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The man stretched, running his hand down his stomach and groaning. “Those days are far behind me.” He flopped into a folding chair next to Laurie and reached for a marshmallow.
“Emily, this is Patrick.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I handed him a roasting stick.
“You, too.” He grinned and held his marshmallow so far from the flames I wasn’t sure it would even brown.
He was definitely past his prime for keeping up with Mac on the ice, and I knew we’d be there one day. I couldn’t imagine it now as I looked at Mac. He had finished his towering plate of food and was playing flag football with the kids.
He caught me looking at him and grinned. One of the more outgoing kids took advantage of his momentary distraction and ripped a flag off him, running across the yard as he laughed maniacally.
Out of the game, Mac jogged over to us and kissed the top of my head.
“The family is from Vancouver.” I nudged Mac as he sat next to me.
“Seriously?” His gray-green eyes lit up. “We have day camps and clinics for all ages during the summer. There’s even a new academy-like thing opening, but—” He glanced around, a sheepish look on his face. “I’m not supposed to share info yet. If the kids are interested, I can put you in contact with Julie Locke. She coordinates all that stuff.”
Laurie exchanged numbers with Mac as I put my s’more together. The marshmallow was blackened and flaky on the outside. Its insides oozed out as I pressed the graham cracker and chocolate around it.
Three of the kids ran past, giggling as they watched Mac. He was like a celebrity in their eyes, and Mac loved it. He got up and chased them to the fence and back. His energy was boundless—or at least, I hoped. Promises had been made that morning and I wasn’t going to bed without some recompense.
I watched Bash across the yard and smiled. He was discussing something with Ivan as they looked at a seasoning bottle and tuned the rest of the world out.
My two guys were so different from each other and that’s what made our relationship special. We completed each other in so many ways, some of them we probably couldn’t even see yet.
“This is the best family get together I’ve ever been to.” My voice cracked, betraying just how truthful that statement was.
“I’m glad we talked. I guess I’ve been taking this for granted lately.” Laurie’s eyes drifted to an older, white-haired couple sitting in the shade. The man was in a heated discussion with Susan, but they erupted into laughter before it got too intense. The white-haired woman was smiling and looking at the children hounding Mac. “I suppose it won’t last forever.”
That gnawing ache twisted inside me again. After losing Rob, life had become pointless, and I had little ambition to build a future. That changed, though. Now, our love filled me with hope. I wanted my future with Mac and Bash to go on forever. I wanted our days to be filled with as many memories as possible.
When I was white-haired and could only sit and watch, I wanted to be like the old woman beaming as she watched her children and grandchildren play around her.
Bash put his arms on my shoulders and said nothing, but looking up at his face, I heard loud and clear. I exchanged a look with Mac, who got to his feet.
“We have had such a fantastic time. Thanks for letting me play with you guys.” He waved to the kids who crowded around him for a big hug. “We have to leave first thing in the morning, and I promised these two a sunset beach walk.”
One boy jumped up, raising his hand. “We can walk with you—”
“David, let them be.” Laurie shook her head. “Have fun, you three.”
“I’ll pass your information on to Julie so she can get you the summer camp info.”
The kids swarmed Bash and I, hugging us as well.
I held my breath for a second, but Bash handled it beautifully. He even remembered a few of their names and had enough composure to compliment Susan on her potato salad.
The beach was only a ten-minute walk from the property, so after a fifteen-minute goodbye, we linked hands and strolled to the crossroads with the beat up yellow bus.
“You did so great, Bardot.” Mac slapped him on the ass when we were out of the family’s eyesight.
“What?”
“You talked to kids. You chatted with the guy grilling burgers. And you’re still smiling.”
At this, Bash’s grin dropped into a deep scowl. “I might not like being around a hundred people all the time, but I have manners.”
Mac grinned and ran ahead of us, his feet sinking into the sand. “God, it feels so good out here.”
