Page 17 of Stolen Sun

My mind drifts to the first time Nate and I talked about forever. It was right here in this pool. He was doing exactly what Joey is doing now, tossing a kid around in the pool to their delight.

"Oh, no! I’m going to drop you! I can’t hold on much longer!" Nate feigned distress to Anastyn’s delight.

"Throw me, Nate! Throw me!" She cried out between giggles just before he tossed her toward the deep end creating a big splash.

The water line rests at his waist, leaving his toned chest and abs on full display. He turns to me still laughing, enjoying the game just as much as the kids. "Your turn?" He reaches out to me.

"No way! I’d lose my top in front of everyone," I laugh and step back.

He chuckles. "Good point. Let’s keep those between us."

I let him pull me to him now that I know he isn’t going to throw me in.

"I want at least four, Noel," he says looking around the pool.

"Kids!?" I ask, surprised at the subject. We’re in our junior year of college. While we have talked about our future together, we’ve always focused more on what trips we want to take, never the serious topics of marriage and kids.

He turns to look at me with a softer smile, his blue-green eyes searching my face. "As many as you would give me, baby. This is the life I want for us. I’ll take you to see the world, just like I promised, but this is what I want in return."

I melt into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I want that, too."

A tear falling down my cheek brings me back to the present. I quickly wipe it away, thankful that no one notices. Afraid I may lose myself to the roller coaster of emotions I’ve felt this weekend, I force myself to get up and join the women who are laying out on the lounge chairs.

“Hey, Noel.” Gabbie, Uncle Joe’s daughter, speaks to me first, and her brothers’ wives echo her greeting.

“Hey, everyone, mind if I join you?” I ask.

“We’d love for you to,” one of them answers.

They continue a conversation about SUVs while I settle into a chair. Apparently, one of them is trying to narrow down which one to buy.

Joey’s wife, Amanda, breaks away from the SUV conversation to talk to me instead. “I know you may not be up for this yet, but I want to feel you out, anyway."

I’m closest to her out of all the wives because Joey works at JV Marketing. We have lunch often, and she is always at office events. She’s the type that says what’s on her mind,which makes her perfect for Joey. However I’m never sure what to expect when she starts with a disclaimer.

“Alright, what’s on your mind?” I ask, taking another sip of my seltzer.

“Joey has a newly divorced friend. He asked me recently if I had any friends who were interested in something casual. Seeing you here, I just had the thought that you may enjoy a little distraction without the expectations of something serious,” she lays out her proposal in true Amanda fashion.

“Oh, um,” I stumble, trying to decide how to respond. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m not ready yet.” Just as the words leave my mouth, I think of the way my heart fluttered when Declan implied I was his date and the plans I have with him next weekend.

“I assumed as much, but I also thought it was worth asking,” she says and changes the subject. “Joey said you’re kicking ass at work again already. He said he’s pretty sure his dad may leave the company to you if he steps a toe out of line,” she jokes.

I giggle at that. “That’s right. Tell Joey I’m coming for him.” We both laugh.

The rest of the afternoon passes enjoyably. We have dinner outside because the kids want to stay in the pool longer. I managed to enjoy the time with my family and friends without thinking about Nate or Declan again.

I even listen to the radio on the way home and sing along with some of my favorite songs. It isn’t until I get out of the shower and into my pajamas that I check my phone.

I answer a text from Kate then move on to one from Declan.

Have lunch with me this week?

Laying my head back against my headboard, Iclose my eyes and think back to the bittersweet night that marked the beginning of the end with Declan Adams.

Standing outside of the dugout, I watch other players leaving before Declan finally comes out. He’s all sweaty and dirty, but I don’t care. My heart is pounding in my chest.

We’ve been talking for hours on the phone every night for weeks after he finally asked for my number at school. Now we only see each other in passing at school since schedules changed at the quarter, so I’m nervous to finally spend a little time with him in person.

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