Page 169 of Even Ground

“But, Mummy.” Melly pouts.

“You’ve got younger legs than both of them. And I think you’re much fitter.” She turns her head and winks at me.

“What do you mean?” Reece asks. “I’m in better shape than Josh.”

“That’s debatable.” Josh chuckles. “I saw you take that extra helping of dessert last night.”

“What are you doing?” I whisper at Delaney.

She laughs. “Give them five minutes and they’ll be stripping their shirts off to out-muscle each other. I’m just here for the show.”

I stare at her. “Oh, you are wicked. You don’t mind me perving on Josh?”

“Of course not. What else are best friends for if not to look at hot guys?” She sips her drink. “I’m just glad that you’re here with me to perv on our boys. It’s so good to have you here.”

“I couldn’t be anywhere else.”

Delaney holds out her glass. “Here’s to friendship and a lifetime of perving those two.”

I reach over and clink mine against hers. “Hear, hear.”

Sure enough, it takes next to no time before the two of them are kind of playing cricket, not a shirt in sight. And Melly sits on the grass, ignoring their pleas to chase after the ball.

“Wanna go for a swim? The pool’s heated,” Delaney asks.

“Sounds good to me.”

We abandon our chairs, and Delaney scoops up Addison to carry her to the pool. After going through the gate, I dive straight in, the water cooling me down, while Delaney goes the long way and down the steps.

Addison squeals when her feet touch the water. She’s nine months old, and it won’t be long before she’s walking, but for now she loves being on her mother’s hip.

“Let me take her.” I hold out my arms, and Delaney passes her over.

“Hey, baby girl.”

Addison blows bubbles at me, giggling as she kicks her legs in the water.

“You are such a cheeky wee thing. Lucky you’re so cute.”

Her blue eyes grow big as I dunk her bottom in the water.

“It’s not that cold.”

“Bub bub bub,” she says, and I laugh at her response.

“Oh, taku mareikura, you are so precious.”

Delaney cocks her head. “That’s beautiful. What does that mean?”

I plant a kiss on Addison’s forehead. “My angel.”

Addison giggles as I dunk her again.

Warm hands slide around my waist.

“I love watching you with her,” Reece murmurs behind my ear.

“I thought you were playing cricket.”