Page 48 of Bumping into You

“Auntie Gwen, watch this,” says Maggie on the side of the pool.

I give her a wave, while I respond to Becca. “I’m watching.”

“Are you sure you’re watching?” she asks again.

I give her a thumbs up, but my phone beeps again, and I can’t help but read another of Becca’s texts. I’m looking down too long, because when I look up, Maggie is marching back over to me with her little hands on her waist.

Uh oh.

“You missed it, Auntie Gwen,” says Maggie, stopping right in front of me. “I showed you, and I was super fast, and you weren’t looking like you promised.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I was taking care of something for work. Maybe you can show me again?”

“No, I don’t want to. You’re always on your phone.” Her lip trembles, and tears slip down her face as she stomps off to her chair to watch the movie. My heart aches that I was so wrapped up in my phone I missed spending time with my niece.

The moment I became an aunt was one of the best moments of my life. Holding little Maggie the day she was born, so small, soinnocent, was the moment I knew that one day I’d want kids of my own.

The thought jolts me back to the loneliness I felt before the cruise. Is the path I’ve been on taking me toward that goal? Or have I been putting so much time into Whimsy and Wonder Events by Gwen that I’m distancing myself from the possibility of having a family of my own?

I know my current life has been all about growing my event-planning business. The business has been my own baby for the past however many years, but I know that I need to slow down a bit so I can spend time with the people I care about. I need to make them a priority. I turn my phone on silent and slip it into my bag. No more distractions.

I get up and head over to my niece. “Hey, Maggie, I’m so sorry I missed your jump.” She wraps her arms around me and smiles, and I quickly embrace her, not even caring that I’m getting soaked. “How about we go swim together, and you can show me that jump?”

“Yay, let’s go!” says Maggie excitedly.

After I’m in the water, Maggie jumps off the side right toward me.

“Wow, Maggie, you jumped in all by yourself! You’re such a big girl. I’m so proud of you.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m pretty amazing. Oh hey, let’s race to the other side of the pool, okay?”

“Let’s do it!” I say.

We laugh and do a few more laps before we sit on the side of the pool and kick our feet while we watch the movie on the screen.

“Look, Maggie,” I say, pointing to a waiter near us, “he’s dancing with a glass on his head.” Not only is he balancing a full tray of drinks, but he has one atop his head as he shimmies and dances to the music.

Maggie giggles then runs up to her parents, making sure they don’t miss out on the cool trick. They’re giving her their full attention, and a wave of shame washes over me. I need to be better about balancing my work life and my personal life. Maybe I have been letting some relationships slide while trying to build my business.

After Maggie and I are both worn out from swimming, Maggie returns to her parents to get some food, and I settle back in my lounge chair.

I notice Niall looking at me from a few chairs down. My stomach flutters at the realization that he’s been watching me, but also at the expression on his face. It’s different, not flirty or smug, but soft and kind of sweet. So completely opposite of the heated look he gave me in the laser tag arena. Just the thought of that kiss causes my cheeks to warm.

What is happening to me? I’m never like this over a man. I don’t have time for a real boyfriend, and this is all for show. But if it is all for show, why did it feel so right? And why did just looking at him make me want to kiss him again?

Shaking the thought from my mind, I turn and focus on the movie as Maggie comes back to sit with me. I wrap her in my arms as Niall approaches us. He looks amazing in his swim trunks, unfairly so.

“Mind if I join you for a moment?” he asks.

“Okay,” says Maggie, answering for me.

“Thanks, Maggie,” says Niall. “I just have a quick question for your Auntie Gwen.”

“Okay,” Maggie repeats, turning her attention back to the movie.

Niall turns to me. “I’d like to take you to an exercise class tomorrow morning,” he says.

“That’s not a question,” I say.

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