“Alright then,tackle,” Jesse fires back, flipping his cap around. “But don’t cry when I knock you flat.”
“Knock me flat?” Cody laughs, calling something I can’t make out over the noise of Weston getting fussy.
Ella sighs, bringing her iced tea toward her. “Oh, here we go.”
“If someone starts bleeding, I’m out.” I raise my hands in surrender, earning a round of laughter.
The guys line up in the middle of the yard. Wesley hikes the ball to Jesse, who fumbles it immediately but somehow manages to scoop it before Cody plows straight into him. Jesse hits the grass with a solid thud that echoes across the yard.
“Oh jeez.” Karissa groans, covering her face.
I burst out laughing. “Holy crap.”
Ella shoots to her feet like a mom on the sidelines. “Jess! What wasthat?” she calls out, hands in the air like a coach. Karissa and I laugh at her.
Maureen jumps in with her mom-voice. “Easy! You two have kids—you don’t bounce like you used to!”
“Oh, he’s fine,” Mason says, waving her off…and then winks at me, already flushed from the heat and way too confident for someone who’s probably next to get tackled.
Jesse props himself up on an elbow and looks at Ella, breathless. “I mean, I’m a little out of practice,” he presses.
Ella crosses her arms but she’s smiling. “A little?” she mutters, sitting back into her chair, shaking her head like she’s remembering the past, their relationship back in high school.
The next play, Cody takes the ball. He throws it to Mason, who sprints down the middle, dodging Wesley and Jesse easily before diving into the end zone. He jumps up, arms raised like he just won the Super Bowl.
We all cheer from the sidelines; even the kids join in, clapping and squealing.
Weston starts fussing louder, and Addison stands, saying something about nursing and changing his diaper. Maureen follows.
I sit back in my chair, the umbrella shading me from the afternoon sun, and sip the last of my tea.
“How are you doing, Meg?” Ella asks suddenly, her voice soft but sincere.
Mason told everyone what was going on a few weeks ago, so I know that’s what she’s referring to.
I glance between her and Karissa, feeling their warmth. “Yeah, I’m good. We, um…” I let out a nervous laugh. “We decided we’re content just being married right now. Truly.”
Karissa smiles knowingly. “That’s a good place to be.”
“After that weekend with your kids,” I tease, “I was like,hmm…maybe I’m not ready for this.”
They both laugh.
“It’s definitely a lot,” Karissa says. “I didn’t know what I was getting into with Emma. Half the time I still don’t.”
“Same,” Ella chimes in.
We laugh again, easy and unforced. And I feel even more peace with where we are.
By the time the game ends, the men look ragged. Like they need a gallon of water and a shower. Mason’s red-faced, grass-stained, and has his hands on his hips, catching his breath as he trudges up the deck steps, wiping sweat from his forehead. He drops down beside me with a heavy sigh.
“Hey,” he breathes.
“Hi.” I smile, shifting Weston, who I hijacked five minutes ago. He’s asleep on my lap now. His tiny hand is wrapped around my finger, soft and perfect.
Mason leans over to peek at him, his voice gentle. “He’s out.”
I laugh quietly. “He just ate.”
