Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(89)

“Hey, boys.” Knox crouches down, peering into the car. “Ready for the zoo?”

Archie side-eyes Knox suspiciously around the headrest of his car seat while Hamish yells an enthusiastic yes.

“I know what animal I want to see today.” Knox tries to get Archie's attention.

I mutter snakes under my breath.

“Snakes. I hope they have snakes,” he says.

Archie points at Knox, getting excited. “They do. They have them. A python one.”

“A python. Oh my goodness, Archie. I can’t wait. You’ll have to show me what it looks like. They have so many different colors and sizes.”

“They are called species.”

“Wow. Let's get this show on the road then, shall we? Let’s go see all the different species.”

Yep, it’s official. I’ve died and gone to heaven.

Died and gone to swoony millionaire, furniture-buying, snake-loving, fast-car-driving, loves my sons and would do anything to appease them heaven.





“I want that one. That gonna be mine one.” Hamish points into the elephant enclosure.

Knox laughs. “I don’t think it will fit in the car.”

“We can leave Hamish here. In the monkey enclosure. We’d have space then,” Lincoln chimes in.

“No, me come home,” Hamish says defensively.

“Leave him here,” Archie shouts, clapping his hands as if it's the best idea.

My boys love each other, but my God they love winding each other up.

I look up.

Knox is carrying Hamish on his shoulders and Lincoln has Archie on his. It’s been a brilliant day. It’s almost closing time and we are visiting the last enclosure before we leave. The elephants, Hamish’s favorite.

This is what we needed. Knox was right. Family time.

Lincoln has chased the boys around the entire visit. Running to each animal attraction. Reading out the fact sheets. Sharing the scariest parts of information about the venomous snakes and spiders.

When he mimicked the penguins waddling during the penguin parade, Hamish and Archie thought it was hilarious. What made it extra funny was the silly faces Lincoln made. My boys love him.

Lincoln joked with them the entire journey here, too. Teasing them, they were squashing him and going to squeeze out all his farts as he sat between their child safety seats in the back. He did kind of look ridiculous and it felt weird at first with my high school friend in the back—my stepson.

Holy shit. I can’t think about that.

“He’s pooping,” Archie yells.

“That is a big poop,” Lincoln says. “It’s about the same size as you, Hamish.”

“My hellefant do a poop,” he cheeses down at me.

“He did. I bet that stinks. Poo-wee.” I swipe my hand back and forth in front of my nose.

Knox turns around and looks my way. “You okay? Have you had a good day?”

“The best. We will have to do more of these.”

“We will.” He winks sexily.

“Ewwwwww. My hellefant is eating his poo. Me don’t want that one, Momma.” Hamish sticks his tongue out, pretending to be sick while he holds his stomach.

“He is definitely not coming home with us in the car now, boys,” Knox says to us all as we stand in a line watching poop-gate. “Right. Time to go.”

“Me down, Knox.” Knox lifts Hamish in the air off his shoulders and plonks him onto the ground. Lincoln mirrors his actions, doing the same with Archie.

“I’ll race you to the gift shop, Knox.” Archie runs. So does Hamish.

Knox groans. “You’re cheating.” He runs after them. “You started running before me.”

And they're off.

“I’ve never seen him so happy, you know.” Lincoln bumps my shoulder as we meander down the gray path leading to the entrance. “You’re good for him.”

“Thank you,” I say softly. I’m still embarrassed about last night and this is all very odd.

“Is this weird? Me, you, your dad, the boys? It is, isn’t it?”

“Kinda.” He shakes his head back and forth. “But fun. Your boys are great. And I have a sneaky suspicion my dad might be a little bit in love with you. I don’t think that’s weird at all. It’s understandable. You’re pretty cool.”

“You think?” I squeak.

“Yup. He’s smitten. He’s never introduced me to any of his previous girlfriends before. I actually don’t think he’s had any. And Tabitha doesn’t count.” He screws his face up, trying to recall. “This is a first. He even made me leave my shift at the hotel today to come here. Pigs may fly this evening.” He sticks his hands into the pockets of his black insulated jacket. It’s getting cold now as the sun fades.

Wow. This is a big deal for Knox.

I clear my throat. “So, last night.”

“Don’t mention it. I was kidding earlier. And eh, I tried to kiss my dad’s girlfriend.”

“Oh God, yeah.” I snort, then cover my hand over my mouth.

“I think we’re even.”

“We are.” I put my hand out, and he shakes it.

“Let’s never mention either of those things again.”