Gia's giggles turned both of their heads. "Kissy later! Play, now!"
Rush gestured at his daughter with his free hand. "She speaks her mind."
Seaton seemed to recover first, stepping forward, her arms out. "Gimmie my Gia!"
"My CeeTee!" Gia's arms shot out like Seaton's did and Gia launched herself at Seaton.
Sam heard Rush's pained grunt and looked to see his friend holding his hand against his ribs.
"My daughter has quite the kick."
Sam agreed. "Are we thinking soccer?"
Rush shrugged. "Ballet is what she says she wants. Thora suggested gymnastics, but I don't know how I feel about her flying through the air even with big pads on the floor."
Sam and Rush watched Seaton walk away with Gia giggling in her arms. "I dunno, Rush. Even if she takes to tumbling, you won't have to worry about her on the uneven bars for a few more years. Why not try both?"
Rush turned to look at him, with one eyebrow raised over a hard look. "You tell me that when you have a little girl. Then we'll talk."
Sam burst out laughing. "No danger of that any time soon."
Rush laughed out loud, startled Sam. "I guess you haven't seen the betting pool at the station."
"Betting pool?"
Rush held up a hand and ticked off the bets that his coworkers were making. "How soon you drop down on one knee. Whether or not you'll be expecting before the wedding. Oh, the guys are heavier in favor of that than the woman."
"Things are slowly moving with me and Seaton," Sam explained. "Her ex did a number on her. Even her mom was in no danger of winning parent of the year. I'm letting things go on their own time frame. So there might be quite a while before those things happen."
"Sure, buddy."
Rush's look said he was calling bullshit on Sam's words.
"No, really." Sam shook his head. "We're taking things slow."
"Things will happen when they happen, Caddo. You'll see."
"Whatever." Sam moved past his friend and grabbed the drawstring bag from the back of his truck. "Here." He tossed the bag at his friend. "You said you'd help me put up our tent."
Rush gave the bag a little toss and frowned. "This looks like it's tiny. Are you sure two people can fit in here?"
Sam nodded. "I pitched it in my backyard to test it. It's a good size."
Rush looked down at the bag and shook his head. "The bag for our tent is like three times the size."
"Well you've got kids and all of the stuff that goes with them. It's just me andCeeTee."
Rush tucked the bag under his arm and started walking toward the other tents that were set up on the grass. "You said you tested it in your backyard so it's not up to me, but you might have to squeeze in there with Seaton tonight."
"That's what I'm hoping for."
Rush stopped walking and stared at him. "That's what you're... Caddo!"
"What? She sleeps in my arms the nights when we're both home. I won't do anything unless she’s fully on board so..."
Rush tilted his head toward an open space on the grass. "We'll set you up over there, just remember... Keep quiet, okay? We've got children here." As soon as he said that he lifted his chin toward Aylin Blaise in a greeting as she walked up to them.
"What was that, Rush?"
