“I look forward to it,” Alberto said, smiling.
Wynter paused a few steps out and turned back. “You know, I could see if there’s another spare pair of trunks if you want to join us?”
Alberto chuckled. “I’m not much of a swimmer.”
“It’s not deep,” Wynter said.
“I get to cuddle with Emory for a little while today. I think I prefer that.”
“Maybe next time,” Wynter said with a smile. He rushed to the house, ready to change. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he was swept into Cavanaugh’s arms and a kiss planted on his lips. “Well, I love a welcome like that.”
His alpha had already changed. He lifted a pair of trunks. “These are Avery’s for you to wear.”
“Just give me a couple of seconds and I’ll be right out,” Wynter said before he moved into the first-floor bathroom. By the time he’d changed and returned to the pool, everyone had jumped in. Avery sat on the edge with his legs dangling in, holding Emory under the shade of an umbrella. Wilder hovered close in alpha protective mode, one hand on Avery’s thigh. Rohan tossed Jasyn and James into the water, lifting them high before letting them splash down, one after the other. Manny rested on Gray’s hip and splashed in the water.
Cavanaugh chatted with Alberto at the end of the pool—the only two not in the water. As soon as his alpha noticed him, he ended his conversation and strode closer. “Ready to do this, grandpapa?”
“Better late than never, right?”
Cavanaugh offered a hand, and Wynter took it. His alpha led him to the stairs at the end and he winced at the coldness of the water.
“Are you kidding me?”
Cavanaugh dove under before inadvertently splashing Wynter on his way back up. “Just jump in.”
Wynter shivered.
“Hey, Grandpapa,lookit me!” Silly said, dogpaddling by with two newly-added floaties almost as big as he was—one on each arm.
“What a good swimmer you are!” Wynter said, inching farther into the icy water, and trying not to cry after being called Grandpapa.
“Look what else I can do,” Silly said before spinning in a circle a half-dozen times.
“Oh, I can do that one,” Cavanaugh announced, doing a version of spinning of his own. “How was that?”
Silly giggled. “Good.” His focus returned to Wynter, and he dogpaddled closer. “Aren’t you coming all the way in, Grandpapa?”
“Of course I am,” Wynter said, clenching his teeth. It was so cold, but the hell if he was missing a chance to enjoy the day with his grandchildren. He held his breath and dove under before leaping out. It wasn’t much better.“Oh my!”
Silly swam a bit closer and wrapped his little arms around Wynter’s neck.“Thereyou are.”
Wynter smiled at the boy, fighting tears. “You’ve got me!”
“I always wanted a grandpapa,” Silly said with a grin.
“How about a grandpa?” he asked Silly. “You interested in one of those?”
Silly nodded.
Wynter pointed at Cavanaugh. “I think he might make a halfway decent grandpa, but we need to test him.”
Silly giggled. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”Cavanaugh asked, pretending to be wounded. He twisted in the water again. “Do I getnocredit for my twisting abilities?”
“I think we should see whatotherabilities he has,” Wynter said to Silly. “What do you think?”
“Yeah,” Silly said. “Do more tricks.”