Chapter Twenty
CHAPTER TWENTY
Eugene’s plans with Natalie for Thursday never happened because her ex had suffered some kind of dental emergency, which meant that he couldn’t take the kids that night. Natalie had apologized profusely, but Eugene had told her it was no big deal, and they could do something together another night.
In fact, the company he worked for was doing an event that weekend for all employees along with their family members. Since it was an amusement park, he figured the kids would enjoy it, so he asked Natalie about going on Saturday with the kids. He invited Hazel and Linc as well.
Surprisingly, everyone said yes, so they were all set to meet today at his house. He’d ordered a car that would fit everyone comfortably.
Hazel and Linc arrived first.
“I am so excited about this,” Hazel said. “Linc is, too.”
“Less than Hazel,” Linc said. “I outgrew amusement parks years ago.”
“Trust me,” Eugene said. “You’re going to enjoy this.”
Natalie drove up, and Eugene saw the kids waving excitedly. He went over and helped them get out of the car.
“We’re going to the park!” Christopher nearly bounced out of his tennis shoes.
“Yeah we are.”
“I’m gonna have cotton candy today,” Cammie said. “And ice cream.”
“I like cotton candy, too,” Natalie said, greeting him with a warm smile.
He really wanted to hug her. Kiss her. Feel her body against his. But currently there were four sets of eyes staring at him, so that wasn’t going to happen.
Fortunately, the car pulled up, a sleek, black, and very roomy extended SUV. They got the kids set up, then everyone else climbed in.
There were drinks—nonalcoholic, unfortunately, but that’s what they were going to deal with today. The kids were excited and exuberant, and they sang and watched the TV in the limo, so that helped pass the time.
Eugene looked over at Natalie. “It’s going to be a long day. How’s Grizelda going to handle it?”
“Oh, she’s over at my house,” Hazel said. “Hanging out with my herd.”
“And was very excited to play,” Natalie said. “I’m only hoping she’ll want to go home with us when we pick her up tonight.”
Hazel laughed. “Trust me, by the time the other dogs wear her out with play, she’ll be more than ready to go home for some quiet snuggle time.”
“I don’t think hanging out with the kids is considered quiet.”
“Aww, my sweet niece and nephew know how to snuggle their puppy, don’t you?”
The kids were so focused on whatever show was on that they completely ignored Hazel.
Once they got to the park, Eugene showed his pass at the private entrance. They were all given VIP wristbands that would allow them to bypass any lines. They would also be able to eat free at all the restaurants.
God, he really hoped they all had a good time. Especially Natalie. Though he knew the park would be fun for the kids, he wanted Natalie to relax and have some fun, too.
Of course the first thing the kids wanted to do was ride one of the rollercoasters. Natalie grimaced, no doubt ready to give them the unfortunate news. Cammie was tall enough to ride but Christopher wasn’t.
“I’ve got a great idea,” Eugene said to the kids as they walked along. “Let’s do this new ride. It’s dark and kind of spooky, but still a lot of fun. What do you say?”
“I wanna do it,” Christopher said.
“Me, too,” Cammie said. “I’ll hold your hand, Christopher, so you’re not scared.”
Eugene’s heart squeezed at Cammie’s sweet gesture. Having siblings was everything. He looked over at Linc, who frowned.
“What?” Linc asked. “You need me to hold your hand?”
Eugene laughed. “I’ll try to be brave.”
Surprising him, Natalie walked up next to him and took his hand. “I’ve got you. Just in case.”
An even bigger surprise was Cammie taking his other hand. “We’ve both got you.”
“Me, too,” Christopher said, nudging in between Natalie and him to take Eugene’s hand.
Linc came up behind him to whisper in his ear. “Cute family, dude.”
He wanted to shout out that this wasn’t his family, that it was all fun and games with Natalie and him, but he couldn’t, because her kids were involved. And, like it or not, he’d gotten involved with her children, too.
Besides, the way he was surrounded by Cammie and Christopher, with Natalie taking Christopher’s other hand? It felt like a family.
His family.
He waited for the familiar panic, that need to bail when things with a woman felt a little too close for comfort.
That feeling didn’t come. Maybe it was because the kids were talking nonstop and his brother and Hazel were there so it felt more like a gathering of friends and family.
Yeah, that’s what it was. A gathering. Of friends. Not family. Certainly not his family.
But it could be, if that’s what you wanted.
Yeah, but it’s not what Natalie wanted. And they’d both agreed their relationship was just for fun.
Christopher tugging on his hand drew him out of his wayward thoughts. He took in a deep breath and let it out, clearing his head.
They got on the ride and Natalie grabbed his arm. He looked over at her and saw she was a little pale.
“You okay?”
She gave him a faint smile. “Oh sure. I’m fine. Can’t wait for this.”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about her answer. Maybe she was nervous about the kids and the ride. And maybe he should have chosen a milder ride. Too late now, though.
He thought it might be a little scary for Christopher, but, surprisingly, he was the one who laughed and screamed the loudest. Cammie enjoyed it, too.
Natalie, on the other hand, buried her head in his shoulder the entire time, refusing to even watch after the first jump scare. She gripped his arm so fiercely that he lost feeling in his hand. He put his arm around her and squeezed her tightly to his body.
After the ride was over, Christopher and Cammie jumped out. Hazel noticed how shaken Natalie was, so she grabbed the kids.
“Let’s go get some cotton candy,” she said, then turned to Eugene. “We’ll be right over here.”
He nodded and helped Natalie out of the ride. “How about something cold to drink?”
Her hand was shaking as she took his hand. “The kids.”
“Hazel and Linc have them. Let’s go sit down.”
“Okay.”
He took her to a nearby food and drink stop, taking Natalie inside. He sat her down at an empty table and went up to the counter, ordering two lemonades. He set the cup down in front of her.
“Drink,” he said.
She picked it up and took a sip, then another. “Mmm,” she said. “It’s cold and sweet. Thanks.”
He took a couple swallows, too. “Yeah, it’s good.”
After a couple more sips, she sighed. “I don’t know what came over me. It went dark, then it got scary, and I freaked out.”
“It happens.”
“Not to me it doesn’t. Well, I take that back. I used to have nightmares when I was a kid. Horror movies would terrify me. And the dark. But that was a long time ago.”
He shrugged. “You’d be surprised how something can trigger those memories. Obviously today’s ride did.”
“I guess. Maybe the dark and that fucking creature jumping out at me.”
“Sorry. I should have never—”
“You didn’t know. I didn’t even know.”
“But I should have thought. I mean, Christopher is too young for something that intense.”
She frowned. “Was he upset?”
“Actually, no. He laughed.”
“Well. Good for him. I guess he’s braver than his momma.”
He rubbed her back. “I think you should give yourself a break. We all have our fears.”
“Oh right. And what are you afraid of?”
“Clowns. And those rooms with all the mirrors. Freaks me right out.”
“Huh. Well, that makes me feel marginally better.”
“Good.” He wound his fingers with hers. “It’s okay to be afraid of things, Natalie. It’s not a sign of weakness.”
“Thank you.” She finished her glass of lemonade. “I guess we should join everyone else.”
“Sure.” He stood and turned to leave, but she grabbed his hand and tugged him close.
She stepped into his body, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Thanks for holding on to me.”
He sighed and laid his chin on top of her head. “Always.”
The next ride was more adventure based, with some pretty awesome graphics. Eugene made some mental notes while also paying attention to Natalie, who grinned and squealed with enjoyment, so he was relieved about that. She seemed to be fully recovered from the trauma of the first ride, thankfully. Then the kids wanted to go on a water ride, and since it was hot out, no one complained about that, even when they got drenched. They dried out by walking around, stopping for pretzels along the way.
After two more rides, Christopher and Cammie both wanted lunch, so they stopped in one of the themed restaurants where it was dark and cool. The kids enjoyed the characters while the adults sat back and chilled.
“This was a lot more fun when we were kids,” Hazel said, taking a long swallow of her iced tea.
“The parks were smaller then.” Natalie rolled her neck back and forth. “Plus we weren’t watching kids back then. Just ourselves.”
“Point taken.” Hazel sighed. “Growing up sucks.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Linc said, slinging his arm around the back of Hazel’s chair. He slid his hand into her hair. “Being an adult has distinct advantages.”
“Mmm, true. For example…”
“Hey, there are other people at this table,” Natalie said. “Go get a room or something.”
“Oh, could we?” Hazel asked. “Because I could use a massage. And a nap.”
“You’re all a bunch of lightweights,” Eugene said motioning toward where the kids were giggling and laughing as they watched the ducks parading around in the pond that circled various restaurants. “The kids aren’t tired.”
“Because they’re kids, Eugene,” Natalie said. “They have the energy of the sun.”
Eugene laughed. “If you need a long break, I can take the kids on rides after lunch.”
Natalie shot him a surprised look. “You’d do that?”
“Sure. I like the rides. The kids like the rides. What’s not to love about that?”
· · ·
Natalie wasn’t about to let Eugene run amok with her children doing God knows what. She’d get them back in an exhausted sugar high and then she’d be up all night with them. But the fact that he offered to let her rest while he took care of her kids meant everything.
She had no idea what had happened to her on that ride. Some kind of flashback from earlier times? No clue. She wasn’t about to delve too deeply into the whys of it.
But as she sat there and ate with Eugene by her side while her sister and Linc kept the kids occupied, she realized how he had instinctively seemed to know exactly what she had needed, how he’d held her, comforted her while she totally lost her shit. He hadn’t once made fun of her or tried to force her to shake off whatever fear had taken hold of her.
“You’re staring at me,” Eugene said, taking her out of her thoughts of admiration for him. “Is there something on my face?”
She smiled at him. “Just your face. Which is quite handsome, by the way.”
After a quick glance down the table at the kids, who were laughing at something Linc had just said, he picked up her hand and pressed a quick kiss to it. “Keep complimenting me like that and I might think you like me.”
“Oh, don’t think that.” But she couldn’t pull her gaze away from his beautiful face. The way he smiled at her—so hot, so filled with intent—made her wish they were anywhere but here.
Just then, there was a tug on her shirt. Cammie whispered in her ear that she needed to go to the bathroom, so she got up, and Hazel went with them.
After, while they were washing their hands, Hazel looked over at her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you seemed terrified on that ride earlier.”
Natalie looked over at Cammie, who was busy applying a more-than-necessary amount of soap to her hands, all the while singing a Taylor Swift song to herself.
“Oh yeah, I was. No idea what happened. But it’s all good now.”
“Thanks to Eugene coming to the rescue.”
She laughed. “I don’t think that had anything to do with it. More like a cold drink and some sunlight.”
Hazel gave her a knowing look. “Sure.”
“Look, Momma. My hands are all clean.”
“So very clean,” Natalie said.
Cammie dashed out the door and ran toward the table, sitting in the chair next to Eugene. Christopher came over and climbed onto Eugene’s lap. They got up and walked down the steps to get closer to the ducks. Natalie and Hazel took a seat at the table to watch them.
“Your kids like him.”
She nodded at Hazel’s observation. “Yeah, they do.”
“That worries you.”
Natalie turned to face her sister. “Of course it does. We’re not exactly a couple. We’re just—”
“Just what?”
“I don’t know what. But I don’t want to mess with the kids’ heads. Or their hearts. What if they get attached? Look at them, Hazel. They’re already attached. Eugene intends to move on once he finishes his project.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “I should end things with him now.”
“Or, you could just continue the way it’s going and see what happens.”
“At the risk of my kids’ hearts?” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Hazel laid her hand on Natalie’s arm. “I know you’re afraid, but—”
“Of course I’m afraid. For them. It’s my job to protect them.”
“Natalie, they’re fine. They’re going to be fine. Kids are resilient. And, another thing. What happens if things work out between you and Eugene? Wouldn’t that be awesome?”
“I can’t count on that. Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship. Just me and the kids is all I need.”
“Okay. I agree that is all you need. But what about what you want?”
It was a valid question. What did she want?
“I want to be happy. Which means if my kids are happy, then I am, too.”
“Look, sis, I get that Camryn and Christopher take priority in your life—at least for now. That’s admirable. But you know what? If you’re good, then they are, too. You know what I mean?”
“To a certain extent I agree with you. And I am content. I’m living life on my own terms.”
Hazel grimaced. “That sounds less than ecstatic.”
Natalie had to laugh. “Okay, so I made it sound like I was flat and miserable. That’s not the case at all. Granted, when I was married to Sean I wasn’t happy, wasn’t doing what fulfilled me. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. Raising those babies satisfies me in ways I never thought possible. But I’m also okay being single. Alone and single, you know?”
“I do know. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay in the house and be alone. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes.”
Hazel squeezed her hand. “So quit thinking so far ahead. Just enjoy what you have right now, honey. Eugene is good to you and you have fun with him, right?”
“Right.”
“Then have some fun and quit worrying about what happens tomorrow. You’re fine and the kids are fine. And they’ll continue to be. Okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
They went down and joined the guys and the kids, who were much more interested in the ducks frolicking than in anything else they’d done so far today.
Go figure.
But they also got bored after a while and asked if they could go do some more rides, so they headed out, with the kids hanging all over Linc after he’d told them a string of seriously corny dad jokes.
“See?” Hazel said as they walked behind the guys and kids. “The kids like everyone. It’s not just Eugene.”
Hazel was right. She’d overreacted, which had probably been due to her growing feelings for Eugene.
She needed to chill and just have fun. And let things between Eugene and her cool a little.
Things between them had been intense. Everything had happened so fast. If she could calm down and just have fun with him, take it all at a slower pace, it would all be fine.
She could definitely do that.