Page 2 of October

“Wren! Watch me!” Casey shouts out as she jumps into the pool again, pulling me from my fantasy.

“Great job!” Wren cheers, clapping for her again. “You’re getting so good at that. You have the best cannonballs.”

I run my hand through my hair, scratching my nails along my scalp and laughing at myself. She makes me feel like a damned teenager, but I have to put that aside for now and go tell my daughter I’m home.

I head out back to the deck and smile when Casey sees me. “Hey, baby girl.”

“Daddy’s home!” she shrieks and carefully climbs out of the above-ground pool that I painstakingly spent a summer building a deck around.

She runs at full speed until she collides with my legs, wrapping her arms around my waist in a tight hug.

“Sorry I’m a little late. Sarah was being a perfectionist with my pictures,” I tell her then bend to kiss the top of her head. “I’m all done now though.”

“I like Miss Sarah. She’s nice.” She’s already looking back toward the water anxiously.

“She is.” I kiss her head again. “You can go back to the pool now. I’m sure you’re dying to hop back in there.”

“Yesssss!” She doesn’t even hesitate before running back across the deck and cannonballing right back into the water.

I clap for her, praising her technique then my eyes settle on Wren, who is staring over at me with her sunglasses now pushed up onto her head.

“How did the shoot go?” she asks me.

I make my way over to her with my hands in my pockets, stopping when I’ve cast my shadow over her, blocking the sun from obstructing my view of that gorgeous face.

“Eventful. The guys were giving me so much shit.”

“Why? Not that it surprises me though. Any time I’ve met some of them, they’ve certainly been lively.”

“Because Sarah wanted the photos to be a bit more… suggestive,” I say delicately.

To that, she smiles and looks away from me for a moment. “Makes sense. That will certainly sell a lot of calendars. It’s for charity, right?”

“It is. It’s for a charity called Hope Haven. They make sure families of sick children are financially taken care of while they are getting treatment. I couldn’t say no to help them out in any way I could. Apparently, flashing abs with a hose between your legs brings in a lot of money.”

She laughs and it’s the most amazing sound in the world. “I can see why that would be the case. Everyone likes a nice hose.” I see her cheeks instantly redden and, fuck, if it doesn’t make me want to snatch her up by the neck and kiss the fuck out of her.

Whoa. Relax, Ash.

I clear my throat and pivot the conversation. “I just wanted to remind you, I’m taking Casey to my parents in a few days and she’s going to spend a week with them, so you’re off the hook from us for a bit after tomorrow.”

“Casey has been talking about it all day long. She’s very excited to see them.”

“They are elated too, trust me.” I decide then to pull one of the deck chairs over and sit by her at the edge. “Any big plans with your time off?”

She shakes her head then shifts her body to ever so slightly angle herself closer to me. The proximity makes me flex my hands a bit. I’d give anything to touch her. Just once.

“Not at all. I’ll probably just get some things done around my apartment. Maybe read a little.” She shrugs. “I’m not really good at keeping myself busy, honestly.”

“No? You’ve always given me the vibe that you’re very much a go with the flow, unbothered person. Like someone who doesn’t need to be kept busy.”

She tilts her head for a moment while she ponders a response. “It’s not that I’m not easygoing. I am. I think that’s part of my problem. I’m a very boring person. Ask my friends. They’ll tell you.” She smiles.

“I don’t believe that for a second. What makes them say that?”

“I’m the type of person who would rather stay in and watch a movie or read something than go out to party.”

“Ah, then that explains why you are so comfortable with Casey and me. We are the same way.”

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