“WOOOAAAR!” he replies, committing all of his one-year-old self to the character.
“Oh my goodness, you scared me!” I take a step back and pretend to shriek along with the rest of the crew, who all play along.
I feel Logan’s eyes soften on me as Charlie grins, handing Theo off to Jake. “Here ya go, Leonardo. I need to help Meadow and Noah.”
Zoe struts over next, in a matching costume to Tamara. Referee stripes on a low-cut top, and a black pleated skirt far too short to be legal. She blows her whistle so obnoxiously, my ears ring.
“Who would let you two superviseanything?” I ask with a grin.
“Offside!” Zoe declares, ignoring me as she points at Chase, who is slowly stalking toward her with a filthy grin on his face.
“Thatskirtshould be offside, Zo Face,” he replies, darting to grab her, but she blows her whistle loud again and jumps out of the way, shrieking as he loses his balance and lands on his foam shell.
“Oh my god,” she yelps with laughter, doubling over as he twists and struggles to turn over and get up. “You’re a disgrace to Michelangelo.”
“They’re a disgrace to everyone,” mumbles Hutchy, mouth full of orange macaron.
Ryan and Claire roll up last, hand-in-hand as Fred and Daphne. Poppy, their two-year-old, trots at their heels in a Scooby-Doo onesie, her tail wagging so hard she nearly falls over.
It’s cuteness overload, and I don’t think this can get any better, but then I spot the rest of the kids walking in with Charlie, and my chest actually aches.
Meadow is dressed like a marshmallow bride. Layers upon layers of white tulle and sparkles, a tiara in her hair, shimmery makeup, and holding a pink and white bouquet of carnations that apparently Zoe made for her.
But it’s Jake’s face I’m watching go slack, eyes suspiciously shiny, when he sees nine-year-old Noah dressed in a mini Colorado Storm outfit. Complete with a stick, helmet, and Jake’s number emblazoned across his back.
Chase smacks him on the back. “Can’t believe he picked you as his favorite, Brooks. What’s your plus-minus this season again? And what’smine?”
“Shut up,” Jake chokes out, voice rough.
I just stand there, hand pressed over my heart, surrounded by fog, chaos, and more love than my front yard should be able to hold.
“Lu!” Eli’s voice rings out from around a large spider cupcake, chocolate mixing with the green face-paint around his mouth. “Why are you not in costume yet?”
Every set of eyes turns to me, murmuring their agreement as they realize I’m still in my jeans and a black cobweb T-shirt.
“Just keeping you all on your toes,” I say lightly. “It’s a surprise.”
That’s apparently all the encouragement they need.
“Sexy witch,” Charlie calls immediately, back to balancing Theo on her hip.
“Cat,” Tamara says at the same time, swinging her whistle. “She gives cute pussy energy.”
Eli makes a strangled noise and nudges her, while Logan grins and turns away, and the rest of us laugh.
Zoe loudly blows her whistle. “Please, Tamara. Use the correct terminology. If she’s gonna be a pussy, she’s basically coming as a giant vagina. She’ll be a walking, talking YONI.”
“Oh my god.” I nearly choke on air as Eli looks ready to faint.
Betty raises her drink in a toast. “I think you’d make a great dominatrix, you know. Got the body for tight leather, Sugarplum.”
“YES, Betty!” Zoe says, pointing her whistle right at her.
Eli turns swiftly on his heel, throwing his hands in the air, which only makes the turtle shell on his back sway harder. He saunters off down the street, no doubt to find more candy and distract himself from what he’s deemed a nightmare circus.
My eyes slowly go to Logan’s, who’s gazing intently at me, jaw working as if he’s trying to stop the thoughts of me in tight leather from circling his mind. I bite my lip, and he shakes his head, muttering something about needing a drink.
Chase cups his hands around his mouth. “I’m betting on Little Red Riding Hood. Bonus points if she’s got the basket.”
