CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Okay, okay, no running, Tanner,” I fuss as he rushes away from me over to Emmet, giving him a hug.
“Oh wow, sport, I thought I was your best friend,” Chase says in amusement, his gaze on Tanner. His lips pull up into a smile when Tanner gives him an apologetic look.
“Of course, but Emmet sneaks me sweets and lets me play on his phone,” he says before offering a fist bump to Chase and Nathan.
I don’t miss the smirk on Emmet’s face.
Shaking my head, I unbuckle Lilly’s seatbelt. “Ready to go see the fish?” I ask her as I turn to look at the brown sign marked aquarium with hand-drawn fish and coral decorating it.
When I woke up this morning, I thought the only thing we’d be doing was lazing around the house, but the guys had other plans, knocking on my door bright and early and saying that we should take the kids to the aquarium.
Of course I learned on the way over that this was because Tanner had asked Emmet at his game yesterday, who seems to be quickly knocking his two coaches out of the way as his favorite. I’m not surprised considering the man’s laid back and careless demeanor.
“Stroller or no stroller?” Nathan asks, moving over to my trunk and lifting the latch. He raises a brow, waiting on my answer.
I shake my head, “No, I’ve got her leash, so she should be fine.” I pick up the little backpack with a turtle on it and green connecting straps. I’ll attach it to the child, who seems to be getting into more things than usual lately, once we get inside the actual building.
Chase holds onto Tanner’s hand as we cross the street though I hear him make a comment about not being a baby. Nathan holds the door open and our little group bustles into the cool building.
I look around, taking note that even the entrance is colorful, teal and blue with rainbow fish decaled onto the walls.
Nathan orders our tickets while Emmet and Chase continue their argument with Tanner about who’s his favorite. Tanner eats it up, his lips tipped up into a grin and his brown eyes amused.
“Ready?” Nathan asks, placing a hand on the small of my back that sends tingles up my spine. Turning, I offer him a smile as I finish clipping Lilly’s leash to her. When it’s secure, I place her on the ground and she nearly yanks my arms out of the socket as she tries to sprint over to Chase.
“Fuck.”
Nathan catches Lilly before the leash can yank her back to the ground. Chase looks over at Lilly and smiles before moving over to me and taking the leash. I roll my eyes when he picks her up the second she raises her arms.
“She’s supposed to be walking,” I tell him to which he acts like he can’t hear me. “Push over,” I mutter before turning to Nathan, brushing my hair out of my face.
He’s smiling and I can’t stop the butterflies in my stomach. But I plan on taking my time the next time I get you alone.
I clear my throat, turning away from his intense gaze. “Yep, ready.” Just make it through the aquarium without getting turned on and you’ll be fine.
Chase keeps Lilly as we make our way through the little entrance tunnel that’s dimly lit, blue lights the only illumination, coming from just above the tanks. I watch as Emmet and Tanner pick out the fish on a sign that identifies them. Chase speaks lowly to Lilly, pointing at the tanks.
A heavy feeling settles on my chest.
Nathan’s hand brings my attention back to him as he looks down at me with curious eyes. “You okay?” he asks, softly.
I nod, “Yea, just…” I wave a hand, but the words I’m looking for refuse to come to me. “It’s nothing.” I move closer to one of the tanks and watch the colorful fish as I try to distract myself from the whirl of emotions that try to move through me.
We continue through the aquarium and everything feels…. Normal, comfortable.
It’s a dangerous thing, because as I look at the kids, I know they’re getting just as attached to the new men in our life as I am, maybe more…. It makes me worry about how much it’ll hurt them when things go wrong because a part of me knows that this can’t last forever.
“Oo, can I touch it?” Tanner asks, rushing forward when he sees the little display marking that the starfish can be touched.
Tanner looks at Emmet who looks at me in turn for approval. I nod.
“Yes!” Tanner rushes forward, but Emmet gently grabs his hand, pointing to the sign above a sink that says to wash your hands before you touch the fish. He rushes over to it and quickly washes his hands.
I watch as Chase hands Lilly off to Nathan and he takes her over to the sink to wash her hands. Chase turns and his gaze finds mine as his lips pull up into a slow grin.
My heart skips a beat.