“Well, Gracie can be a little shy with strangers at first, but that only lasts a few minutes, then she’ll be your best friend and follow you everywhere. She’s very curious, so if you leave a door or drawer open, expect to find her in it. She doesn’t walk yet but crawls at lightning speed and just started getting up and taking mini steps by holding on to things. So you’ll need to watch her in those moments, because she tends to tip back and fall,” I tell him with a smile, warmth spreading through my heart as I think about my favorite little human.
“Dante is far from shy. He will walk up to strangers and ask them to play hockey with him. He’s obsessed with everything that involves hockey, mostly his stick. Don’t try to take it away from him unless you want to start a war. He walks very well on his own and says four words. Mama, Dada, key for hockey, and foo for food. The only important things to him, clearly,” Cecilia giggles.
“Anyway, like Emma said earlier, we really aren’t strict, and you’re free to make your own schedule with the kids. Go with what works for them. As long as they get one nap minimum during the day, fed at mealtimes if we aren’t present, and spend a bit of time outside when the weather permits it, then we’ll be happy. The kids don’t have any allergies that we know of yet, so on that you have free rein, too. Although I must warn you, the fathers may give you a hard time at the beginning.”
“She’s right, they tend to go all caveman when other men are around us,” I laugh.
“Would it help if I said I was gay?” he asks, smiling.
“Yes!” Cece and I shout at the same time, making us all laugh.
“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing that I am.”
My eyes widen. “Wait, are you really?”
“Yes, I can show you proof if you’d like. I have pictures on my phone with my ex.” He shrugs, taking out his phone.
Cecilia looks at me with huge eyes as she places her hand on his arm, stopping him midway. “That won’t be necessary. We believe you.”
“All right. So now, if I’m not mistaken, you’d like me to start at the beginning of June, right? And your organization launches at the end of July?”
“Yes. We thought it would be good for the kids to get used to being around you with us still being there. It wouldn’t be every day, but maybe two or three times a week, if that’s okay with you?” Cece asks him.
“Of course,” he nods.
“Oh! We should take him on vacation with us. We’ll probably want to have a night off alone with the boys or just have a romantic dinner without the kids. We’re leaving the first week of July and going to a private island resort for two weeks. Everything would be paid for you, and you’d also get paid for your time with us, too,” I say.
“Ooh! That’s actually a really good idea. Yes! Say you’ll come?” Cece clasps her hands eagerly.
“A free vacation? Where I get paid to be there?” Sam laughs. “How could I say no?”
Just then the baby monitor turns on, and Gracie’s roars come through. “Seems Little Tulip is up. Which means Dante won’t be far behind. Ready to meet the little ones?” I stand from my stool, bouncing on my heels as I walk backward toward the stairs, spinning back around when I see Sam and Cecilia following me.
An hour later, we end up heading over to Morgan’s place after she invited the whole gang over for some pool time and dinner.Even if we’re only halfway through April, it’s one of those rare and warm sunny days. Besides, Morgan and Clay’s pool happens to be heated, so we’re taking advantage of the beautiful weather.
Since the boys are due home from their away game near 5:00 and we really wanted Grey and Sy to meet Sam, we decided to bring him along and have him stay for dinner, giving the men a chance to get to know each other.
“Are you sure it’s all right for me to join you all?” Sam questions from the passenger seat.
“Of course. We’re always all together, so you’ll be around everyone often. Might as well meet them now. Plus, I’d really like my husband to meet you ahead of time. But if you have other plans for the evening, then it can wait,” Cecilia reassures him from between the two car seats. She’s tiny, so it made sense for her to sit in the back. Sam had offered, but there was no way he could fit back there.
“No other plans. I’d be happy to meet all the people involved in the kids’ lives. It helps me see how they interact with others and pick up on little things they may associate with movements or sounds,” he says, smiling back at the kids.
As predicted, Gracie was a bit reluctant when he first came to her, but within minutes, she was crawling to him and asking to be picked up. Dante was happy to have a new friend to play with and instantly ran to Sam with his hockey stick.
When we arrive at Morgan’s and climb out of my SUV, Sam immediately goes to the back door and unclips Gracie, taking her out of her seat while I go to the trunk and collect the diaper bags.
When I close the trunk, I notice Cecilia holding her son’s hand but looking across the street with a hint of a flush and smile. When I turn to see what has caught her attention, I find Morgan’s new neighbor standing by his door, leaning against the frame with a stack of mail in his hands and a silly, way too small and exposing robe barely holding onto that muscular body.
He must sense us staring, because he instantly looks up from the mail, gives us a devilish smirk, and waves. Cecilia turns around and walks toward the house quickly while I giggle, shaking my head and waving back to the mostly naked man.
What is it with all these ridiculously gorgeous men around here?
“Well, isn’t that a sight,” Sam says with a laugh, but I don’t miss the slight lust in his eyes when he looks back at the neighbor as we make our way to the door.Yup, definitely into men.
“Yes, it sure is. Although the boys aren’t too pleased with it.” I laugh as we enter and lead Sam to the rest of the girls.
“HA! Oh, Jesus! This is too good! Silas is going to lose it!” Ronnie bursts out laughing, and Morgan places her hand over her mouth, suppressing her giggles.
