“It’s been a while since I’ve heard you scream my name.” I nose at her hairline. Having a toddler who’s in the middle of a sleep regression means when we do finally find time for our sexcapades, we have to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake August.
But not tonight.
“I like the sound of that,” my wife all but purrs.
I kiss her again, because I can, before I squeeze Calla’s hips and sidestep towards the refrigerator. Grabbing a pre-made smoothie from the bottom shelf, I straighten up and turn back to find my wife still staring at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “You just look very handsome.”
I furrow my brow playfully, fiddling with the backwards facing cap on my head. “Don’t I always?”
“Shush you. I mean it.”
Unscrewing the lid, I peer down at my t-shirt and shorts combo. It’s my usual attire, especially when the weather begins to warm up like it is right now, in the middle of May, but the writing splashed across my faded black t-shirt is new.
TEAM AUGUST.
“Do you think he’ll like it?”
Calla nods. “He’s going to love it.”
I take a swig of my smoothie, swallowing down the taste of tart berries and sweet apple juice.
“I’m nervous.”
“Nervous?” Calla looks up from where she’s resumed fiddling with the gift bag. “Why?”
I pop my shoulders. “I don’t know. It’s his first proper football match and I just want him to have fun and—”
“If he’s anything like his dad…” My wife grins. It’s a running joke in our family that although August has Calla’s blue eyes, the rest of him is all me. My little carbon copy. “He’s going to have the best time.”
“Yeah, but if there’s any scuffles—”
“I hardly think so. They’re three.”
“Jenkin’s son just turned four.”
Calla places her hands on her hips and stares at me. “Stop worrying, it’s going to be fine. He’s going to have the best time kicking that ball around, just like he does at training and then afterward he’s going to have the best time having a sleepover at Grey and Delilah’s. It’s all he’s been talking about. Apparently, he and Archer are going to stay up all night.”
“I’m sure Delilah will love that.” I smile, thinking about my sister-in-law trying to get August and her four-year-old son, Archer to sleep, whilst also soothing Archer’s one-year-old baby sister, Daphne.
“I’m sure she will,” Calla agrees.
I knock back another quarter of my liquid breakfast, before I use the neck of the bottle to gesture towards the gift bag.
“Who’s that for?”
Calla raises her gaze to meet mine. “You.”
“Me?”
“Mhm.” She bobs her head. “I was going to give it to youthis evening, but you know I’m not any good with keeping surprises.”
I chuckle at that, reaching forward to grab the bag.
“Nuh uh.” My wife pulls it back, sending me a chastising look which really shouldn’t turn me on half as much as it does. “You have to wait.”
