Page 80 of Anti Player

“Here you go,” Kaleb says, passing me a coffee in a paper cup.

“Thank you,” I gush, needing my morning joe.

“All ready,” Asher announces, wearing only swim trunks.

Kaleb laughs.

“Buddy, you need a shirt and a sun hat,” I say to my son.

“And my sunglasses,” Asher adds.

“Those too.” I ruffle the hair on his head.

I follow him to his room, and we finish getting him dressed.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I ask.

He shows me his teeth, holding his mouth open and his teeth pressed together.

“Good job,” I praise.

“I brushed up and down,” he says.

“They look good,” I assure him.

We head back out to the main room to meet Kaleb.

“Should we wear running shoes or sandals?” I ask him.

“There’s quite a bit of walking to do.” Kaleb shrugs. “I’m going to go next door to grab a bathing suit and towel. I’ll see you two out in the hall in a few.”

“Okay.” I nod.

Kaleb looks me up and down and then says, “Damn,” shaking his head.

I smile and shove him out the door.

Our dynamic has clearly changed since we were younger and without my brother in town keeping us both in check.

“Come on, Asher. Get your sneakers on.” I walk around the apartment turning off the lights and fixing up a little. Then I get my sneakers on and we head out the door.

Kaleb says it’s easier to Uber to Times Square so that is what we do. When we arrive, we meet the other families. Ellie hugs me and Kaleb introduces me to everyone.

They are all super nice and Asher immediately sticks to Syd, Crew, and Liam. It makes my heart so happy to see him as part of their little gang. They are a little older than he is, but they are good with him and it’s what I’ve always wanted him to have.

We all get on the train, and I sit beside Kaleb. The kids all sit together too. Rebel and Wolfe are sitting in front of us, and Rebel is holding her baby daughter, Ariella, who is beautiful. Skylar is telling me all about going back to school and I tell her how nervous I am about starting culinary school, even though I don’t know if I’ll get in.

By the time we arrive at Coney Island, I’ve spoken with everyone and have gotten to know them a little. They really are a nice group of friends. Very family oriented, which is something I haven’t been around before with my knack for finding men who fit the bad boy persona instead of a family man.

When we arrive, everyone is hungry so we stop and get some food. We sit at a fast-food place facing the water.

“This place is something special,” I say to the table of adults.

“Wolfe and I keep meaning to bring the kids and something always comes up, so it was really nice that Kaleb had this idea,” Rebel says and then she looks at Kaleb curiously. He’s been very good about keeping his hands to himself. Well, except for that small caress of my thigh on the train and the mischievous look he gave me while touching me.

After lunch we all head down to the beach. I lay out my beach towel and tell Kaleb there is plenty of room for him. The others lay theirs out too. Sky brought some beach toys so the kids run off and build a sand castle.

“This is just so amazing,” I say to Kaleb. “Thanks for doing this today.”