Chapter Eight #2
She nodded, suddenly struggling to remember why it had seemed so important to keep him out.
"Mommy! Prince Daddy!" Zia called as she came running to them, the dogs flanking her.
"What is it, Z?" she asked, quickly letting go of Reaves's hand.
Zia stared at the place their hands had been for a moment before straightening up, looking slightly puzzled. "Peanut and Butter want to know if we can go for a walk."
Alara looked up at Reaves. She didn't feel up to much of a walk herself, and she didn't know what was normal for Ollie and the dogs. Reaves would have a better idea than she did.
"Are you sure they said they want to walk?" he asked. "They told me earlier that they'd like to swim again."
Zia grinned. "Oh. Maybe they said swim. I'd like to swim again. Are you coming in this time, Mom?"
"No. I don't think so."
She hated to disappoint her daughter. And she could go in—she loved to swim, and it wasn't as though she got the chance often.
But she felt too self-conscious. She was wearing her swimsuit under her dress.
She'd seen herself in it this morning when she put it on.
There was nothing of her. She'd always been a little on the skinny side, but now…
She looked at Reaves, hoping that he might help her out.
His nod was almost imperceptible as he stalked toward Zia and scooped her up. "It's probably best that your mom stays safe and dry," he told the giggling girl. "Between you, me, the dogs, and Sunshine King, there's going to be a lot of splashing. Are you ready?"
"Yay!" Zia squealed.
"Want to jump in with me?"
"Yes! Let's do it."
A rush of warmth filled Alara's chest as she watched him cradle Zia carefully before jumping into the pool. She had no idea how he did it, but Zia's hair didn't even get wet. It was a good thing her head didn't go under—she was laughing so hard.
~ ~ ~
"Goodbye, Lady Sunshine. When will I see you again?
Will you come to Grandpa Grape's house and bring the doggos?
And you." She smiled at Ollie, and Ollie grinned at her from where he stood next to Reaves.
He and Callie had walked them out to Alara's Suburban.
Reaves hated for the day to end, but it was time to go, and Alara was starting to look tired.
"We'll come and visit one day this week," said Ollie. "And don't worry, we'll bring Peanut and Butter."
Callie nodded. "And I'll see you soon."
Zia came running to Ollie, and Reaves loved the way his friend squatted down to hug her.
But his attention went to Alara as she hugged Callie, and Callie whispered something in her ear.
As she whispered back, he was grateful that even though she wasn't ready to open up to him, she'd found a friend—and she couldn't have found a better one.
There had been times over the years that he and Ollie had joked they might never settle down, because neither of them had ever found a girl who could compete with their friendship.
Callie didn't compete. She just slotted in, as though she'd always been one of them, even though in some ways she couldn't be more different.
He came back to the moment when Ollie gave his shoulder a shake, as Zia ran back and climbed up into her car seat.
"I'll give you a call. We don't have any flights planned this week." He lowered his voice. "But if anything comes up, Elliott and Trick have both said they'll cover, if you want them to."
"Thanks, bud. I'll see how things go. But yeah, let me know when you can come. Dad's always happy to see you guys."
While Alara buckled Zia in, he loaded their bags into the back of the Suburban. When they were ready to go, he put the passenger window down and grinned at Ollie and Callie.
"Thanks for a great day, guys."
"Yeah, thank you," Alara called. "This was great."
"Thank you for coming," said Callie. "We need more days like this."
Zia put her window down and said, "We can come back tomorrow if you like."
Reaves tried not to laugh as Alara said, "We'll come back soon. But not tomorrow, Z, okay?"
By the time they reached the front gate and Alara pulled out onto the road, Reaves turned in his seat to check, and Zia was already asleep.
"Oh, look at that. She wore herself out."
"She did," Alara agreed. "Today was good for her." She only hesitated a moment before adding, "It was good for me too."
"I'm glad; you needed this. Thanks for letting me join in."
She shot him a look. "You're the one who lets me join in, Reaves. They're your friends, your family. Everything we have here is because of you, and I appreciate it. I really do."
"I know."
As they approached the gas station, he pointed. "Look. That's the first place we ever met."
She let out a short laugh. "Oh, wow, you're right. And you were kind to me even then."
He shrugged. "You needed Tylenol, I had Tylenol. It was just… logic."
"If you say so."
He chuckled at that, glad that she didn't let him get away with it. "Hey, I'll tell you what—would you mind pulling in for a minute?" He glanced over his shoulder again. "It won't wake Zia if I go in, will it? I just need to pick up a few things."
"No, once she's asleep like that, she's out like a light. She might not even wake when we get back and I carry her inside."
He frowned at that. "Mind if I carry her when we get there?"
"Okay, if you want to. I know she'd like that." After a beat of silence, she added, "And thanks, Reaves. I can do it myself. I always have, and I've always had to. But… it's nice." She looked a little embarrassed. "It's nice not to have to."
"It's nice for me too. And…" What the hell, he was going to say it. "It's just one more way of me trying to let you know that you really don't have to do it all by yourself anymore."
They'd reached the gas station, and she pulled in without a word. If she wasn't going to answer, he wasn't going to push it.
"I'll only be a minute. Do you need anything?"
"I'm good, thanks."
Her smile seemed to answer what he'd just said. Maybe that was wishful thinking, but he didn't think so.
He hurried around the store, relieved when he found the first thing he was looking for in the fridges at the back, and able to pick up the second from the display at the cash register.
Back outside, he panicked for a moment, then went to the back of the Suburban and opened the tailgate, stashing his purchases in there.
He cursed under his breath, knowing that the sound of the tailgate closing again must have woken Zia.
He was right. When he climbed into the passenger seat, she smiled at him, bleary-eyed.
"Are you okay, Prince Daddy? Where have you been?"
"Sorry, Z. I just bought a few things and I was putting them in the back."
"That's okay. I thought we were home."
Home. The word played in his head all the way back to the estate. He could wish and hope all he wanted, but they had a long road to travel between where they were and the point where she and Alara might make their home with him.
When they arrived at his dad's place, he went to grab the bags from the back while Alara went to let Zia out.
Before she reached the door, Zia pushed it open and slid down.
Coming straight to Reaves, she peered inside the back of the Suburban and immediately zoned in on the bag he'd picked up at the gas station.
"What's in there?" she asked, wide-eyed.
He let out a short laugh. There was no hiding anything from the kid.
"Z," Alara said sternly as she came to join them. "It might not be anything…"
Zia shot him a sassy smile. "But it is, isn't it, Prince Daddy? It's something for me."
He chuckled. "You got me. It is." He glanced at Alara, who raised her eyebrows. "It's grape juice. I got you guys a twelve-pack. I felt bad, I meant to do it after the last time we had it at Ollie's place. You both enjoyed it so much."
"Yay!" Zia did a little dance on the spot. "Thank you so much. I love grape juice. I think Grandpa Grape will like grape juice, too. Can I take it to him?"
Alara let out a short laugh. "It's a bit heavy for you to carry."
Zia didn't let that stop her. She popped two of the boxes out of the pack and held them up. "I can take one for him and one for me. You guys can catch up."
With that, she started up the steps to the front door. She'd only gone up a couple before she turned back. "Is that okay, Mom?"
"That's okay. As long as Grandpa Grape thinks so. Don't disturb him if he's busy, okay?"
"I won't. He won't be too busy for me."
Reaves chuckled as they watched her go.
"Thanks, Reaves. That was sweet of you."
"It was something I wanted to do." He held the bag up. "There's something else too."
She raised her eyebrows. "I can give it to her when we go in, if—" She stopped. "Are you coming in, or do you need to leave?"
"I'll come in. But these are for you." He reached into the bag and held up a roll of giant Rolos.
Her hand came up to cover her mouth. "Reaves," she breathed.
He reached out to touch her arm. "I finally discovered something that you enjoy.
More than that, you let me share it with you.
" He met her gaze and held it. "I want to keep sharing with you, Alara.
" He presented her with the Rolos. "You let me in.
I want to be part of it." His smile faded.
"And even if you don't want me…" He shrugged. "Now you have more Rolos."
Tears shone in her eyes as she stared at him. His hands balled into fists at his sides when she leaned closer. For a second, his hopes soared—but of course, the kiss landed on his cheek.
"Reaves," she breathed again. "I don't know what to say. I…"
"Then don't say anything. We both know what we mean, don't we?"
"Yeah. I think we do. But…" She dropped her gaze.
He tucked his fingers under her chin and made her look up at him. "No, don't. Please. Not right now. If the buts have to come, if they're what you need, I'll accept them. But not today, hey?"
She nodded. Reaching for his hand, she gave it a squeeze. "Yeah. That… that sounds good. Not today."