Page 39 of Grasp The Moment

Folding my arms, I tilt my head as something moves in my chest. A warming sensation fills my body as the girls' eyes light up once they finish their bites, turning to get a new cupcake from the small pink box on the counter that I hadn’t noticed before.

“Eating late-night snacks? Without me?” I ask in mock outrage, hiding my laughter as Delilah jumps, hiding the cupcake behind her back.

Even Agnes has a small biscuit that she’s gnawing on at her bowl.

Georgia, to her credit, looks sheepish as she guiltily puts away her sweet treat.

“I’m sorry, I know you said no sweets after dinner, but look at that face!” she exclaims, gesturing to Delilah’s puppy dog eyes.

“Well,” I take a step toward her, taking her cupcake from her and biting it. “I’ll give you two a pass tonight.”

Georgia visibly gulps, her throat working overtime as she nods with wide eyes. This close, I can see every single detail that God thought to include when he created the woman before me. From the light red blush naturally dawning her cheeks to the small smattering of freckles dusting her nose.

Everything about her is entrancing.

Her eyes—green with small brown flecks—brighten.

“Attack!” I hear, before two bodies are attached to my front and back, cake decorating my hair and cheeks.

Chuckling, I allow the girls to “attack” me with frosting before I turn the tables back on them.

“I’m gonna get you,” I say, eyes trained on Georgia as her own widen.

She puts Delilah behind her, my daughter holding up two fists to me, a menacing look in her usually doe eyes.

Pretending to be surprised, I put a hand to my chest.

“Is that how it is, Sunshine? You’re gonna attack your papá?” I ask, but I already know the answer when the little traitor grabs Georgia’s hand and runs.

“Run! The ogre is going to get us!” Delilah exclaims, laughter in her words as she runs around the living room, a giggling Georgia following behind her.

“Get out me swamp!” I yell, deepening my voice as I chase behind the girls.

In such a little bit of time, my recurring nightmare is forgotten. I’m happier than I’ve been in months as I chase the two women in my life. Delilah is safe—hell, she’shappy. And Georgia, Georgia’s giggling more than I’ve ever heard in our short friendship.

When I gently tackle the girls to the ground, both are a mess of laughter and frosting as I tickle them.

I forget about my troubles with my mother. I forget that this marriage is on borrowed time, and I justfeel. I feel the love, the hope. I hope that there will be more nights like this and that our energy will never change.

I know now that in this moment I wouldn’t change this thing between us for anything… and that’s why I must do everything in my power to prevent this marriage from ever ending.

If not for my own happiness—then for the smiling four-year-old next to me.

Text thread with Margarita Central

Cleo has now changed the group chat name and photo to

WAG LIFE

Cleo

I hereby declare the commencement of WAG LIFE, ladies please act accordingly

Sienna

Oh brother… this guy SUCKS

Denver