Page 67 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“I’ve got you, little one. So, tell me about these babies.”
“They have bunnies, and chickies, and even a lamb!”
“Is that so? You’ll have to tell me all of their names.”
Rylin giggles, her hands loosening as she gets more comfortable with her position.
“Look, mommy! I’m a giant!”
Ivy smiles, her eyes crinkling behind her glasses as she affectionately tugs on Rylin’s foot. “You sure are, love.”
From her vantage point, Rylin can see everything from the twinkle lights overhead, to the various booths, to the gorgeous view of the barn and pasture, describing everything she sees in as much detail as her limited vocabulary allows. Just listening to her talk with such untethered excitement settles something in my bones. As requested, she tells me the names of every animal at the petting zoo, paying special attention to Lamby — she named that one herself.
Once Rylin has had her fill of the babies, we stop by one of the food trucks to grab some funnel cake. Ry immediately spots Cade and rushes over, throwing her arms around his legs. He’s got Sofia strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, while my baby sister clings to his hand, a bright smile lighting up her face. Paige has always loved fall, so this festival is definitely her kind of thing.
“Auntie Paige! Uncle Cade! Can I see my baby?”
“Well hey, sweet girl! Of course you can,” Cade responds, crouching down to Rylin’s level so she can pet Sofia’s head like a puppy. Sofia coos, her face breaking into a wide, gummy smile as Rylin nuzzles their noses together.
“They’re so cute, they make me want like eight more,” Paige says.
Cade chuckles. “Slow down, there, Sunshine. This one isn’t even crawling yet.”
“Party pooper,” she says, rolling her eyes with feigned indignation.
“I have no problem practicing, though,” he says with a smirk.
“Gross, that’s my sister, man.”
Cade shrugs. “Not sorry. So, what are y'all up to next?”
“We promised Ry some funnel cake,” Ivy explains. “After that... your guess is as good as mine. We’re just following theboss over there,” she adds, flicking her thumb toward Rylin. That girl has us all wrapped around her finger — and judging by the playful expression on her face, she knows it.
“We’ll let you get back to it,” Cade says. “We need to get Sofia home to bed. And apparently, I need to get my wife home to work on those eight babies.”
Paige slaps him on the chest, but her face is full of affection.
We exchange goodbyes, and I send my girls off to find a picnic table while I join the queue for the food truck. The line moves pretty quickly, and before I know it I’m heading back toward them with a s'mores flavored dessert in hand. I stop dead in my tracks, taking in the scene before me. Rylin and Ivy are huddled together on one side of the table, grinning as they snap selfies with Ivy’s phone. Their smiles are wide, noses scrunched up in laughter, and for a moment, a tightness settles in my chest as I realize how hard it’s going to be to let them go.
“Luca! Did you get s’mores?” Rylin asks, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Of course I did! Only the best for my favorite girl.”
“You’re my favorite, too.” She says the words matter-of-factly, like it’s a foregone conclusion. Like she didn’t just turn my whole world upside down with her casual declaration. I rub my palm over my sternum, trying to ease the ache that’s taken up residence there, before claiming my spot beside Ivy.
A short while later, plate empty and bellies full, Rylin is nearly catatonic, with her head resting on Ivy’s lap.
"You’ve got a little something right here," I say, using my thumb to gently brush the powdered sugar from Ivy’s lip. Her eyes lock with mine, dark and intense, as she slowly flicks her tongue out to lick it off my finger. The move hits me like an electric shock, racing straight to my dick. A curse slips from my lips before I can stop it.
“Luca, that’s a bad word,” Rylin chastises.
“You’re right. Sorry Ry.”
As the sugar high kicks in, my girl catches her second wind, and after stuffing our faces with more snacks, visiting Russell over at the pony rides, and watching Miles win his third annual pumpkin carving contest in a row, Rylin insists on stopping by the face painting station.
“Well hey there, Ry!” A vaguely familiar person greets us as they finish painting a butterfly on another little girl. “And you must be the infamous Luca I’ve heard so much about.”
“That would be him,” Ivy interjects. “Only good things, I promise. This is Mo. They own Chapters & Brews.”
