Page 39 of With Us

“Good. Tons of traffic, but that’s nothing new. There are a few streets blocked off for some reason. Based on all the construction, I’m wondering if they hit a problem. Again.” I glanced down at his dark slacks and white tee. “Did you just get home?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you, which meant someone had to fuck something up and set me behind.” His fingers played with the tie of my bathing suit top at the back of my neck. “Had I known what you’d be wearing, I’d have just left them to put out the fires.”

I barely suppressed a shiver at the way his rough fingertips grazed my sensitive skin, but I couldn’t stop the goosebumps from spreading.

“The kids are already in the pool,” he said, his tone lightening as he guided me around the house. “Tina and Julie brought the stuff to make some fruit drink, including the little paper umbrellas. That being said, Mar and Kat have taken twenty of them for their Barbies. Also, they’re already plotting something, so keep alert.”

Remembering the heart covered note incident, I felt more dread than should’ve been caused by a seven- and five-year-old.

Theo opened the door on the tall wooden privacy fence, moving aside for me to go first. Instead of leading into the yard itself, the doorway opened onto a long and wide deck that went beyond the house. The deck ended with two steps along the entire length, leading down to the dark patio stones of different sizes and the inground pool.

Lights and plants surrounded the lagoon shaped pool, giving it a tropical feel. At one end, there was a slide and a diving board, plus a tall pile of water toys.

Initially, I’d been a little surprised by his house. It wasn’t as massive or intimidating as I’d been anticipating, nor was it an overly modern or ‘cookie cutter’ show house.

Since the backyard was something out of an architecture magazine, though, I was seeing my original impression was off.

“Uncle Theo, Uncle Theo, Uncle Theo!” Mar yelled when she saw us, drawing out the last ‘Theo’ into at least eight syllables.

“Call me crazy,” I said quietly, “but I think she may want you for something.”

“What would give you that idea?” he returned, his dimples deep as he grinned down at me. “Be back.”

“Uncle Theo!” Mar tried again. “Watch this!”

Theo looked around as he jogged over to where the girls stood near the pool. “Watch what? Who’s talking?”

“Down here,” Kat said, bouncing around.

“Where? There’s no one here.” He moved closer.

“Seriously, Uncle Theo,” Mar said with a dramatic sigh that was at odds with her grin. “You’ve gotta watch this.”

When he was right next to her, Theo finally looked down. “You mean this?” Too quick for her to make a move, Theo snatched her up and tossed her into the pool, her shrieks and giggles echoing.

“Me! Me! My turn!” Kat chanted, glee lighting up her face.

“Your turn for what?” Theo asked, lifting her and taking a couple steps toward the house. “Your turn to clean the gutters? Okay, I’ll hold you up, and you reach in and get all the slimy, soaking wet leaves. Don’t mind the bugs.”

“Ew, no, Uncle Theo, I want to swim. Throw me!”

“Oh, why didn’t you say so?” Gentler than with Mar, Theo tossed Kat in, her squeals even louder than her cousin’s.

“Hi Dahlia, how are you?” Julie asked, pulling me close for a hug. Only a couple inches taller than me, she was one of the shorter members of Theo’s family that I’d met. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a neat braid, her capris and flowy tee covering her swimsuit.

“Good, you?”

“Based on how much energy she’s burning off, Kat may sleep until seven tomorrow morning. So I’mawesome.”

“He really shouldn’t have started that,” Tina said from next to me, watching Theo and the girls playing.

Much taller than me, Tina definitely resembled a lot of Theo’s family. Her curly black hair was pushed back with her oversized sunglasses. A brightly patterned dress covered her suit.

“Shh,” Julie chided her, “don’t say anything. Think of how long they’ll sleep in.”

“Good point.” Tina turned to me, handing me a drink before hugging me. “Hi, glad you made it. Theo was nervous about you getting lost or having trouble with the Benz. It’s got a lot of get up andgo.”

Just as Theo said, a blue umbrella was stuck in the drink. What he hadn’t mentioned was the insanely cute bright blue and hot pink swirled cup it was in.

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