Only One Regret (Only One 5)

"Is there another answer?" he asks and waits, and when I don’t say anything, he continues. "So that’s the answer." Right here, sitting on the deck listening to the water crash in the background, I finally admit I’m in love with him.

Chapter 29

Cooper

"There they are," I say, walking down the front steps of the house and seeing Mia and Emma. They squirm out of my father's arms to run over to me. Both of them are in shorts and a New York shirt. I look at them and then at my father, who just smirks and shrugs. He turns to walk back to the house to get everyone so we can head over to the dock. We were supposed to be outside three minutes ago, but when you have so many people, it’s hard to gather them.

"Daddy!" they both shout my name and run over to me. I squat down and open my arms, hugging both of them. I kiss Emma and then Mia.

"I missed you," I murmur softly to them. "How did you sleep?"

"Grandma made pancakes," Mia says. "With chocolate chips." Her eyes go big. "And strawberry."

"Yum." I hear the door behind me close and look over to see Erika coming out wearing a long white dress, and I know she is wearing her white bikini underneath because when she was trying to put it on, I kept taking it off. She left her hair loose, and she is holding a big straw bag that’s overfilled. I get up and walk up to her, grabbing the bag. "What is all this?" I look down at her, and she is wearing her sunglasses.

"Change of clothes for the girls and me," she says, smiling.

“Did you pack me anything?” I ask, smirking.

"God, she isn’t your maid," Franny moans, and I look over my shoulder at her. She is wearing sunglasses and a hat on her head.

"Ouch," I say, looking at her. "Is that from the pub last night?"

"I wish," she shares. "It was a bust. There were three people in there, and two of them were working."

"So what did you end up doing?" Erika asks her.

"We came back and had a drinking game on the beach," Vivi offers, joining Franny, but she looks fresh. "Madame here." She points at Franny. "Decided that she was going to challenge Michael and Dylan to a drinking contest."

I shake my head and laugh. "Why would you do that?" I ask, and I can tell she is glaring at me from behind her shades.

"You weigh a hundred and fifteen pounds." I chuckle. "They weigh close to two hundred."

"You know, Cooper," Franny spits. "No one asked you."

"Can we get everyone in the SUVs?" my father yells as Max and Allison come out of their house with Michael following them and Alex. Michael has the same look Franny does.

"You know what I think?" Alex suggests, all chipper. "I think we should stop and get a big breakfast." She turns. "Or like fresh fish."

"Shut up," Michael says to her, pushing her shoulder as he climbs into one of the SUVs and slams the door.

"I’m not going in that SUV." Alex looks at her father.

"You can ride with us," Erika says to Alex, who comes over.

"I heard that I had to see two special girls," my uncle remarks, looking toward us and seeing the girls. "Come over here so I can take a picture."

"Don’t listen to Uncle Max," Erika prods, and then my uncle tilts his head back and laughs, holding his stomach.

"You owe me money, Erika." He points at her. "Told you that you would call me Uncle Max."

"Are we leaving?" My uncle Justin comes over, followed by Dylan, who has his glasses on and looks like he’s green.

"Is he sick?" Max looks over at Dylan.

"He spent the night hugging the toilet," Justin jokes, slapping his shoulder. "Then got kicked in the balls by his sister who went in said toilet and got scared it was a home invader."

"Right in the nuts," Dylan groans, holding himself. "I saw stars."

"Shut up and get into the SUV.” Justin pushes him.

"If you want," Max says. "Your better half is in that SUV sleeping." He points at the black SUV. Dylan walks over and pulls the handle of the door, and Michael’s head falls back.

“Dude, what the fuck?" he grunts, his glasses falling off his face, his hat ending up on the floor.

"Why would you lie with your head against the door?" Dylan asks him, picking up his things. "Move into the back," he tells him, and I just shake my head.

"Was I ever that dumb?" I look over at my father, and Erika answers for him.

"Yes," she blurts out, and I look at her. "The day after you were drafted, we met with the sponsors," she points out, and I close my eyes. "You threw up on his shoes." My father laughs and nods his head. "Then there were the NHL awards in Vegas." I hold up my hand for her to stop talking.