Kayden sighed and picked up his pace to keep up with Kaylee.
“I love watching them together,” I said, looping my arm through Jace’s and resting my head on his shoulder as we walked. We weren’t exactlyhidingour relationship from Kaylee, but we had agreed not to use the worddatingand to draw the physical line at no kissing in front of her for now. “I wish he hadn’t missed so much time with her. I feel like I’ll never be able to make it up to him.”
Jace kissed the top of my head. “You did the best that you could with the situation you were in, Liv. No one has a right to judge you for that, and we both know he doesn’t.”
I sighed. “Yeah, it’s just, look at them.” I smiled as Kayden bent down while Kaylee climbed onto his shoulders. She must have somehow convinced him that she needed to be carried the rest of the way.
“Yeah, he’s a really hot dad,” Jace said. “Not to mention how hot it is that he dove in headfirst with being in her life. He’s amazing with her.”
“Yeah, he is,” I said. “I’m really falling for him, Jace.”
He squeezed me in a side hug. “I love that for you both.”
I slid my arm around his waist. “This feels too good to be true. The three of us, this connection…” I trailed off, unable to find words to describe it.
“I know what you mean. I’m scared too, Liv. But I’ll do anything for the three of you.”
I sighed contentedly. “I know you will. Your confidence is why I trust all of us to figure it out and make it work.”
Jace stopped walking and turned me to face him. “If we’re open and honest with each other like we were last night, not just in bed but in therest of our lives too, we’ll be just fine. There’s too much love and support for us not to be.”
I tipped my chin to kiss him, forgetting why we shouldn’t until I heard my daughter’s voice.
“Are you coming?” Kaylee yelled at us over her shoulder as they approached the log flume ride.
“I don’t want to ride this,” I groaned. “I know we can’t let him suffer alone, but we are going to get soaked.”
“We’re coming, kid,” Jace replied to Kaylee as he took my hand and pulled me forward to catch up. “After this I’ll take her on a few rollercoasters so Kayden can have a break.”
“I don’t have to do those either, right?” I asked with a grin.
He shook his head. “Guess I’ll be the thrill-seeking parent.”
“It’s not the thrill; Kayden really got to me with his vomit fear. He’s not wrong.”
Jace laughed and tossed his arm around my shoulder as we entered the queue for the log flume and Kayden set Kaylee down. She launched into a barrage of questions about the ride and the guys patiently answered one after another, after another.
After we got completely drenched—as predicted—Jace bought us all new, dry clothes at the gift shop while Kayden purchased a stuffed pterodactyl that Kaylee convinced him she needed. We changed into our dry clothes and Jace and Kaylee took off for the rollercoasters which were too close to the spinning rides for Kayden, giving us an opportunity to sneak away for ice cream and stollen kisses.
“Are you having fun?” he asked as we sat on a park bench, his arm around my shoulders.
I licked my strawberry ice cream and smiled at him. “I really am.”
“Good,” he said. “I was hoping that in addition to the family dates, you and I could go out alone once a week? We can wait until Kaylee’s asleep so you don’t lose any time with her. Jace already agreed to watch her on those nights.”
“Of course.” I kissed him. Jace and I were together all day every day, and Jace and Kayden could be alone whenever I was with Kaylee, so it made sense to be deliberate about scheduling one-on-one time with Kayden. “You and I are going to be just fine, Kayden.”
I rested my head on his shoulder.
“Good. Because there is no way that man is letting us go,” Kayden teased as he kissed the top of my head. “And I really don’t want to let you go either.”
By the time Jace and Kaylee returned from the rollercoasters, Kaylee looked tired, and we decided to grab a quick dinner before heading home. After a hasty meal, Jace carried Kaylee back to the car and she fell asleep on his shoulder before we’d even gotten to the park entrance.
“Family date number one,” Jace said quietly. “Epic success.”
I chuckled, holding Kayden’s hand. “Agreed, babe. Great idea.”
Kayden smirked at him. “I almost forgot I was in a vomit den, that’s how good it was.”
