Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Highland
“Okay, Farrah, remember tomorrow the ferry will be packed with a shit ton of kids, so please make sure you and the girls are prepared. For those two trips to and from, I want all of y’all on the ferry.
The camp provided the paperwork to the parents so more than half will be prepared to handle motion sickness with medication.
The unapproved kids we’ll have to treat naturally.
So make sure we have enough of those little cans of ginger ale and crackers not included with the little snack trays the chef made for them.
Am I forgetting anything?” I asked Farrah as we sat in the office going over the checklist for the camp’s field trip.
Since there were so many kids, I offered up the ferry for easier transport of all the campers.
I might have overestimated my ability to handle such a huge number of kids on the vessel at once.
“Yeah. Something to keep them entertained. But I got that covered. I got the DJ that does the yacht parties to cover the quick trips. I figured we could make it like a mini party that will help keep the kids distracted just in case the snacks or meds don’t settle the motion sickness.
I also made sure to dedicate the whole upper deck to them.
That way we can keep them all together since the ferry will operate business as usual tomorrow. ”
I nodded as I added her additions to my list.
“Cool, cool. Good thinking. Oh, and the camp asked if we could scan their fake tickets as they board. Of course, I agreed. So, let’s have one of the girls do that.”
“How cute. Okay. I think that’s it.” The sound of a bell ringing above the door had me looking up to see Ceona and Neela both running in with Tunk behind them.
“Daddy, we’re going to be late for our date,” Cece stressed, making Farrah chuckle.
Since Ceona and Neela learned the phrase playdate, they had been using the word date every chance they could.
This would be playdate number three for us with Olive and Jo-Jo.
We went to the movies the other night and that truly was a kid outing, giving me and Olive an extremely limited amount of time to hold a conversation.
It was hard with the kids around, especially Neela who loved to be on Olive in some type of way. No lie, I couldn’t blame my baby girl. Granted, I hadn’t gained access to those types of space privileges yet. I was still in the hand holding zone. No complaints, just yearning for more.
“Well, I guess that’s time. I promise we’ll be ready for tomorrow. Not a hiccup in sight. Go enjoy your date,” Farrah joked as we both got up, me heading for the door, her headed for the back room.
“It’s a play date for the girls,” I yelled just as I reached the door with the girls in front of me leading the way to the car.
I double checked the time to make sure it was in my favor as I contemplated whether to get on the ferry or not to head back to the mainland.
Once I noticed I had more than an hour to make it, I decided to just hit the bridge over.
I instantly regretted that once the girls started in with their million questions.
“Daddy, a boy at camp said his daddy brings his stepmommy flowers on dates. Are we going to get some for Ms. Liv?” Cece asked. Her question alone had me doing a triple take in my rearview mirror at her.
“No, Cece. This isn’t a date for Ms. Liv and me. This is so you kids can play together. And no one gets flowers on those.”
“But why not? He said his daddy told him, real men never show up to a lady emptyhanded. We have to get Ms. Liv a gift or flowers, Daddy, or else she won’t know we like her.”
I’m starting to wonder about this camp and the kids there.
“Well for one, that boy’s parents are married, so the flowers are a must. Ms. Liv and I aren’t married; it would be weird to bring her flowers.”
“But Daddy, his stepmommy and daddy aren’t married yet. And don’t you like Ms. Liv? Why can’t we get flowers or something?”
“I like toys. Can we get her one too, Daddy?” That was Neela joining in on whatever this was right now.
I let out a low heavy sigh as I rubbed my temple.
“No toys, no flowers, no gifts. And to answer your question, Cece, yes I like Ms. Liv.”
The girls groaned from the back with Cece throwing in a whine before the low mumbles began.
What advanced starter pack did my seven-year-old have right now because all this attitude is giving me the fucking blues?
“And now I’m never going to have any more friends. Ms. Liv isn’t going to know then Jo-Jo isn’t going to be able to be my friend anymore because my daddy didn’t buy the flowers.”
The loud exaggerated grunt that came from Cece had me slightly turning to see her tiny arms going up too. That sight had me pulling in my bottom lip to stifle my laugh that threatened to come out.
“I know Ms. Liv will understand. I promise your friendship is safe, Cece.”
“I guess we’re testing the waters there too.” I smirked at her dramatic choice of words, knowing immediately where she heard them from.
“Testing the waters? I swear I’m failing you as a parent. You hang around your uncle too much with this boat talk.”
“Ms. Liv, look! We brought you flowers,” the girls said in unison the minute we made it to the two lanes I had reserved for us at Pin Pals, the bowling alley on the mainland. I hated to admit it, but the way Olive’s cheeks grew rosy red was worth the back and forth with Ceona on the matter.
“Oh my gosh, thank you. They are absolutely beautiful, girls. I love them.” She bent down to hug them both while Jo-Jo made his way over to dap me up.
“Hey Jo-Jo, what’s going on?” I chuckled at his little hand trying to mimic the handshake I showed him the night at the fair.
“Hey, Mr. Lando. Can we be on teams? Mommy said we could if you wanted to.”
“Sure. But how is this going to work if we have two and they have three?” Just as I spoke, the same woman from the fair appeared, but this time with a little boy next to her.
“Hey, I hope it’s okay, but my nephew Darius wanted to come bowling too. Byrdie is just dropping him off before she heads to work,” Olive said as she got up to greet Byrdie who waved at me and the girls as Jo-Jo ran to hug her before coming back over to me.
“Oh it’s cool with me. Now we have an even number of players; you with us Darius,” I said as I held my hand out to him so I could show him the same handshake I had with Jo-Jo. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Olive’s grin as she waved bye to Byrdie.
“Well, let’s do this then. Boys against girls. Jo-Jo and Darius, I love y’all, but me and my girls are going to take y’all down. Ain’t that right, girls?” Olive said, sparking the kids to grow loud as the boys yelled, disagreeing, while the girls cheered Olive on.
“That’s cute and all, and I’m all for make believe, but this is the real world, and me and my boys taking this win.
As a matter of fact, let me gon’ ahead and apologize for the spanking we’re going to give y’all now,” I said as I stood up, moving closer to Olive who didn’t falter in her stance at my advances.
I got so close I could see her chest rise and drop faster than the naked eye could see.
Is she nervous?
It wasn’t until I noticed her gaze drop from my eyes and she licked her lips that I caught on to what she was doing.
Olive… is checking me out?
I tested the space bubble as I got closer, completely forgetting about the kids around us.
I was in dangerous waters right now and all I could think to do was drown in her.
My eyes zoned in on her juicy lips, anticipating them to be as soft as they looked.
When they curved up in the corners, I knew I stared for too long.
“Oh yeah, well let’s make this fun for both of us. If we win, the girls and I want ice cream after this. I’m talking two scoops and extra toppings.”
I snorted at her wager then looked back at the boys to see if they were with it. Jo-Jo and Darius both eagerly nodded to accept, so I put my attention back on Olive, this time staring too deeply into her brown eyes. I got so lost that I forgot to counter a bet until Jo-Jo said something.
“Mr. Lando, don’t leave us out, we want something too,” Jo-Jo stressed, Darius agreeing with him.
“Oh yeah, what are y’all thinking is a good prize for our victory?” I asked them while I shook my head, doing my damndest to clear out my nasty ass thoughts about Olive, especially while I was talking to her son.
“Splash Mountain this weekend,” Jo-Jo said, with even the girls jumping in and agreeing, making both me and Olive break out in laughter.
“Okay, first of all, that’s not even an even wager. No, Jo-Jo.” Olive was already protesting and I was shaking my head to stop her from talking Jo-Jo and Darius out of their bet.
“Nope, my crew can get it. Plus it looks like your girls are with it too. So it stands, I mean… unless you’re scared you’ll lose?”
“Pfft, please. You’re looking at the bowling champ right here. This is going to be so easy. Girls, let’s get our balls; we got a game to win.”
She went to step away but I pulled her back as all the kids ran to find balls.
“I want something else, because I don’t think we’re getting out of doing both, ice cream and going to Splash Mountain.”
Olive chuckled as she nodded.
“Yeah, not my finest moment, but what did you have in mind? I may be able to make it happen.” I stroked my beard as I cocked my head to the side.
“I wanna take you out. I’m talking about picking you up, going to some fancy ass restaurant, and ending the night finally getting the chance to test out my theory about you having the softest lips.
” My mention had me licking mine while Olive bit on her bottom one.
That act alone had me fighting my urges to do it myself.
Damn Highland, get it together.
“So a date, Highland?” Olive asked as she propped her hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side, wearing a grin.
“When you put it in simple words, it don’t hit the same.
I like my version better, but yes, Olive.
I’m enjoying these play dates and all, ya know for the kids, but big daddy needs his own time too.
So how about next Sunday before our week goes back to being all about them little people?
Can I get my solo date, Olive?” I tapped on my chest, adding emphasis on who was lacking attention from her.
Olive giggled before she put her hand on mine.
“Not big daddy, but I think we can make that happen. Byrdie already offered to babysit too. So, next Sunday, I’m all yours.” She then turned, making her way over to the girls, leaving me frozen there for a minute until Jo-Jo approached me.
“Mr. Lando, I already got Neela’s ball. I told her it might be too heavy for her though. Now only you and Mommy need y’all’s balls and we can start. Splash Mountain here we come!”
I fell into gear as I got ready to make everyone a happy person from this game.