MY SOMBER MOOD is lifted by the sound of Willow’s squeals of laughter and the splashing of water. There’s an instant smile on my face when I step out onto the pool deck and see Willow’s chubby butt jumping off the side of the pool into Uncle Max’s arms.
Mom, my grandparents, and Aunt Jessica are all sitting poolside while Uncle Max and Aiden are in the pool entertaining Willow.
“Boo, I didn’t know you could swim.”
She nods, her eyes wide with excitement. “Watch me.” She twists out of Uncle Max’s arms and drops face-first into the water. I snort as she stretches her floaty-covered arms out to the side and kicks her little chubby legs for about two seconds before popping her head up and gasping for air. Max pulls her back into his arms and Willow smiles up at me all wide-eyed as she proudly wipes the water from her face.
“Good job, Boo.” I clap.
“Come wimmin wif me.” She cheers and holds out her arms. There is nothing more adorable in this world than Willow Jade Mackenzie.
“Okay, I’ll come swimming with you,” I tell her, kicking off my sandals as I pull my cover-up over my head and toss it on the empty lounge chair. Mac Daddy mumbles something about me “leaving the house wearing that” and “hiring more bodyguards.” I hold back a laugh and jump into the pool. The cold water feels incredible against my sun-kissed skin.
Aiden is grinning when I break through the surface and reach for Willow. “What?”
“Nothing,” he says with a nervous laugh as his eyes zoom in on my chest.
“Eww! You little perv.” I swipe my hand across the top of the water and splash him in the face.
“Aiden, she’s your cousin,” Uncle Max chides.
Aiden shrugs. “They’re still boobs.”
“Boobs,” Willow parrots.
I roll my eyes and splash him again and Willow attempts to do the same.
“So, what are you doing back so early?” Uncle Max quickly changes the subject. “Where’s Cole?”
“Where’s Co?” Willow parrots again.
“He’s still at the party. I didn’t want to pull him away from his friends, so I had Bass pick me up. I had fun though. This is just a lot to take in, you know? Besides, I’m kind of tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night and then being in the sun all day….” I shrug.
“Yeah.” He glances over his shoulder at my mom and then back to me. “You’ve been living in a bubble for the past year—”
“You mean the past seventeen years?” I joke, even though it’s true. It’s no secret that Uncle Max didn’t always agree with the way my parents sheltered me from experiencing life, going to school, and growing up with kids my own age.
Max smiles. “You’re overwhelmed.”
“This move.” I wave my hand and gesture to the house. “And this house. It’s all overwhelming.”
Willow swims between us, kicking and splashing water in Max’s face.
“Mimi and Jess did good, huh?” he asks, brushing the water from his eyes. “You like it?”
“I love it. They did an amazing job.” I lift Willow and set her on my hip. She rests her head on my shoulder. “I really want to do something nice for them. To thank them.”
“That’s not necessary. We’re family.”
“How was the party, Jay?” Mom asks.
“It was fun. One of Cole’s friends recognized me,” I tell her.
“How?”
I shrug. “She just did. Her name is Lexi. Her boyfriend is Evan. He plays on the football team with Cole.”
“Evan Martinez.” Max nods knowingly. “His dad is Jason Martinez,” he explains to my mom before turning his attention back to me. “Lexi’s a trip.” He chuckles.
“She’s hot,” Aiden adds.
“You’ll never believe who Lexi’s mom is?”
“Who?” my mom asks.
“Diana Cooper.”
Emerson’s eyes go wide. “No shit?”
“Shit!” Willow parrots and Aiden laughs.
A CLICK AND a flash of light have me opening my eyes, startling me when I see Cole standing over me with his phone in his hand. “Are you taking pictures of me?”
“Of both of you.” He turns his phone around to show me the picture.
“She’s so cute.” I give Willow a little squeeze and kiss the top of her head. “I gave the adults the night off so I could have her all to myself.”
“Where’s Aiden?”
“Your pervy little brother is spending the night at his friend Smith’s house.”
“He’s a Mackenzie.” Cole chuckles and sits on the coffee table, facing me. “Hey, I’m sorry about today.”
I frown. “For what?”
“For ditching you. Lexi bitched me and Zach out after you left. I didn’t do it on purpose. You and Lexi seemed to be getting along, so I figured I’d give you some space to make friends. And you were with Brice. I knew he’d make sure no one messed with you. Anyway, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I wave him off. “I was a little pissed at first, but I’m over it. It’s not your job to babysit me. That’s why I have Bass.” I snort.
“Did you have fun, at least?”
“Yeah. Brice is hilarious and Lexi is awesome. Evan is… quiet. Grayson is hot. And Zach’s a dick, but whatever.”
Cole laughs. “Watch out for Grayson. And Zach’s just being a bitch because he’s pissed at you for blocking his calls. Why did you? What’d he do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now?”
“Fine, but you guys need to kiss and make up.”
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that as soon as I don’t feel like punching him in the throat. What time is it, by the way?”
He glances down at his phone screen. “Eight thirty. How long have you been asleep?”
“I don’t know. Probably an hour.” He raises an eyebrow. “What? I told you I was tired, and this little diva wore me out. What are you doing back so early?”
“Early? I was there all day. Do you have anything to eat? I stopped by my house to shower and change. I realized on the way over here that I hadn’t eaten since I got out of practice. I’m starving.”
“Grace made lasagna. There’s plenty left over in the refrigerator. Help yourself.” Willow burrows herself closer and sighs. I lift my head to look at Cole and smile. “She’s so sweet. I want my own Willow one day. Do you think your mom would let me keep her for a few days?”
Cole scoffs. “It’s not my mom you’d have to convince; it’s my dad. Willow runs the show in our house. She’s got Dad wrapped around her tiny finger. And you’re too young to be thinking about babies.” He gets up and heads to the kitchen.
“I said ‘one day.’ Not now, dork. But one day I want a big family.”
He shakes his head and opens the refrigerator. “You’re crazy. I hope you brushed her hair after her bath because it gets tangled. She’s tender-headed, so she screams bloody murder whenever we try to brush it out.”
I stare at his back as he pulls the lasagna from the fridge.
“What?” He quirks an eyebrow as he sets the dish on the counter. “Don’t believe me? Come to my house in the morning and see for yourself.”
I snort as Grace walks into the kitchen and takes the tray of lasagna away from Cole and shoos him out of the way.
“Your mom told me that, so I put some product in her hair which is supposed to prevent tangles and then I braided it. I guess we’ll see tomorrow if it works.” I lift one of her feet. “I painted her toenails. She threw a fit when I refused to paint her fingernails too, so we compromised on nail stickers.”
“You spoil her, but, for what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a great mom one day.”