I scream and laugh.
Hayley joins in, laughing and pointing at us.
“Hayley, help me!” I pant out between laughs.
She runs to my aid and Chance scoops her up in his other arm, throwing her over his other shoulder.
She squeals and giggles. Her little fists pound on his back as she laughingly demands we be released.
After a few minutes, Chance puts us down.
I look over at Hayley and grin. “Now,” I say.
We run towards Chance and knock him off his feet, the three of us landing giggling in the sand. I sit across Chance’s hips and Hayley kneels behind his head, holding his wrists down.
“Okay, okay, I give in. You girls win!” Chance laughs.
Hayley holds her hand up and I high five her, then I remember why I came down here in the first place. “Come on,” I say, getting up and helping Chance to his feet. “We need to pop into the house and Facetime Sebastian. Kimberley had her baby.”
Chance
We head up to the beach house, a tight little unit of three. I have always been worried about the idea of having children, not sure I would know what to do with them, but spending time with Hayley has shown me that actually, I have nothing to worry about on that score. We have a lot of fun together and she’s a great kid that’s showing me how much better life can be when you just let your hair down and enjoy the moment.
This vacation is exactly what we all needed. It’s brought us together as a family, because even though it’s only been two months since Sierra and I had our first official date, it feels like longer. It feels like we’re permanent and that we always have been.
“Chance,” Sierra says, looking at me with a frown.
I realize she’s holding the phone out to me and I take it. “Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”
“What?” she asks.
“I’ll tell you after the call,” I say.
She gives me a look that says she won’t forget to ask me about it.
I hope she doesn’t, because I really don’t know if I’ll dare tell her what I was thinking without prompting. I hit call and the three of us sit huddled around the phone.
Sebastian takes the call and appears on the screen. “Hey guys, how’s the vacation going?”
“Perfect,” Sierra and I say together.
“It’s awesome, but Chance cheats at baseball,” Hayley says.
“I don’t doubt it.” Sebastian laughs. “But I bet you still win right?”
Hayley nods and gives him a big cheesy grin.
“How’s Kimberley and the baby?” Sierra asks.
“They’re both doing well,” Sebastian replies as he moves his phone and Kimberley appears in the shot.
She looks tired, but flushed and well. She gives us a little wave.
Sebastian moves the camera again and a tiny baby in a bassinet fills the screen.
Sierra and Hayley both make aww noises.
I smile. “She’s beautiful bro. What are you calling her?” I say.
Sebastian and Kimberley appear back on the screen.
“Aria,” Kimberley says. “It’s the name we picked for Carl, but of course he turned out to be a boy.”
“Where is he?” I ask.
“With your parents. They’re on their way,” Kimberley replies.
“So how was it?” Sierra asks. “The labor I mean.”
“Not too bad. Easier than the last one. Sebastian cried more than I did this time.” Kimberley laughs.
“That’s so not true,” Sebastian says, nudging Kimberley. “And Chance if you say anything about that, I’m ending this call.”
“If I get you wound up today, Sierra will kill me,” I say. “But you know it’ll come.”
“Ah, I don’t even care.” Sebastian laughs. “When you have your own kids, you’ll understand.”
“Yeah and you’ll finally understand what the word tired actually means,” Kimberley puts in.
“Oh God, of course, sorry Kimberley. We should go,” Sierra says.
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant,” Kimberley insists.
“I know, but you’ll have visitors soon and I’m sure you’d appreciate a bit of rest before everyone appears,” Sierra says.
Kimberley smiles gratefully and we say our goodbyes.
I end the call.
“Can we go in the pool for a bit?” Hayley asks.
“Sure honey, go grab your swimsuit from your room,” Sierra says.
Hayley runs away cheering.
Sierra turns to me. “So what were you thinking about earlier? You said you would tell me after the call,” she says.
I nod my head, suddenly nervous. I can feel my palms sweating and my mouth is suddenly dry. “I-I wondered how you would feel about you and Hayley moving in with me when we get home,” I say. “I know it’s quick, but I love you and I want to spend every moment with you.”
Sierra doesn’t respond.
I hurry on, “I understand if it’s too quick. Just say the word and I’ll back off.”
“It’s not that,” Sierra says. “I’d love nothing more than us all living together. But I don’t know how Hayley would feel about it. I know she loves you, but I’m not sure how she would feel about leaving our home. I’ll talk to her though and see how she feels about it.”
“See how I feel about what?” Hayley asks, coming up behind us.
Sierra looks at me and I nod at her. She crouches down beside Hayley. “How would you feel about me and you going to live with Chance when we get home from our vacation?” she says.
Hayley goes quiet and looks from Sierra to me and back again. “Do I get my own room?” she asks.
Sierra looks at me and smiles.
“Oh yes,” I say. “And we’ll decorate it any way you want.”
“Then yes.” She nods.
She gets up and runs to the door like this isn’t a big deal. “Come on,” she calls. “Last one to the pool is a loser.” She darts away.
Sierra starts to follow her.
I grab her wrist and spin her to face me. “Is that a yes, then?” I ask.
“You heard the boss. It’s a yes.” She smiles.
I lean in to kiss her and everything feels right with the world.
Sierra pulls away from me with a grin and darts off. “Looks like you’re
