And his grandkids.
Lucy had left me to go to him, sitting close up to him on another blanket he’d brought, pointing at the cricket field. She wanted to start playing cricket too, and we’d just had a recommendation for a girls’ team that was starting up, so that looked promising. I imagined that right now, she was discussing exactly how the field should be set up in more detail than anyone needed for kids cricket.
“You look like you’re almost relaxed.” Vic wrapped her arms around me from behind, startling me some. “Not something I see often.”
I took hold of her arms, holding them in place. “You see me relaxed every night.” I turned around to try and see her. “Come round the front.”
She moved, so I could wrap my arms around her and whisper in her ear about the dirty things I was going to do to her later.
She smiled, shaking her head. “We’re at a children’s game. You shouldn’t be saying things like that.”
“No one can hear. Only you know what I’m saying. No one’s going to know exactly how I’m going to make you come later and how many times.” I kept it tame. For now.
“You might be in luck. Your mum’s offered to babysit. We can go out by ourselves, with no kids, after.” She lifted her head for a kiss at exactly the same time Maddox took a wicket.
I cheered, almost knocking her over as Will ran to his twin and gave him a high five. I had wondered what would happen when at some point they played against each other. They were definitely competitive enough to take sport further, I just hoped they managed to stay friends when they were rivals.
“Careful,” she said, laughing. “You were nearly a wife down.”
“You’d be replaceable. I’ve seen Oliver’s mum eyeing me up at least three times since this match started.” I wasn’t lying either.
“I noticed. Her boobs aren’t as big as mine though.” There was no sign of any jealousy, which wasn’t needed. Vic knew she owned me.
“I hadn’t looked.”
She laughed, vibrating against me. “You’re such a liar. I’ve never known anyone more obsessed with boobs that you.”
“I was a deprived child. I wasn’t breastfed.” I had no idea if I had been or not, but it sounded plausible. It had a very small chance of eliciting sympathy from Vic, although I wasn’t holding my breath.
“Do you see my breasts as being a source of food?” She rubbed at my forearms.
“Not at all. I see them as being the source of much enjoyment.” I moved my arms so I could sneakily nudge the underside of one through her T-shirt.
“Max, behave.” She tipped her head back and looked at me.
I used the opportunity to kiss her. “Never. So where do you want to go tonight?”
She was quiet for a moment, watching Maddox bowl another over.
“I want a hotel room, with room service, strawberries and whipped cream and us on our own with no family anywhere near.” Her smile was just a little naughty. “No kids getting into bed during the night, and no tripping over a small boy’s underpants on the way to the bathroom because our ensuite’s out of paper.”
“Is that what happened last night?”
“Yep. We really could be more organised.” She rested her back against me, letting me take some of her weight.
“Hotel. Room service. Strawberries. That’s what you want?”
“And cream. Don’t forget the cream.”
I couldn’t help the wicked grin that spread across my face. “What sort of cream?”
“Maxwell,” she said, warning me, but smiling anyway.
The agreement was that we could spend the night away and my parents would stay over, as long as we were back for nine-thirty, because they had stuff to do.
We bit their hands off, packed a very small amount of things, said goodbyes to the kids and headed off to a hotel next to the Thames, which happened to have a penthouse suite available for a single night, with a whirlpool bath and big windows with views across the city.
It was ideal. Perfect. Just us for a few hours with no interruptions or guilt, because the kids loved being with my parents.
