“Come on, kid.”
Cairen follows me outside into the back garden. “Come on then, throw it at me.”
Using all his strength, he launches the johnny at my head. It hits my stomach, bouncing off to the ground. I throw mine and miss the kid on purpose. Those fuckers come keen.
Steph stands in the doorway, holding Caleb with a smile.
Cairen laughs as he launches his balloon again, getting me in the privates this time. “Why won’t they burst?”
I chuckle. “It’s a good thing they’re durable, trust me.” Although they must be a couple of years old, the last time I used one was with Steph. They’ve been stuffed in my toiletry bag since I moved to Oz. They must have fallen out this morning.
Using all my strength, I aim mine at the wall and splatters against the brick. “Yeah, I got one. Throw it at the brick, mate, see if you can bust it.”
He grunts, using all his energy to launch it at the brick wall, but it bounces onto the floor, rolling along the grass.
“Have another go, mate. I’ll get another one.”
Steph follows me into the kitchen and watches me fill another johnny. “Make sure you save some. The kids are at Justin’s tonight, remember?”
A smile spreads across my face. So she does want me. I was worried my one minute wonder the other day may have put her off. “I didn’t think we needed to use these?” My eyebrows pull together. We didn’t use one the other day.
She moves Caleb to the other side of her hip. “I haven’t had a period since giving birth. You don’t have them when breastfeeding, so I think we’ll be okay, but I don’t want to take another risk, do you? My milk dried up after the accident.”
A red blush speckles her cheeks as she bites her lip and looks down. She’s adorable like this, sending a warmth straight to my dick that matches the heat in her cheeks.
“It wouldn’t be a risk. I’d have a dozen kids with you.” My cock jerks to life like it’s heard me and getting ready to perform the next sixty-second act.
“I’m not in the habit of having kids with people I’m not in a relationship with.” Her wide green eyes stare blankly at me.
I tie off the water-filled balloon, staring back at her, trying to judge what she meant by that. Does she want a relationship? Fuck, if she doesn’t, then my plans I made with Justin yesterday may be short-lived. “Neither am I.” I step closer, hoping to sneak a kiss.
“Can I have a water balloon?” Cassie runs into the kitchen.
I hand her the one I just made and take another step towards Steph, brushing my fingers against her rosy cheeks.
“Cal, I did it.” Cairen bursts into the kitchen with a huge smile on his face. “Can I have another?”
I pull the last one from the box and twist the clear wrapper between my fingers, staring into Steph’s eyes. “Last one. Your call, Steph.” I lean in and whisper in her ear, “But we’re still doing that thing tonight, with or without this.”
Her breath hitches, and the red glow in her cheeks deepens.
“Can I have it? Please. I need to get Cassie.”
I wait for Steph to give the go ahead. She nods and looks away, getting Caleb’s lunch ready.
“All right kid, this is the last one.” I chuckle, filling up the balloon extra big. “Here, make sure you get your sister good.”
“Thanks, Cal.” He snatches it from my hand as soon as I’ve tied a knot at the top. I feel like we’ve made a little progress today and maybe the kid doesn’t hate me after all.
And Steph, well, if she’s willing to risk another kid with me, maybe she’s in this for the long haul, because I sure as hell am not going anywhere.
* * *
STEPH
Cal sits backin front of the laptop while I spoon Caleb his warm butternut squash and broccoli blend. He spits it out and reaches for Cal.
“Mammamm.” He holds his arms out, squeezing his hands closed and open again.