Zack(107)

Kate stares at me for a moment, considering my words. I sort of expected her to maybe fall into me with an equal declaration or something, but instead her eyes sweep out over the backyard. She looks around, her lower lip pulled between her teeth telling me she’s deep in thought. I hold my breath waiting to see what she’ll do.

Finally, those baby blues come back my way and her lower lip pops free. Her lips curve into a smile and finally she says, “So…right now might be a good time to kiss me.”

My lips tip up and I snake one hand behind her head to hold her tight. “Oh, yeah? In front of all these people?”

“It would probably cause a scandal,” she quips with a cheeky grin.

“Then I say let’s shock the shit out of them,” I tell her, just before bringing my mouth to hers.

I do nothing but first just touch our lips together, softly and hesitantly, wanting to memorize everything about the moment. Then Kate’s mouth opens, inviting me back in…all the way in.

I seize and conquer, wrapping both arms around her again and pulling her flush in to my body. I slowly roll my tongue against hers and I bend her backward in an attempt to sink deeper into her.

We kiss, and kiss, and then kiss some more. Oblivious to the music, not caring about the people who are watching us right now. Even when someone whistles and yells, “Get a room,” we ignore it and then kiss some more.

It’s not until I feel a tugging on my pants leg that I finally pull away from Kate and look down. Ben is standing there, looking up at both of us with wide eyes.

“Hey, buddy,” I say nonchalantly, trying to convey to him that this wasn’t a big deal. But fuck…it’s a big deal. I have Kate. She’s mine.

Kate squats and comes down eye level to Ben. “Hey, Squeaky-Clean Jelly Bean…can I tell you a secret?”

Ben puts his little hands on Kate’s shoulders and nods at her, his eyes glowing with excitement.

“Okay,” she says as she reaches up a hand to me. I take hers and she tugs me down until I’m squatting next to her. “So…I kind of really like your daddy. I mean really like him. And he likes me as well.”

“Is that why you were kissing?” Ben asks solemnly.

“Yeah,” Kate says. “Is that okay with you?”

Ben’s eyes cut to mine for reassurance. “Are you cool with me liking Kate?”

Damn, it feels weird to talk to an almost-four-year-old like this. I mean…how do you explain a kiss like that?

Choosing not to answer my question, Ben instead asks, “Can Kate come back and live with us?”

I look over at Kate and she looks at me blankly, shrugging. I turn back to Ben and pull him into my arms, then stand up from my squat. Kate follows. “She’s living with Ryker now and watching Violet and Ruby, but I promise you…she is going to be around a lot. Okay?”

“Okay,” Ben says with a smile, and then we are forgotten. “Can I go play with Violet and Ruby again?”

“Sure thing,” I tell him, after giving him a kiss on the head. I lower him to the ground and he scampers off.

As Kate and I watch him, I slide my arm around her waist to pull her in to me. “That was a weird conversation.”

“I thought it went quite well,” she says with a laugh before turning into my arms and pressing in to hug me.

I hold on to her tight, laying my cheek to the top of her head, and finally…finally I feel complete. There isn’t one thing missing in my life.





Epilogue


Zack


TWO MONTHS LATER…

I reach across the center console and take Kate’s hand in mine. I give it a short squeeze and tell her, “You look really hot in that dress.”

She snorts at me but squeezes my hand back. “You’re cute when you flatter me.”

“It’s the truth, baby.”

We’re heading to Alex and Sutton’s wedding. It’s going to be outdoors and it’s the middle of July, so while I have to swelter in a suit, Kate not only gets to look hot in that yellow sundress that hits just above her knee and is providing miles of creamy skin to look at, but she gets to stay cool too.

“We need to have a serious discussion,” I tell her as we drive along. Ben is staying over at Michelle’s, who also kindly agreed to watch Violet and Ruby. Michelle is still a pain in the ass sometimes, but at least she’s stopped flirting with me. I think it may be because Kate threatened to throw her out of the house that one time.

“Serious discussion, huh?” she asks with a hint of skepticism in her voice.

“Yup.”

“I’m always serious,” she says in a dramatically serious voice, which makes me roll my eyes.