Aelin turned and found Bailey on the trampoline next to the zip line. Ryan was waiting to retrieve the rope again if needed. He was staring at her.
She waved her daughter off. "Maybe later."
Bailey scoffed. "Do it now! I told her you could teach her how to do a single."
Aelin gritted her teeth, then padded over to the tramp. She never thought twice about doing her old gymnastics tricks, but she didn't usually have an audience. She jumped on and double-bounced Bailey, sending her into a fit of giggles. Bailey rolled to the edge and motioned for Amaya to come watch. Aelin kept her back turned to where she knew Ryan was still standing, and pushed off. That familiar swoop of exhilaration hit her gut. She bounced twice, then flipped, landing easily on her feet and slowing her momentum.
Amaya gaped at her, then she nudged Bailey's shoulder. "I thought you were lying."
Bailey beamed. "She can do way more tricks than that. She was a gymnast when she was a teenager."
"A long time ago," Aelin pointed out.
"My dad only knows how to do a front flip." Amaya bounced over to her.
"Not true." Ryan's voice sounded behind her, and she shivered.
Amaya gave him a look. "You never land your backflips. That doesn't count."
"You don't have to land them in the pool." He walked up to make a triangle between Aelin and the girls.
Amaya reached out and grabbed his hand. "Maybe you should learn, too!"
Aelin's cheeks heated. "I'm not sure I'm the best teacher."
Amaya pulled Ryan onto the tramp, and Aelin didn't bother with any more protestations. She started with backdrops, over-the-shoulder rolls, and tuck jumps. After a few minutes of practice, she turned to Ryan. "Is it okay if I spot her?"
He nodded, and Aelin motioned for Amaya to come closer. "Okay, you're going to jump and tuck like we practiced. When you throw your legs up, I'm going to help you get around, okay?"
Amaya nodded. The first attempt, she ended up nearly kicking Aelin in the face. The second wasn't much better, but by the third and fourth, she made a full rotation. Bailey gave her a high five.
"Okay, your turn!" Amaya moved to the mats, watching her dad. Aelin turned to follow, but Amaya shook her head. "He needs a spotter!"
Aelin pursed her lips. She slowly turned to face Ryan. "I'm sure you'll be fine, right?"
Ryan opened his mouth, but Amaya looked indignant. He drew a deep breath. "I weigh a lot more than her, A."
"Which means you could hurt your neck if you land on it." Amaya crossed her arms over her chest.
Aelin gave in and walked back onto the trampoline. "She should be a lawyer when she grows up."
He exhaled a puff of air. "You have no idea."
Aelin stood next to him, her arms ready to catch his legs and give a little push. He jumped and tucked, throwing his momentum up and back. Aelin caught his calves and gave a bump. Ryan landed on his feet first try.
Amaya's jaw fell open. "Not fair!"
He nodded, then gave Aelin a tight smile. "Thanks for the help."
He might as well have been thanking her for picking up a quarter she'd found in the parking lot with his lack of enthusiasm. "No problem."
They spent the next hour jumping, playing dodgeball, and trying out the various obstacle courses. Aelin escaped to the couch along the side, checking her phone and avoiding all eye contact with Ryan or the girls. It worked for about twenty minutes before Bailey insisted she go down the mat slide.
Finally, at around one o'clock, they collapsed on the sidelines, sweaty and out of breath. Aelin leaned back against the wall, her legs like jelly. She wasnotin gym shape.
It was then that she noticed Ryan hadn't joined them. He was still over by the slide, pacing with his phone to his ear.
"That doesn't look good," she murmured.
