“And I love caring for you. You better understand that. Now, where will you ever find another friend like me?” He laughed as he stroked her cheek.
“Thanks,” Emma said softly and leaned into his hand.
“So you’ll enjoy the spa day that you deserve?” He pressed.
“Fine, I will. Are you happy now?” She said with an eye roll.
“Ecstatic,” he winked.
They turned to the twins who were still busy playing in the flowers. Maria was guarding them judiciously. Mia was blowing petals into her brother’s face and he was waving them away.
“Mia is certainly one hell-raiser,” Xavion said with a chuckle.
“You are right on that. Now Max, he’s a great contrast to her. Mia always wants to explore and Max would rather stay put.”
“Maybe she has a career in law enforcement. We will see,” Xavion shrugged.
“We will see? You have a little over a month of your vacation left, right Xavion?”
“So? Do you honestly think I’m letting go of you all once my vacation is over? Well, I’ve got news for you, Emma. You’re stuck with me.”
Before she could reply, he laid on the picnic blanket and pulled her down so she was lying beside him, her head in the crook of his shoulders.
“Your shoulder’s going to hurt,” she argued as she tried to sit up but he held her back gently.
“Stay,” he said softly but firmly. And she did.
Emma could not help feeling at home in his arms and when she tried to adjust, he did not let her.
“You are just so stubborn, Emma.”
“I’m not,” she argued weakly.
“Then stay my arms.”
“Fine,” she said gruffly.
Sometime later, Maria left with the kids but not till after they had given Xavion and Emma tight hugs and kisses on their cheeks. Xavion pulled Emma back down and this time, he rolled on his side to face her. She did the same too.
“See? You haven’t frozen to death yet, all this time you’ve been resting, have you?”
She scoffed, “Do we know if my insides are turning to ice?”
Xavion laughed and pulled her closer so his arms were wrapped around her and her head was on his shoulder, “You are crazy, absolutely crazy, Emma.”
This time when he held her, Emma did not pull away. She let herself feel at home in his arms and leaned into his strength. She was amazed at how much he cared for her and also, at how much she loved being there with him, in his arms. It was a feeling so strong, and she had never felt it before, not even with John. It was also a feeling that she could not quite comprehend, or rather, she was not willing to let herself understand yet. All she wanted right then was to stay in his arms if she could.
*
Xavion laughed as he looked at the drawing Max gave to him. He ruffled the kid’s hair and settled on the wooden floor and watched the twins draw.
“Being a good papa huh?” Zane asked from behind him.
He ignored his friend. That was just one of his jabs all day. Emma had brought the kids over in the morning before she headed off to the spa on the ranch. While Chan, Kai and Lay had been more than happy to have Mia and Max around, Zane had been more cautious. Xavion could not figure out for the life ofhim why his friend was being wary but right now, his focus was the kids. He was not going to worry about what was going on in his friend’s head. He would figure that out later.
“Hey, little troopers, wanna go get ice cream?” Kai asked as he picked up Mia and raised her up while Chan picked up Max. They squealed in delight as they set them in the stroller.
“You coming, sunbae?”
