“Look who I found at the store?” Brian said, coming through Kevin’s back gate toward his pool.
He carried Sasha on his shoulders and it was obvious she was crazy about him as she laughed holding on.
“Ryder,” Leighanne greeted, smiling as she waved me over.
I took a deep breath, put on a smile, and approached her. It was agony to look her in the eye knowing what I knew about the man she loved.
“Hey, Leigh, “ I greeted.
“Ryder Taggert, this is Kristen Richardson, Kevin’s wife,” Leighanne introduced. “Ryder is Brian’s off tour bodyguard.”
“Speaking of which, you let him leave without me or someone else with him, Leighanne,” I began.
“I didn’t know he went with Kevin until he was gone. Besides, what could happen at a grocery store.”
“Anything if he was being followed. Please, Leigh. You have to help me with this. He has to follow my rules or I can’t be held responsible for what happens to him,” I pointed out.
“All right. I do my best,” she promised.
“Ry,” Sasha called out as she ran towards me. I scooped her up and smiled at her.
“And just what do you think you are doing?” I asked her as she flashed her beautiful smile at me. She looked so much like her mother.
“Bri get me,” she said, laughing as she peeked over my shoulder to see Brian running towards us. She squealed and buried her face in my shoulder laughing.
“Sasha! Oh, Sasha. Where are you? Oh my goodness, I have lost Sasha,” Brian said, standing next to me as he played along with my goddaughter’s game.
She adored him in just the little bit of time they had spent together and he was apparently pretty nuts about her too since he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. It was so sweet and touching and I found myself smiling up at him as he played with her.
“Bri,” Sasha squealed, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his legs.
“There she is! You know you’re my favorite girl, right, Sasha?” he asked, the beautiful child.
“Favorite boy,” she answered, kissing his cheek and blushing prettily.
“I thought I was your favorite girl,” Leighanne teased, smiling at the duo next to us.
“You are my favorite woman, baby,” he said, leaning down and kissing her quickly.
“And what does that make me?” I mumbled then wanted to kick myself as I realized what I was saying. Thankfully, no one else heard me.
The day continued on relatively peaceful considering there was a two-year-old running around us. Sasha stole the afternoon. She had everyone’s attention and I liked it like that. The more they focused on her the less they noticed how tense and uncomfortable I was with all of them.
And yet as the day continued on I lost my uneasiness and discomfort. As the sun began to set I felt like I was really a part of that group. Laughing, talking, telling stories, we shared ourselves. I heard the stories of how the couples met, childhood stories, tales of life on the road. I would have chalked the day up to being a success if it hadn’t ended with Brian cornering me alone in the kitchen.
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