Page 71 of Never Really Over

He jumps into action, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t the slightest bit disappointed but at the same time, swooning like in a historical romance novel. He cares so much for that little girl, and not just because he’s been given guardianship.

Poppy is his, through and through.

It makes me wonder if there’s room in his life for more than one girl.

Chapter Fourteen

Colt

Rainingon Sunday

I almost kissed her.And if I hadn’t been the one to do it first, the look in her eyes told me she would have beat me to it. Seeing her here tonight, laughing and joking around, talking with the girls in their own little huddle while the guys talked in ours, it reminded me of old times. Her reintroduction into our group of friends was seamless and natural. It was as if no time had passed between when she left and now.

And the heat crackling between us was undeniable. I know she felt it, too.

The yard is a mess but we’ve all been drinking, including the guys, which means it’ll stay that way until morning and only Bridget can drive everyone home. Since they don’t have a bus to fit everyone, it looks like we’re having a sleepover. I only have two spare rooms now that Poppy has her own nursery so I hope everyone is prepared to sleep on the couch or floor. I do have a couple of blow up mattresses that we can use from a camping trip we took last summer, so that will help.

“Everyone’s camping out here tonight,” I announce. Drinking and driving isn’t an option for anyone here, not only because it’s stupid but also because they have their precious cargo with them.

No one argues with me, either.

“This will be fun!” Missy exclaims, far too excited. “It’ll be like that night after Amy’s bachelorette party. Remember that? We ended up together at the end of the night and all stayed at Corey’s place.”

“Oh my gosh! I almost forgot about that!” Jenna shouts. “That was a good night,” she sighs.

“It definitely was.”

Layla wasn’t there, and a part of me feels a little guilty that she missed so much that we still revisit, but it wasn’t me who made her leave, and I’m realizing that guilt is not mine to hold. Then again, Tori wasn’t there that night, either, but that’s because she hadn’t become part of us yet.

I glance at Layla and I see a flicker of sadness cross over her face but she visibly shakes it away and replaces it with a bright smile.

Most of the adults gather up the kids who need to get to bed and we take them inside, working together to get them settled and asleep while Corey and Brian start a bonfire outside. They might be planning to sleep here and, of course, everyone could stop drinking and drive home when they’re completely sober, but I think a big part of us all want to stay together. In fact, none of the guys are even drunk, but since they’vebeendrinking at all, they’re unwilling to put their family in harm’s way.

Dalton and Bridget head home, Bridget wanting her own bed, and the rest of us move chairs to sit around the fire. The kids that didn’t go to bed want to make s’mores, so I grab the fire sticks from the garage and we help them get set up.

Brian and I put some marshmallows on the end of the metal sticks and start toasting a couple, while the girls get the graham crackers and chocolate bars ready. As soon as the kids all have theirs, we start making them for ourselves.

Without even thinking about it, I make two that are burnt to a crisp and two that are perfectly toasted, handing the gross burnt marshmallows over to Layla while keeping the delicious toasted ones for myself.

She looks up at me with a smile I could get used to seeing. “You remembered.”

“That you like your marshmallows to taste like ash? Yup.”

Layla pulls a chunk of the marshmallow out of the side of the s’more and shoves it in her mouth, licking her fingers clean. I watch every movement. Can’t tear my eyes away.

She raises her eyebrows at me so I mimic her, winking when I watch as she licks her lips.

How is this possible?

This morning I was perfectly happy knowing that Poppy was the only girl for me. I was content knowing that it was going to be her and me forever. But a few hours back in Layla’s presence and it has my mind racing with possibilities. Sure, she said things but I believe her when she said that she didn’t mean them. If I hadn’t already, tonight proved it.

Holding onto those words was the only thing that was keeping me from getting wild ideas about the two of us together. But now? Those ideas have taken off and run into dangerous territory. I don’t know how to deal with this.

I hear a little squawk on the baby monitor I brought with me and hold it up to my ear, listening carefully to make sure no kids are awake. When I don’t hear anything else, I put it back down on my lap.

“Everything okay?” Layla asks.

“Seems to be. I’ll go inside and check on them in a few. And I’m sure the older kids will go in, too, and watch a movie or something. It’s actually way past their bedtime already.”

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