Page 84 of Moonstruck Kiss

“Fish! Fish!”Ollie shrieks, pointing at something in the water.

I laugh with Brax, enjoying Ollie’s excitement while we paddle down the gently flowing part of the river.

I keep my kayak close to their tandem one so we don’t have to shout at each other. And frankly, I just want to be near them. Anyone who doesn’t know us could easily assume we’re a family of three.

I catch myself often visualising us as a family even though it’s only been a week since Brax announced that he and Ollie are extending their holiday stay. Sometimes I get scared because I’m falling for Brax too hard and too fast. But whenever I’m with him, all my worries disappear.

As for Ollie, I’ve loved this child from his first day in my art school. It’s not hard to imagine being his stepmother. In fact, I’d love it.

Oh my God, here I go again, already thinking of being together forever with these two people. I can’t help it, though. That’s where my thoughts naturally go. If things don’t work out between me and Brax, I’ll be utterly devastated.

I give myself a mental shake. I hate it when I allow negative thoughts to intrude on my bliss. They can scare me enough to want to retreat or take things slower, and I don’t want to do that. I want to give these two months my all so I won’t have any regrets.

So right now, I’m going to focus on having fun and give the nervous part of me a rest.

An hour later, we’re returning the kayaks to Maggie, and I feel thoroughly relaxed.

“Did you enjoy yourself, Ollie?” Maggie asks as she takes Ollie’s life vest from him.

“Yes! We saw fish! Lots and lots of them.”

“Maybe you should bring fishing rods with you next time.”

“We will,” says Brax. “Thanks, Maggie. See you again soon.”

“Thanks, Maggie,” I say, holding out my hand to Ollie without thinking.

He takes it as well as Brax’s hand so that he’s walking between us, skipping.

Maggie presses her palms to her chest. “Such a lovely sight.”

I grin. Mooners throwing their support behind us making it as a couple—as a family—means so much to me.

“Where are we going now?” Ollie asks.

“Joey needs to go to work at the chocolate shop,” Brax answers. “We’ll drop her off and then you can spend time with Grandma while I do some work. You can finish the painting you’re doing for her.”

“Okay. But I’ll miss Joey very much.”

Aww, my heart. “I’ll miss you, too, Ollie. But we’ll see each other tomorrow morning at art class.”

He nods.

If I could bottle what I’m feeling right this second, I’d be in bliss for the rest of my life.

As they drop me off at Moonstruck Chocolatier, I get out of the car and open Ollie’s door to give him a kiss and a hug goodbye. “See you tomorrow!”

He squeezes my neck with his short arms. “See you tomorrow!”

Then it’s Brax’s turn. He’s standing next to me, and he leans in to give me a lingering peck on the lips right there out on the street. “See you tomorrow.”

“Woot woot!” someone says from a slowing car.

I chuckle as Emory comes to a complete stop.

“Hey, lovebirds,” she says. “Have you heard the latest news?”

“What news?” I ask.

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