Page 75 of Scoring Chance

I glance at him, startled. There’s a softness in his eyes I didn’t expect—a quiet warmth that feels too genuine, even for this elaborate performance.

“And you…decided marriage was the logical next step?” Kyle probes, fishing for inconsistencies.

“Wasn’t about logic,” Tanner answers, still smiling, hand brushing casually along the small of my back.

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s sweet and all. But you have small children. To suddenly marry…how are they handling it?” Kyle asks in his most concerned voice, the kind politicians use when they talk about wanting to protect the children.

“Our children are doing just fine,” Tanner says, a sheet of ice behind his tight grin. “They’ve known Des since they were born. He held each of them in his arms before they were a week old. He’s always been a part of this family.”

“Lena peed on me. I still won’t let her live it down.” A wistful pang floods through me. I can’t believe those tiny peanuts I once held are running, thinking, talking children. The time really does pass quickly.

“Imagine having twins. I thought I would get buried under dirty diapers,” Marissa says, her voice softer. She’s not trying to compete, but commiserate.

Kyle ignores her and turns back to me. “So none of this felt rushed to you?”

I want to yell at him to shut up already, but Tanner stops me from saying anything.

“I can’t speak for Des, but it’s funny how natural this all felt. Usually going into a relationship with someone, there’s an adjustment period. It’s two lives meshing. But we didn’t have that. Des just fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper when he married me. For years, we were always friends and that was that. And then when we started to see each other as more, that also felt weirdly natural. Like it was something always meant to happen.” He looks up at me, his eyes the slightest bit wet. He’s so beautiful I don’t know if I can breathe. “I know it’s fast and unorthodox, but nothing has ever felt this right. They say the best decisions are made in the blink of an eye.”

I take his hand and massage his palm. “I agree.”

Damn. He’s good at this. Too good.

I feel the ground tilt slightly, not because we’re lying, but because suddenly, part of me wishes we weren’t.

I open my mouth to contribute when a bloodcurdling scream from the backyard shatters the evening.

21

TANNER

There’s not much my kids can do that phases me anymore. I’ve seen it all. Or so I think until we follow the screams into the backyard.

We run outside to find Davy putting Wesley in a headlock. Meanwhile, my three remaining kids are holding the door to their plastic playhouse shut, trapping Kyle’s twins inside, who are screaming for dear life to get out.

Before I yell at them to stop, my hand flies to my mouth. Every parent dreads the day when their children get in a skirmish on the playground and they have to do the awkward apologizing to show the other parents that they know what they’re doing. There is no rulebook for your kids terrorizing party guests.

“Oh my babies! My babies!” Marissa screams.

“Davy! Get off him!” Des marches forward and stands over my son.

“My girls! They’re going to suffocate in there!” Kyle cradles his wife, who looks on the verge of collapse. While they have every right to be upset, their reaction seems just a tad histrionic.

“What are you doing?” I race over to the playhouse and shove my kids out of the way.

The twins burst through the plastic door just as Davy relinquishes his headlock. The three perfect angels in their matching yacht wear run into their parents arms, crying. Again, I’m taken aback for a second at how hysterical they are. I know Davy would never willingly hurt Wesley. My kids aren’t monsters.

But by the way Kyle and Marissa glare at me, they sure think so.

“What happened?” Stan asks.

“Des’s kids…they…” Kyle strains to catch his breath. “Sorry, my children’s lives just flashed before my eyes. They attacked my kids, Stan.”

“What the hell were you guys thinking?” Des barks. We all jolt for a second, not used to him using such a stern tone.

“They started it!” Davy yells. “They were teasing Lulu, and they took Dean’s magic hat.” He turns to me, his eyes wide with fear and the retreat of adrenaline.

“You don’t turn to violence. If there’s a problem, you call an adult over. You don’t settle it like this.” For being a new parent, Des sure has the stern dad voice down pat.