I hold my hand up, leaning over to take his beer from him which he protests against, hugging it like a child.
“Alright, pops. You’re getting a little nostalgic there,” I caution him, reminding him it’s his last drink for today.
“I mean it though,” he says again, and I know he does because I feel the same way about everything we have, all of us.
“I know, Greg. I know,” I assure him, resting my hand on his shoulder, grateful I have two best friends from the same mold in my midst.
I hear Serena coming out, looking up and moving to get up to take my turn with the kids, but she shakes her head, smiling.
“Kyle and Co. won’t even think about closing their eyes until they’ve had a story from Grandpa and he’s tucked them in. That’s what I’ve been told to report,” she says, winking at me.
Greg rubs his hands along his knees with the air of a master magician about to perform his most renowned and adored magic tricks.
“Well, I guess I’m up, Carter,” he sighs triumphantly, making Serena and I both smile.
It’s so great he loves the kids as much as they love him, he’s so good with them.
I take his beer bottle and tipping it out over the side of the porch, I ask Serena how our littlest ones are.
“All asleep, fed and very, very tired,” she says with a smile forming at the corner of her mouth.
I stand up, hooking my arms around her waist, and pull her towards me.
“Meaning?” I ask, hoping her dad knows enough code to give us at least half an hour together, alone.
“Meaning, I want you to show me the mud down by the lake again,” she says, fluttering her eyes innocently, grabbing my front and rubbing her flat palm up and down, signaling she means business this time.
“I have my fantasy, and I want my man… down by the lake doing exactly what I tell him. Got it?” she orders, making my breathe catch for once as I check the hallway, making sure Greg’s settled with the kids.
He gives me a thumbs up from around the doorway, and the same wink his daughter just gave me.
“You’re both in on this?” I ask her innocently.
“Not entirely, but dad’s here to make sure we get some time for us as well as with the kids,” she adds cryptically, dragging me toward the edge of the porch by my belt buckle, biting her lip.
“Did I mention I have a wife?” I pretend to protest, “Being dragged off by a strange woman in the night towards the lake.”
“I’ll deal with her,” she says seductively. “I’ll let you help me deal with her…” she whispers hoarsely as we pause to kiss on the gravel path leading down to the lake.
“I love you, Serena,” I tell her, swallowing hard.
“I know,” she gasps. “Now come show me just how much.”