Chapter 54

As the weeks moved on into months, me and Kat were spending more time together. There was no denying the building closeness between us, but we still kept it a secret from her family. Neither of us wanted to complicate the happy bliss that we were enjoying, with concerns over how serious we were from her parents, or Sean. I was shocked at how easy things were going with her. Given how long we'd been at loggerheads before getting together, I'd have expected to run into far more issues along the way. But there had barely been any. The only bumps we'd hit were small, and easily forgotten. The longer it went on, the more I found myself spending days at work, counting down the hours until I could see her again, going out with Roxy and Jamie, and wishing that she was there, or that I could sneak off and find her. I'd even voluntarily hung around outside the hospital, just hoping to catch her for a few moments whilst she was on a break. I hadn't even realised my own building vulnerability as I began to care more and more for her.

"Ev, are you even listening at all?" Roxy laughed, pulling me from my reverie.

I shook off the memory of last night at Kat's place, and turned to my best friend.

"Sorry Rox, what did you say?" I replied, rubbing the back of my neck as I tried to focus my attention on the present.

Roxy shuffled closer on the sofa, pulling her legs up towards her chest, and shaking her hair back over her shoulders.

"What's up?" She asked, resting her arms on her bare knees, her fingers tapping slightly on her golden, sunkissed skin.

"Nothing, was just thinking, that's all."

Roxy looked at me, skepticism clearly defined in her expression. It wasn't that I was lying, it was just that I wasn't sure exactly what was bugging me. It was that kind of niggling feeling inside, the one where you know something is off, but you can't figure it out.

"You can talk to me Ev, I know it's about Kat. But you're my best friend, I want to help." She said sincerely.

"It's fine, I promise."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, instantly feeling brighter, and pulled her towards me. She wasn't prepared for the sudden movement and toppled over with a yelp, landing sprawled across my lap. Both of us burst out laughing as she lay there, before she pushed herself up. I combed her hair back from her face, whilst she pulled the bottom of her white, floral top down over her ribs then rose to her feet, dusting off her denim shorts and slipping her little sandals back on.

"Okay, get your ass moving, Sean is meeting us at the leisure center in ten minutes."

Roxy grabbed her car keys from the table as I stood up, and moments later we were leaving the house and jumping in her car.

The leisure center was hot as always, but thankfully pretty quiet at this time. A few familiar faces sat at the steel tables with their babies in their arms.

"We were beginning to wonder where you'd got to." Sean called out from the table just ahead.

Everly sat on his lap, beaming as she recognised me and her mother walking towards her. Roxy swept down, planting a kiss on her daughter's rosy cheek, and then pressed her lips to her husbands, her arm wrapping around Everly's waist. Standing straight, she lifted Everly out of Sean's arms and held her close.

"I'll take her with me to get changed," She started, taking the little pink flower bag from Sean's shoulder. "And we'll meet you both in a minute."

Roxy walked down the slope to the side and off to the right, through a door labeled 'Ladies'.

After exchanging brief pleasantries with Sean, we followed after them, turning to the left, into the men's room.

The room's floor was tiled with stone textured tiles to avoid slipping, the walls painted a soft blue colour and large enclosed cubicles were spread throughout the room, all with dark wooden walls and doors. The sound of running showers reached our ears and several men came and went from the room. Sean and I crossed to neighbouring cubicles, and locked the doors. I removed my clothes, pulling my charcoal grey trunks out of my gym bag, and changing into them, maintaining a casual conversation throughout. I couldn't help but feel like a bit of a dick, not telling him that I was involved with his sister, but I couldn't bring myself to answer the questions that I knew would be asked. I knew how protective he was over Kat, and he would want assurances or warn me off. The very idea of him telling me I couldn't see Kat like that, made me feel sick, although I wasn't exactly sure why my reaction was that strong. We weren't a couple, we were just having a good time together, but whatever the reason was, I couldn't do it, and pissing Sean off was out of the question, he was my best friend's husband, the fallout would be a disaster. I threw my clothes, and my phone into the gym bag, then exited the cubicle. Just in time with Sean, who stepped out, now shirtless and barefoot, wearing black swimming trunks, his own sports bag clutched in his hand. We moved towards the lockers on the opposite wall, and threw our bags inside, wrapping the key bracelets around our wrists, and leaving through the door on the other side.

The large swimming pool stretched out before us, only a small handful of people were in the water, a couple of elderly people were swimming slowly along the lanes, whilst two women lingered in the deep end, treading water and chatting away. The separate 'paddle pool' had another couple sitting inside, their twin babies sitting on their laps as they messed about in the water with the floatable toys. A door opened just nearby and Roxy came through, wearing a simple, yet sexy, plum and tribal print bikini, clutching Everly who gazed at the pool excitedly in her pink, Disney Princess swimming costume.

"There's my two favourite girls." Sean said as they approached.

"Finally," Roxy half sighed. "Someone didn't want to sit still today." She continued playfully, tickling Everly's tummy affectionately.

"Oh no, were you being a little rascal?" I gasped in mock horror, plucking her from Roxy's arms and flying her through the air playfully, before holding her close. Her responding giggle echoed off the walls and I smiled brightly down at her little face. It was amazing how one tiny little baby could make you forget all of your worries and just make you feel so free and happy.

"Me and my favourite little angel are going to go play on the slide." I said happily, walking off towards the shallow end, Sean and Roxy trailing behind us.

The water barely even came up to my knees, but as I neared the elephant shaped slide at the edge, I knelt down so that it would reach her in my arms. The moment Everly's feet hit the water, she began to wriggle and smile. I'd been coming along to Aqua Babies classes with Roxy and Sean a lot since she was just a few months old, and she'd always loved the water. I was the only non parent often at the classes, but I didn't care, I loved being a part of her learning things. I dunked her up to the waist in the water, bouncing her up and down and making little noises for her entertainment, then lifted her up onto the small slide. I kept my grip on her small body, moving her down the slide, adding:

"Weeeeeeee!"

And pulling her close as she splashed her lower half into the water.

When Roxy and Sean joined us, they took it in turns to repeat the game.

We played in the water for a while together, until Everly began to look tired, and we decided to leave. Given that Roxy had driven me and her there, I took her car back to mine, whilst she rode with Sean, saying she'd pick it up tomorrow on her way to work.

I was relaxing on the sofa, watching old re runs on tv, when my phone screen lit up. I lifted my beer bottle to my lips and took a sip, picking up my phone I felt my lips curve with a smile as I saw it was from Kat.

Is Rox there?

I was momentarily confused, then remembered her car was parked out front. It was then that it dawned on me that she must be outside. I got up and pulled back the curtain covering the window, and looked out. Sure enough Kat's car was parked close by. I let them fall closed again and tapped out a reply.

No, the coast is clear. Get your ass over here!

I moved back through the living room and went to the front door, sliding the catch across and opening it. Kat walked nearer, the night air blowing through her hair as she moved. She was wearing a cute pair of white denim jeans and a black halterneck top. As she came closer, I saw the cute little ankle boots she was wearing with the outfit. She practically skipped the last few steps, and bounced over the threshold, her arms locking behind my neck as her lips met mine. I swung the door closed behind her and kissed her back. My hands clutched at her lower back, holding her against me, the warmth of her body radiating through me and making me feel strangely complete. When our lips parted, and her eyes found mine, I couldn't hide my delight at seeing her again, and in that moment, everything became crystal clear, as one thought surfaced, clear in my mind.

I love you.