When he was done, he joined Riley where she waited and pulled up the photo-bomb picture. “Do you see his face? You made his day.”
Kyle did look ecstatic at her silliness. For that matter, so did Justin.
“Good. He deserves lots of smiles.”
“As do you.”
Justin leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her mouth. Something he’d done a lot of the past couple of months. Lot of kisses. Lots of more than kisses.
“Not here in front of the kids,” she scolded, but they both knew she didn’t mind a light PDA.
Justin chuckled. “Afraid you won’t be able to resist pulling me off to some private corner and having your way with me?”
“Have you looked around this place? It’s crawling with kids—literally. There are no private corners. Now, are we going to see if this tall boy exhibit teaches us anything about human anatomy?”
“I’d rather hold out for a private lesson later.”
Riley clicked her tongue. “Now, now, Dr. Brothers. What will the boys think if their leader doesn’t forge their path?”
“That’s he’s lucky to be with you?”
She laughed. “Good answer—but let’s go check out the exhibit with the kids.”
“Wait, look at this first.”
Riley glanced at his camera screen. After her photobombing he’d continued to snap photos, and had gotten one of Kyle hugging her. Gravity tugged at her insides at the sight of the emotion on his face, the freely given love.
“You know, for someone who once claimed not to know anything about kids, you sure have let the boys grow on you.”
She enjoyed the Wilderness Group, and was grateful to be a part of the boys’ lives. They’d enriched her life—especially Kyle, who always sought her out and made her feel special.
“They’re awesome kids,” she said.
But perhaps she needed to pull back, not encourage Kyle so much. She didn’t want him to get too attached to her. The last thing she’d ever want would be to hurt him.
“Agreed—and you’re awesome with them.”
Justin’s compliment made her insides gooey. She did enjoy the boys, but it wasn’t as if she was doing anything more than spending a few hours here and there with them.
They headed around to the entrance to the tall boy exhibit, where the kids could explore the human body structure inside of it.
“You’d make a great mother, Riley.”
Justin’s words struck deep, bringing old insecurities to the surface, and the words Johnny had tossed at her in the aftermath of their failed wedding.
Why would he marry an overweight woman like her? He wouldn’t want to risk his kids taking after her. He wouldn’t—
Riley stopped her thoughts, knowing her insecurities would choke her out if she let them. She wouldn’t let them.
And, although his sentiments were so different from Johnny’s, Justin’s words cut into her, making her feel the need to set the story straight.
She stopped walking, turned to Justin, and shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t.”
He stared at her as if he didn’t know what to say. He probably didn’t.
“I won’t have children,” she reiterated, wanting to make sure he understood.
It was something she’d decided after Johnny had left her at the altar. She’d go through this life alone, because it was easier with no one to leave her again.