“Buddy, we’re not even close, I said, glancing at him in the rear-view mirror.
He grinned back at me, unbothered, then went right back to explaining which shark was the fastest swimmer.
Beside me, Camille sat with her diaper bag tucked at her feet, hands clasped tight in her lap. She kept sneaking glances at me, waiting for me to flinch, to roll my eyes, to sigh at the circus taking over my truck.
But the truth was, I kind of liked it.
The noise filled in parts of me that I hadn’t realized were empty. It was messy, sure. Loud. Unpredictable. But it wasreal. And it was them. Her kids, her world, and somehowshe’d continued to let me into it.
I caught her looking again, nervous, lips pressed tight.
“You okay?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
She gave a quick smile. “Yeah. Just… waiting for you to run off screaming.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Not a chance. I’ve been in combat zones quieter than this. I can handle a few squeaky toys.”
That earned me a laugh, the kind that made her whole face light up.
I reached across the console and took her hand, my thumb tracing slow circles against her skin.
At a red light, I glanced at the bouquet of sunflowers she’d put in a cup holder between us, stems sticking out awkwardly. She’d insisted on bringing them along “so they wouldn’t wilt,” but I knew the truth. She just didn’t want to let go of them yet.
This wasn’t just a date. This wasn’t just dinner and a kiss on the couch. This was me, behind the wheel, with three kids in the backseat, calling the shots. This was the kind of step you don’t take unless you’re serious.
And I was.
Scared? Sure. Overthinking every second? Absolutely. But serious all the same.
I tightened my grip on the wheel and told myself what I’d been telling her: I’d just keep showing up and doing my best.
I peeked in the rear-view mirror again, except this time I didn’t just see kids.
I sawher.
Zeke had her curls, the same stubborn spring that refused to be tamed. His eyes were hers, too. I caught myself thinkinghe had her determination, the way he asked questions, and shared her genuine curiosity about the world.
The twins were even more dangerous for my heart. Those big brown eyes? Same as hers, wide and deep, full of kindness and innocence. Their little giggles echoed her laugh. Bright, infectious, the kind of sound that worked its way under your skin and stayed there.
It hit me then, these kids weren’t just hers. Theywereher, in pieces. Living proof of her strength, her chaos, and her love.
And if I wanted her, it meant wanting all of them too. The realization was heavy. But it wasn’t the kind of weight that pushed me down; it was the kind that made me think,Yeah. I can carry this.
The drive wasn’t long, but it felt like a shift. Each mile put me deeper into her world. By the time the blue dome of the aquarium came into view, Zeke was practically bouncing out of his booster seat, yelling about jellyfish and turtles.
“Sharks first!” he demanded.
“No, fishy first!” Avery countered, smacking her toy against the car seat.
“Bunny!” Chloe shouted because, apparently, her stuffed bunny was now part of the tour.
Camille’s laugh was soft, but her shoulders were still stiff, her hands twisting in her lap. Bracing for me to glance in the rear-view mirror, see the chaos in full force, and put the truck in reverse. I wish she could see the resolve in my mind.
I parked, cut the engine, and turned to look at her.
“You okay?” I asked quietly.
She gave me a smile that was more nervous than joyful. “They’re… a lot.”
