and Knox loosened his grip on me, freeing my hands.
I brought them up to his chest and pushed him as hard as I could. He didn’t move much.
“Stop pity flirting with me. Do it to someone else,” I said, starting to get out of the water. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me up, dunking me under the water. I resurfaced and immediately launched myself at him in retaliation. I wrapped my legs around his hips, but he grabbed my arms once more while my core held me up.
“It’s not pity flirting at all, baby doll. And what if I don’t want to flirt with anyone else? Nice core strength, by the way!” He sounded impressed.
“Fuck off, Knox.” I tried to climb back down, but his hands rested under my butt to hold me on him, so my legs stayed wrapped around him.
“Hey, I’m mad at you! You can’t be mad at me!”
“Because you didn’t come to my Super Bowl game! That’s why!”
“Hey! I sent you an encouraging message and picture! You can put me down now. You called me and I picked you up, count yourself lucky!”
