What was I doing?
But I didn’t know how to stop this slow slide of giving. The way with each second, my reservations were being whittled away.
Theo suddenly hustled the whole horde of children toward our spot.
“It’s family game time,” Nolan shouted. “We picked hide and seek! You gotta be on my team, Daddy-O!”
River chuckled. “You want me on your team, huh?”
“Yup, because you know what my Momma-Dog says. You’re the stealthy sneaker.”
River sent Charleigh a glance that was riddled with a secret message I couldn’t decipher, before he slowly pushed to his feet. “Sounds good to me.”
“I’m on my mommy’s team!” Maci shouted.
“What? You don’t want me on your team?” Kane feigned offense.
She giggled like mad. “No way, Daddy, we gotta be separate so you can find us.”
Easy laughter rippled out of him as he stood then stretched out his hand to help Emery up. Something deep rolled out with his words. “Either of you ever go missing, I won’t stop until I find you.”
Theo reached for Piper. “Up you go, Pipes. It’s you and our Little Finn-Finn.”
“You find me?” Finn drawled in his adorable voice as Theo passed him to his mom.
“That’s right. I’m definitely going to find you.”
“I’m on my Mr. Cash’s team!” Colin shouted at Cash, who still lingered in the distance.
I could only feel the grunt that rolled out of him. The way the air trembled and the ground seemed to quake below.
“I’ll give you five bucks if you can actually get that grump to play.” Kane’s eyes gleamed as he issued the challenge.
“My BigGwumpyGiant!” Eva smacked her chest. Claiming the man who, with each day, was claiming me. Or maybe I’d just forgotten that I’d always been his.
“Mr. Cash wants to be on my team, don’t you, Mr. Cash?” Colin shouted toward him.
Cash had that terrified look in his eyes again.
“I…uh…” He roughed a big hand over his head. “Usually sit these types of things out.”
“Please, please, please! You gotta play with us!” Addy suddenly darted in his direction, running across the field and grabbing hold of his hand.
It seemed a proclamation. That Addy had finally fully given. Distrust no longer in her eyes when she looked at him.
“I want my giant!” Eva jumped.
Uncertainty gushed from him on waves.
My heart nearly exploded when he relented and let Addy tow him toward us.
Otto whistled low. “Tell me the rest of you are actually seeing this?”
“Oh, I see it, brother, but I’m not sure I believe it.” Baffled, Kane blinked.
Addy jogged in our direction with Cash lumbering behind her. “Mom! You gotta hide, and we’re gonna have to find you.”
“Oh…”
