“Do you two want to go out to the terrace and meet the dogs?” Grayson knelt down; his face softened.
“Yes, a puppy!”
“I wanna puppy!” His siblings jumped up and down.
“We’ll just have to watch them all with the pool,” Grayson said to Siobhan’s husband.
“You have a pool?” the little girl shouted. “You didn’t tell me he had a pool, Daddy. I didn’t bring my swimsuit.”
“We’ll come back another time so you can swim in the pool. This is a nice party,” her dad promised then looked up at Grayson.
“Whenever you want,” he assured him.
“If it’s a nice party,” Grayson’s sister demanded, “then why aren’t we using the pool?” She ran to the sliding glass doors. “Oh my gosh, there’s a unicorn in the pool!”
Hey, I can’t live a life completely devoid of whimsy, corporate girlfriend or not.
Joe sighed.
“She’s five so …” He shrugged helplessly. “We’ll look at the unicorn later, sweetie.”
“Do you want something to eat?” I offered, bending down.
“Pizza!”
I winced. “We don’t have—”
“I made bagel pizza bites!” my mom crowed.
The kids and several adults gathered around in excitement.
“Your mom texted me and made me buy her bagel bite ingredients,” McKenna admitted. “I can’t say no to your mom, Lexi.”
The little girl went up to my mom. “You look like the Little Mermaid.”
My mom beamed. She lived for these moments.
Then she and Grayson broke out into a duet from the movie, while his sister repeated, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, it’s happening!”
“I didn’t know you could sing,” Grayson’s mother said, looking at him oddly after the song ended.
“He’s practically perfect in every way.” My mom squeezed Grayson’s arm.
“A fellow nonsinger, I take it?” Siobhan asked me wryly.
“Singing is not Lexi’s gift to the world,” my dad said diplomatically.
“One moment, please.” Grayson excused himself and headed outside to where Pongo was barking at his reflection in the water, dangerously close to falling in.
I raced out after Grayson.
We shooed the dog away from the water, redirecting him to one of the toys the Richmond brothers had brought.
Inside my parents were regaling Siobhan and her daughter with tales from life as Disney cast members, while several of the Richmond brothers were flirting with McKenna, who was all too excited with the attention.
Aaron snapped at them then recoiled when Grenadine said something lewd.
Grayson snickered.
