Keir

Ainsley and Grace come back with no visible wounds, and smiles on their faces, so I think they're good. I don't know how soon I can get there with Grace, but I'm planning to make it happen sooner, rather than later. Not surprisingly, Connor runs for her as soon as he sees her, practically knocking her over when he slams into her legs.

"You're back!"

"Connor Martin, did you really think I'd steal your new friend away from you?"

He nods. "Uh-huh, Auntie A. She likes Wonder Woman."

"I know. I heard you're changing your party."

"Yep! Are you happy?"

"So happy. Grace is going to help me plan it."

"If it's okay with your daddy," Grace says, looking at me for confirmation.

"Yes, please."

"I'm going to have the best birthday ever!"

"I know! I've got to go kiss my husband, but come see me later for a kiss goodbye."

"K."

She kisses him, and Trevor, and hugs Grace. I get a punch in the arm, which hurts more than I'm willing to admit.

"Let's eat, Pretty."

"We just ate a few hours ago."

"I'm a growing boy."

"Yes. I suppose you are."

He takes one of her hands, and she holds the other one out to Trevor. Once they're all together, with me walking behind them, we head outside to load up our plates. Grace talks to me when she has to, but it's all about my boys for most of dinner, and I love every minute of it. Sitting back, and watching them interact is like watching what a family should look like. I know I need to put a halt to thoughts like that, because we're nowhere near that place, but it's true. She fits perfectly with us.

"Thank you," I tell her when Connor and Trevor go to the bathroom, giving us a few minutes alone.

"Your boys are wonderful."

"They are."

"After meeting your ex, I know it's all because of you."

"I appreciate you saying that."

"It's the truth."

"I'm sorry for not telling you about Ainsley."

"Not today, okay? We don't have time to talk about it now, and I don't want to rush through something that's important to me."

"It's important to me, too. You're important."

"We'll talk."

"When?"

"Keir."

"I don't want you blowing this off, and never giving me another chance. I was stupid, but I don't think what I did is so bad I don't deserve the chance to explain myself."

He's right. In the grand scheme of life, what he did wasn't horrible. Not great, but not worth ending something that was starting out so good, either. "Are you free tomorrow evening?"

"I can ask Ainsley or Sierra to watch the boys."

"Why are they watching us?" Trevor asks, as Connor once again climbs onto Grace's lap.

"Grace and I need to have a talk about some things."

"She can come over, and we'll play upstairs."

"Yeah! Pretty, come over to our house! I can show you my room," Connor tells her, looking at her with his patented puppy dog eyes.

"We can order dinner. We're good at ordering," Trevor adds.

Her face goes from freaked out to smiling. "Oh, no. If I'm coming over for dinner, we're cooking."

"We don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

"You don't have to cook for us," I protest, because I'm already at a disadvantage right now.

"These boys need to learn how to fend for themselves, and impress a woman when they get older."

"Are you saying I can't impress a woman just because I can't cook?"

"It does take a few points off the hotness meter," I say, messing with him, because honestly, he couldn't get any hotter. Today, he's in a loose Legends t-shirt, and faded jeans with Chucks on his feet. Hot.

"We'll see about that, Gracie."

"Yes we will, Kei."

The rest of the afternoon is all about fun. I dance with the boys, while Keir watches us. He lifts his bottle of beer to his lips every once in a while, when our eyes meet, and his eyes are blazing hot. I mentally curse myself for wanting him so badly, but at least I'm calling the shots now.

It's another great day, which is becoming a theme with Keir, and I know tomorrow is going to rank pretty high, too. I'm saying goodbye to them when Zack comes over.

"I really wish you'd worn my jersey, Grace," he says, holding out his hand to me. I've seen him around before, but we've never officially met.

"Maybe next time. If I'm invited again, that is."

"You're invited, Pretty," Connor tells me.

"Pretty? Kid’s got some balls on him," he says with a laugh.

"He is a Martin," Keir reminds him with a smirk.

Too much testosterone going on here. "He's an adorable little sweetheart, is what he is. Before either one of you gets any ideas, know I'd punch you in your junk if you tried anything like it."

"I'll remember to wear a cup around you, Grace," Zack assures me, before turning back to Keir with a wink. "The fiery ones are the best."

"Ugh. She's my sister, man. I shouldn't have to keep reminding you of that."

Zack just laughs, and walks away. I like him.

"Everyone does," Keir grumbles, and I realize I said that out loud.

"Including you, so stop acting like you're jealous."

"Jealous? I'm not jealous of Zack, and his football stardom."

And now I'm embarrassed again. Time to make my getaway.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Kiss, Pretty?"

I lean over, and kiss him on the cheek, doing the same with Trevor. Ignoring Keir, I make my way to the door. It's not until I'm outside that I realize I'm not alone.

"What happened back there?"

"I made a fool of myself again."

"What? When?"

"When I made a comment about you being jealous of Zack."

"I said I wasn't."

"Yeah, but I wasn't talking about football."

"Huh? Oh!" His eyes get wide as he gets it. "If he wasn't beyond happily married to my sister, and you weren't coming to my house to talk tomorrow, I might have been jealous."

"Might?"

"I'm not a jealous person, Gracie."

"I obviously am."

"If I thought you were with someone else, I wouldn't like it."

I have to smile, because he's trying to appease me, and it's kind of adorable. I lean forward, and do something neither of us expected tonight. It's just a quick peck on the lips, but it's enough to have him smiling like he won the lottery.

"Thanks for following me out here."

"I'll follow you anywhere. The boys will be with me, of course, but anywhere you are, I want to be."

It's cheesy, and straight out of some chick flick, but I feel like he means it, and his words make me happy. "Go back inside before I kiss you again."

"That's not really a threat, you know."

"Tomorrow, Keir."

I turn away before I make good on my non-threat. Tomorrow, I'll probably kiss him at least once, and that's enough to keep the smile on my face, all the way home.