Page 108 of Holding You

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Is he … smiling?

Does Dutton smile?

“Are you okay?” I ask. You know, to be sure.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re …”

“Smiling,” Linc finishes for me.

“Ah, fuck you guys. I smile.” Then he leans back, tucking both hands behind his head. “Especially when I’m on vacation and have nothing to worry about except what I’m going to eat or drink next.”

Linc chuckles and then relaxes, too.

A waitress comes by, and just as I order a cold water, my phone rings with a FaceTime from my parents.

“Be right back,” I say and then hold the phone up. “Hello,” I say with a grin as Susie’s face fills the screen.

“Dad!” she cheers and then, “Ruby!”

I twist to see Ruby right behind me, crowding my space to get into the picture. Her hand falls to my shoulder, and she settles in at my side.

“Hey, girl, is Max with you?”

“Max!”

Suddenly, the screen is filled with two grinning faces.

“You’re at the pool!” Max points out, and Susie sticks her bottom lip out.

“Without us?”

“You two were at the lake all day yesterday,” we hear Colt say in the background. “And as soon as you finish lunch, we are going back.”

He pops onto the screen to wave.

My parents do the same.

“Is that Ruby? Let me see,” my mom yells from the background and leans into view of the camera. “Oh, wow, you are gorgeous, dear.”

“Mom,” I scold as she and the kids all try to be the main focus of the camera.

Ruby giggles.

“What?” Mom says. “Are you having fun?”

“We are,” I answer for both of us.

“Good. You needed time for yourselves.”

I share a look with Ruby, and she blushes.

There is a rustle on the other end and then the phone drops.

I love FaceTiming with my kid, but her attention span is short.

Colt grabs the phone. “And we are on to the next activity.”

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