Page 45 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

“Hey now, kids,” Greg says, interrupting the cacophony of objections. “That’s not just a description, that’s its name. If a desert frog starts with d, a flying squirrel starts with f.” It’s sweet of him to come to my defense, even if it is over something wholly ridiculous.

“I concur,” Mia says with all the seriousness a seven-year-old can muster.

“Does everyone else agree?” he asks, surveying every child’s face. I love that about him, how he makes sure to include everyone and keep them unified. Not just his own kids. It’s like we’re a real family, coming to agreements and understandings as one team.

My heart flutters at the very thought but quickly goes cold just as well. A fleeting thought grips my mind. If he’s this good at managing people and expectations, what if Eric is right? What if he’s just as adept at managing multiple girlfriends right under my nose?

That’s ridiculous. Right? Yes, it has to be. Eric’s words have crawled their way into my psyche, sowing doubt where there doesn’t need to be any. I keep seeing problems where none exists, looking for clues and hints of foul play without reason. I can’t let Eric do this to me. I know he’s playing with me, trying to pull me from Greg’s arms so I’ll come running into his instead.

But still, that lingering little voice of doubt persists. I can’t help it. I know as a vampire, Eric has a certain ability to get under my skin and into my mind to manipulate me. But knowing it doesn’t seem to make it any easier to resist, even when I know better. But after Hunter, it’s almost too easy for Eric to make those feelings of hurt and betrayal fresh and new. And no amount of logic and positivity can erase how much those feelings hurt.

It’s exhausting. I know Lisa is right, and I just have to get out of my own way. This isn’t the time for a serious conversation, but I’m starting to feel anxious to have it, just to put my own fears to rest.

“Alright, it’s been fifteen minutes now! Who wants to go down the mega slide?” Greg asks. All five kids jump from their chairs, buzzing with excitement as their energy stores have been renewed.

“Dad, come watch what me and Mia can do,” Lily asks. She grabs his arm and pulls him toward the kids’ play area. He looks at me, almost like he’s asking permission to leave the table.

“I’ll come too,” I say. I grab my purse and follow as the kids scamper to the foam-and-rubber-plated arena. Greg and I watch from the sidelines as the girls show off their ability to make the rope swing in a way I’m sure was not intended. Even the poor, underpaid teenage attendant looks baffled at just how far up they’re going.

Ethan and Noah take to the obstacle course, jumping from platforms to ropes to trampoline surfaces with ease. I’m taken aback when I see Ethan stumble and fall. Noah comes right to the rescue, helping him back up and coaching him on how to make the jump. And then Ethan does!

I could almost cry at seeing those two boys interact like brothers. It’s just too sweet.

“What’re you up to, Ollie?” Greg asks his youngest, who is walking around the ground on all fours.

“Rawr, I’m a wolf!” he cries. A couple of other small children join him, running around on hands and knees and howling at the ceiling. The other parents seem baffled that their kids would rather play pretend on the floor than jump into the ball pit, which they paid a good deal of money for them to go in.

Ah, kids.

“Do you think they suspect?” Greg whispers in my ear.

“Hmm? Oh, that Ollie actually is…?”

Greg chuckles. “Have your kids ever pretended to be wolves?”

I nod, a smile creeping onto my face in spite of my internal turmoil. “Absolutely. And witches, and Frankenstein, and monsters from the ocean, I could go on!”

Greg smiles at me, and the sight of it makes my heart melt. “I hope you’re having as much fun as they are.” He points at Mia and Lily, who have taken to the ball pit and are currently playing dodgeball with a group of boys who are undoubtedly losing.

“That’s my girl!” I shout, receiving a look of indignation from one of the boy’s fathers. “And yes, I’m having a great time.”

I’d be having a much better time if that asshole Eric hadn’t managed to occupy my brain with anxiety and doubts, but I’m trying nonetheless.

“Are you sure?” Greg asks. I look up at him. His eyes are dark, tinged with concern. There’s nothing but foreboding there, and it’s making my heart ice over once again.

“Yes,” I reply flatly.

“If there’s something on your mind, I want you to tell me,” Greg says. He sounds so soft, so earnest. I feel a pang of guilt at knowing I’m the reason for his concern, but I also bristle a little to be put on the spot. This is obviously not the moment for this conversation.

But then, like a sign from above, I hear the sound of my kids’ laughter. It washes over and through me, cleansing the darkness threatening to consume my heart. Mia squeals in delight as she falls from the netting onto a trampoline surface that bounces her back up. Lily and Ollie join her and bounce together. Ethan high-fives Noah as they successfully clear the hardest part of the obstacle course.

Greg cheers for them both, telling both Noah and Ethan he’s proud of them. Ethan looks back with the brightest, widest smile I’ve seen on his face in a very long time.

And oh my God, I want this so badly. I need this. This stability, this unity. This big, beautiful, blended family is everything I could ever hope or wish for in my life. I can’t let some pathetic little rat come between me and this picture of perfection.

If there are other women in Greg’s life, if he has secrets or issues that need to be discussed, then we’ll do just that. I need to confront my doubts and be honest with Greg about what’s keeping me from fully committing my heart to him. Whatever it takes, I know we can overcome this. We can find a resolution, an understanding.

We can find a way back to each other. I know it.

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