Page 12 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

I bite my lip to hide my smile. It’s cute, and a little funny, but I don’t want him to think I’m making fun of a problem that’s very real to him.

“How do you feel when you have to stay in one spot?” I ask.

Ollie thinks about it for a long time, and finally, he takes a long swig of his apple juice and sighs like an old retired man surveying the sunset.

“It feels bad!”

I snort in an attempt to hold back a laugh. “Oh, I’m sorry!” But Ollie is also giggling and kicking his legs under the bench seat.

“Sometimes we have to do things that feel bad,” I say, feeling my heart drop as I recall the conversation I had with Eric that morning. I didn’t like letting him down like I did, but my family and Greg’s family are getting so close. I can’t have him skulking around at the edge of the relationship and messing with the process.

“Growing up is tough,” Ollie says wisely.

“It is. But it’s also a lot of fun,” I reply, trying to keep him encouraged.

“Yeah, Noah says in third grade I get to learn about rocks!”

I nod. That sounds right.

Lily skips over to us and puts her hands on either side of Ollie’s face, squeezing his cheeks together playfully. “You silly puppy! When I was your age, I knew how to play nice. Kids these days!”

Ollie giggles harder, enjoying his sister’s scolding.

“Is he being polite, Ms. Sarah? You can tell me if he isn’t.” Lily looks up at me innocently, but I can tell she already knows exactly what she wants to do if I say no.

“Ollie is being very polite,” I reply.

“Are you sure?” she asks with disappointment. “Because if he isn’t...” Lily turns to Ollie, who knows what’s coming, as she wiggles her fingers in the air. “The tickle spiders are hungry!”

Ollie squeals and jumps off the bench, running across the yard.

“Ollie, watch out!” Ethan calls as he chases after the youngest boy. But in his own attempt to play safely, Ethan trips over a rock and falls flat on his face.

“Ethan!” I yell, my mom instincts kicking my adrenaline up. But before I can even stand up, Greg is right at his side. He helps Ethan sit up and assesses the damage.

“Hm, looks like you took a little bit of a hit there, huh?” Greg asks, gesturing to a small smudge of blood on Ethan’s forehead. My heart freezes at the sight.

Greg reassures me. “It’s nothing. Lily-bear, since you caused this, go inside and get the first aid box.”

Lily nods quickly and takes off. I crouch down to give Ethan my own assessment and nod in relief. “Just a little bang, buddy. Nothing bad.”

Ollie starts apologizing as Noah comforts him.

“Is he gonna be okay?” Mia asks fearfully. Her voice makes Ethan look up at us, wide-eyed and scared.

“He’ll be fine,” Greg replies flippantly. “Unless…”

Ethan grips his scuffed knees tightly. “Unless what?”

“Unless you broke your funny bone, then they’ll have to operate.”

Ethan’s fear disappears immediately as he starts laughing. “That’s not a real bone!”

Mia is also laughing at the joke, and their combined humor washes me with relief.

Lily arrives with the first aid kit, and the kids are given an impromptu lesson on basic wound dressing. Everyone laughs when Greg sticks a neon green bandage to Ethan’s forehead, and two matching yellow bandages cover his knees. And just like that, everyone is back up and ready to play.

Greg sighs, closing the first aid kit. “Lily-bear! You have to put things away-”

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