He took a minute to explain what had happened the night before with Haley.
“So you’re upset that you didn’t get your way,” Hunter said when he was finished.
“What?! No!” Then he paused. “I mean, a little. I’d really like a night alone with Sydney, but I have no idea when that’s going to happen now. And it’s not like I can spend the night there while Haley’s home, right?”
“Probably not. Hell, I had a hard time the first time Violet spent the night with Eli here. The only difference was that Eli was only three and he had no idea what was going on. I have a feeling there’s no way the two of you could be quiet enough that Haley wouldn’t know everything you were doing.”
Groaning, Kyle looked to where Violet was coaching Haley on some sort of backflip thing. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too.”
Beside him, Hunter looked out at the yard too. “It sucks and I completely feel your pain, but…I hate to say it…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…you told me so. I got it. Trust me.”
Hunter laughed lowly again. “I’m not trying to be a dick, Kyle. I warned you about how hard it is to date a single parent and you went ahead with it anyway.”
“And where would you be if Violet decided you weren’t worth a little inconvenience?” he challenged. “You guys got through it and you complained about it a time or two, but in the end, everything worked out. So can I just please be allowed to have a moment where I am a little less than…thrilled with the situation?”
“Okay, okay, okay. You’re right. I’m just worried about you; that’s all. And Sydney’s situation is a lot more complicated than mine was. Both she and Haley are grieving, Kyle.”
“So were you and Eli.”
But his brother was shaking his head. “It’s not the same. Melissa didn’t die. She left. Our relationship ended years ago, and Eli…” He paused. “Okay, in some sense, yes, we were grieving. But Sydney lost her sister and brother-in-law and Haley lost her parents. It was a tragedy that destroyed a family. The two of them are just trying to figure out some sense of new normal. And…” He stopped and shook his head.
“And…?”
Letting out a long breath, Hunter looked at him. “And maybe this isn’t the best time for you to swoop in.”
“I couldn’t stay away even if I wanted to,” he admitted gruffly. “I know it’s hard for everyone to believe but…years ago, when Sydney and I first met, I knew. I knew from the moment I saw her that something was there between us. And when I showed up at her house that morning with Jake, I still knew it. It’s never gone away.”
Hunter nodded.
“Those first few days when Sydney was giving me so much grief, I would have said I had something to prove. But now? Now it’s like I know we’ve been given a second chance. I know how I screwed things up before and I know I don’t want to do that again. Back then, I wasn’t willing to fight for us. Now I am.”
“Well…shit.”
“What?” he asked, genuinely confused.
“I never thought I’d see the day that you got serious about someone—mainly because you’ve been vocally against it for so damn long.”
“Yeah, well…I never got serious because they weren’t Sydney.”
And damn if that statement didn’t make his heart kick hard in his chest.
Never had there been a better moment for a distraction than right now, and luckily Haley provided it.
“Kyle! Check this out!” she yelled to him before she struck a pose beside Violet and the two of them bent over backward before their legs kicked up and over. When she was done, Haley jumped up into the universal “I stuck the landing” pose, smiling from ear to ear.
Both Kyle and Hunter cheered loudly and clapped, and it was good to see the kid looking so happy. Before anyone could do anything else, Hunter’s four-year-old son jumped into the fray and showed off some of his tumbling skills while everyone cheered him on.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Kyle said quietly. “But it’s kind of hot how your fiancée can still do all that bendy crap.”
Beside him, Hunter shook his head. “Wipe that thought right out of your head before I have to pound it out.” He paused. “But yeah, it’s really hot.”
This time they both laughed and Kyle found he had a hard time looking Violet in the eye when she came over to the deck to grab a bottle of water.
“What are you two talking about?” she asked, kissing Hunter briefly.
Kyle felt himself blush as he murmured, “Nothing.”
And why he thought his brother would play it cool was beyond him.
“Kyle was just admiring how bendy you are,” Hunter said, wrapping his arm around Violet. “Then I threatened to kick his ass for even thinking it.”
“Dude!” he cried. “What the hell?!”
Violet rolled her eyes even as she laughed. “I’ll let the two of you work that out. In the meantime, we’re going inside to talk music for a floor routine Haley’s working on.” And with a sassy wave, she walked into the house.
Haley came skipping over. “Violet is the best!” she exclaimed. “This is so cool! Janie and all my friends are going to be so jealous that I got to work with her today! I’m going to have the best routine at practice next week!” Then she raced into the house with Eli hot on her heels.
Sydney took her time walking over and then plucked the beer from Kyle’s hand and took a pull from it.
“Your fiancée is making me feel like I should join the gym, Hunter,” she said flatly. “Or at the very least exercise more than once a month.”
Pulling her in close, Kyle kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t feel like that. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“But he certainly wouldn’t mind…” Hunter began before Kyle reached out and kicked him hard. “Ow!”
Luckily he took the hint and didn’t continue.
“Do I even want to know what that was about?” Sydney asked, grinning up at him.
“You do not.”
She took another drink before handing the bottle back to him. “Anyway, I really appreciate you inviting us over,” she said to Hunter. “Right now, Violet is in the rock star category for Haley. This means a lot that she’s getting some personal coaching from someone so talented. Has she considered coaching?”
Hunter shook his head. “This really just started by accident—as a way to entertain Eli. Then she was teaching him and one of the other kids in his daycare. Then Kyle heard about it and…”
“Here we are,” she finished for him. “Well, then I kind of feel bad—like we’re taking advantage of her.” Looking up at Kyle, she added, “I should go in there and try to change the subject or something.” When she made to move, he stopped her.
“Syd, we didn’t ambush Violet. I talked to her about this, and if she didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t.”
As if she didn’t believe him, she looked over at Hunter.
“He’s right. Vi’s not the kind of person who’s afraid to say no. The gymnastics thing isn’t something she’d want to do at this point as a job, but it’s a fun distraction for her,” Hunter explained. “Plus, she loves encouraging kids who enjoy it so it’s kind of a win-win for her. Please don’t worry about it, Sydney. She was really looking forward to meeting you both today and seeing what level Haley was at.”