“We would definitely get a call from their teacher.”
I smile at him as we walk away, leaving the dolphins to themselves.
“Something I’d let you deal with, Dec.”
“Maybe I could bribe them with Black Diamonds tickets.”
“Assuming you’re still with the team.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks, affronted. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“If we’re talking about taking our hypothetical children to the aquarium, they have to be at least seven or eight, especially if we’re getting calls from the teacher about how they’re misbehaving in class.”
“Okay, fair.”
“And as much as I love you, Declan, professional athletes retire much earlier than the average person.”
“Again, seriously? You’re killing me, Froggie.”
The room in front of us opens to a small, fenced-off pool of water. Kids are crowded around the plastic barriers. Through the glass, we can see stingrays swimming in the touch tank.
“I take it we won’t bring our kids to the aquarium then?”
“Maybe not even the zoo.”
“Then we better pet the rays before you ban us from coming.” I wink at him and dart over to an opening between people. After reading the sign on how to do this, I brush two fingers along the back of a small stingray as it swims by.
“How does it feel?” Declan asks.
I turn to face him, and he snaps a picture of me.
I smile at him. “Weird.”
“This whole day is weird.” He laughs. “I’m learning new things about you, plus there’s the mating dolphins.”
“Aww. Is your poor mind blown?” I kiss his cheek, pulling him close so he can touch the stingray too.
“Maybe.”
Declan mirrors what I’m doing as he pets the ray that comes toward him. I rest my chin on his shoulder as I watch him.
His happiness is infectious. This is what I’ve always loved about him. He finds so much joy in everything he does.
He’s been like this ever since I met him.
“Okay, I kind of want a pet stingray now,” he says, sticking his hand under the sanitizer and rubbing it around.
I do the same.
“I am not letting you get a pet stingray when you won’t be home to take care of it.”
“That’s the only reason?” He quirks a brow at me.
“That and I don’t want to take care of it.”
“You’re no fun.”
Spying the small café on the other side of the room, I nod my head in that direction. “Then how about we get some snow cones instead. Will that help soften the blow?”
