22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
Paul
The whole ride to Jack’s Pumpkin Patch, I can’t help but feel nervous, even though I shouldn’t.
I’m not sure if it’s because Amelia somehow figured things out, or if it’s because this is our first official family outing with our partners, but whatever it is, I can’t deny my stomach feels like a swarm of butterflies.
But I tell myself that’s a good thing. At least, I hope it is.
“Daddy, look!” Rylee squeals excitedly as I pull the Jeep into the field lot.
Amelia and I always come early to get better parking spots, and thankfully, I spot Sean’s car and an open space beside it in the second row to the front, so I take it.
Just as I do, Amelia, Sean, and Maddox get out.
My heart races a little, and I take a slow breath and let it out.
You can do this, Paul. Just relax.
It’s not that I don’t want to do this. Of course, I want to; I just… want everything to go well. Not just for me, but for Maddox. And Rylee, too.
Dre told me the other night that he and Victoria never got to do this as a family because he was always traveling or working, and there’s a part of me that feels guilty about that, even though he told me it’s fine.
Like I’m robbing him and Rylee of a core memory, even though I know that’s not the case.
I don’t know if it will ever get easier, hearing about those moments—the ones he never got to have with the love of his life.
Not because I’m jealous, but because there is a part of me that knows how much he loved her, and how good his marriage was, even if he wasn’t always around, and I know how excited he was to do all those things, never thinking for a second he wouldn’t have the chance.
I let out a low breath as Dre gets out of the car to get Rylee from the backseat, and open my door to see Maddox grinning from ear to ear. A moment later, Rylee is running over to him, jumping up and down with excitement and he gives her the biggest hug, which melts my damn heart.
I feel Dre behind me, his presence making that swarm of butterflies go haywire.
Amelia gives me a knowing smirk as she reaches out to hug me, and I hug her back.
I made sure she knew that neither of the kids are aware about me and Dre, so she needs to watch what she says.
She agreed, but then gave me a look and told me that the kids aren’t as stupid as I think they are.
I don’t think our kids are stupid. I know they’re smart as hell, but they definitely aren’t thinking that Dre and I are anything but friends.
They’re not even old enough to think about stuff like that yet.
Right?
“Relax,” she whispers in my ear.
“I’m trying,” I mutter under my breath as she chuckles and lets me go. Sean shakes my hand, and Amelia pulls Dre in for a hug, and I swear time stops.
“My parents should be here any minute,” he says, his voice crisp and matter of fact. He’s always so confident. “If you guys want to head in—”
Amelia shrugs. “We can wait. It’ll be a couple of minutes until the next truck comes for pickup.”
Maddox and Rylee both climb on the hay bales to try to get a look at the farm; the corn maze and the pumpkin patch in the distance, as well as the activity center and the themed attractions.
This place always puts on a great event for the kids, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it too, a little.
“So, Andre, right?” Sean asks, clearing his throat.
“That’s me,” Andre responds as Sean offers his hand.
“You know, I have to be honest. I didn’t think Amelia was telling the truth when she said she knew Andre Taylor.”
He lets out a practiced laugh that I bet he does every time someone recognizes him.
“The one and only,” he says.
“I’m a huge Cougars fan. Was sad to see you go. Sorry about your wife.”
“Thanks, man. That means a lot. I still talk to some of the players. Maybe I can get you a jersey or something.”
“Seriously?” His face lights up.
“Yeah, of course.”
“Thank you. That’s awesome.”
Sean has a giddy smile on his face for the next ten minutes.
I shift my weight as I cross my arms, and Amelia gives me some side-eye that looks amused as hell.
“What?” I mutter under my breath.
“Nothing,” she says innocently, but I can tell by the look in her eye, she’s holding back. Not in a bad way.
“Just say it,” I huff out in annoyance, because she and I both know her not saying what’s on her mind will drive me crazy all fucking day because I’ll just overthink everything.
“I just think it’s cute. You being all nervous.”
I narrow my gaze at her. “I’m not nervous.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, just as I hear Rylee squeal again, and I turn to see her and Maddox running up to the Taylors. Mrs. Taylor hugs her, then Maddox, and my heart warms as I take in the sight of everything.
The kids’ smiles. Sean and Andre deep in conversation about football. Amelia’s smug ass grin.
I shake off the nerves as Maddox runs up to Sean, who leads us all in through the gate.
Amelia brushes past me to catch up with her boyfriend, our son, and Rylee and her grandparents, leaving Dre and I to the back.
I slide my hands into my jean pockets as I saunter closer to him, as close as I dare get.
Our shoulders brush lightly as we amble down the dirt hill towards the pickup spot.
I see the next truck a few feet away, heading towards us.
By the time it arrives, the kids are screaming with excitement.
Sean helps Amelia and Maddox into the truck before he gets in and offers to help Mrs. Taylor, but she waves him off.
Andre picks up Rylee and climbs in, and I make my way up when I realize I have no clue where to sit.
A couple of other guests start piling in and I know I need to decide quickly.
Mrs. Taylor nonchalantly scoots over towards her husband, her knowing gaze catching mine, and I realize what she’s doing.
Amelia catches my gaze and nods, that knowing smirk on her face strangely comforting in a way I don’t expect.
I carefully settle next to Dre, Rylee on his lap, kicking her boots in excitement, and he simply eases into my space.
It’s not weird or anything, considering we’re all sort of packing in here like sardines anyway, but the briefest brush of his shoulder, of his arm against mine, settles something in me and I relax a little.
“Can we get a pumpkin too, Daddy?” Rylee asks, her voice full of awe.
“Of course, pumpkin,” he says, wrapping his arms tightly around her as the truck takes off.
It startles a few of us because it isn’t smooth.
Rylee lets out a little yelp and reaches for my arm that’s resting on my lap.
It’s just a reaction, but she leaves it there, so I hold her hand. My heart nearly explodes.
When we get down to the drop-off, it’s absolute chaos, like usual, but it’s also strangely relaxing, watching the kids explore the grounds.
Amelia corrals the kids and poses them for photos, which Rylee loves.
She eats it up with every click, posing like a little Hollywood star; over dramatically and cute as hell.
“She’s something else,” I chuckle.
Maddox makes a silly face, and they both stick their tongues out, and everyone laughs.
“She is,” Dre says, his voice soft. “So much like her mother.”
I nudge his shoulder, pulling his gaze. I find his bright eyes with mine, giving him a knowing grin of my own.
“She’s a lot like you, too, you know,” I say, noting the faintest blush in his cheeks. “Feisty and confident.”
“Thanks,” he says, and then I hear Amelia.
“Paul! Andre!”
We both turn to look at her, waving us over to the oversized patch of pumpkins that have already been picked, which everyone usually takes photos with.
“What’s up?” I call out.
She waves at us animatedly. “Don’t think you’re getting out of the yearly photo.”
I tense for a moment as she hands her phone to Mrs. Taylor, who points at a couple spots, and Sean and Amelia take their position and Maddox settles next to his mother.
I hang my head as Dre grips my shoulder.
“Come on,” he says with a chuckle, and I let out a low breath as we head towards the pumpkins. I take my spot next to Maddox as Dre scoops up Rylee whose laugh is damn near infectious. He settles her on his left hip as Mrs. Taylor positions the camera and then she moves it down.
“Something wrong?” Amelia asks, and the worry in her voice is genuine. I’d know.
“Andre, put your arm around Paul.”
I tense for a moment, looking at him. He gives me a knowing look, not like he’s asking permission, but like he’s acknowledging something. Something that makes my heart race like the butterflies in my stomach.
Time stops, and I think maybe he’s not going to do it. So I carefully slide my arm behind his back, my hand settling lightly on his hip .
It’s polite enough for a picture; nonchalant enough no one would think anyone of it.
But I can feel the warmth of his body through his shirt, and I give him the faintest squeeze.
And then he does it. He simply slides his arm around my shoulders and adjusts his stance, turning Rylee closer to the camera.
His fingers grip my shoulder, squeezing it in return.
“That’s better,” Mrs. Taylor says. “Now say ‘Happy Birthday’!”
Everyone says “Happy Birthday,” and Mrs. Taylor snaps a few photos, rearranging everyone for group shots like she’s a damn photographer. I’m just about blind from the flash when she orders Dre and I to pose with the pumpkins. Just the two of us.
“Mom…” Dre groans as she tells him to hush. Mr. Taylor leans into my space and whispers, “Better just do it, son, or she will hound you until you break.”
I let out a chuckle, nodding in understanding. “Yeah, I get that.”