Six Years Later:
I finish applying sunscreen to Ellie and Brayden and send them off with a quick warning. “Stay where we can see you.” The two little ones scurry toward the ocean as fast as their legs can take them. Our blanket is pretty close to the shore, so I’m not worried. They’re both strong swimmers and besides, their daddy won’t miss an opportunity to splash around with them.
“Get my back, babe.” Stark plops down in front of me, and I begin rubbing the white sunscreen into his broad shoulders. It never ceases to amaze me how muscular my husband is. Any excuse I have to touch him, I take it and run.
“I think they’re more fish than human.” Stark turns over his shoulder, and I take the opportunity to kiss his cheek.
“I think you’re following suit.”
“I’m a fucking merman.” I laugh, wiping the back of my hands against his shoulders.
“You’re all set, Poseidon.” I tease. Stark responds by flipping around to face me and pressing a soft kiss against my lips before trailing after our kids into the ocean. A group of girls on a nearbyblanket watch him. How could they not? He’s fucking gorgeous, and he’s all mine.
Under the umbrella is where I’m staying today. I’ve gotten enough sun in the last two weeks, and my book beckons. Every summer we come to the West Coast, renting a house right on the beach so we can pretend we’re beach bums for a while. The kids love it. More importantly, so does Stark.
That first summer after we started dating, we came out here, and Stark found peace amongst the waves. The rush of the tide is nature’s pacifier. My entire body relaxes as I close my eyes and take in the sounds.
Three months after dating, I moved in. It seemed fast to everyone around us, but we knew it was what we wanted. A year later, we were married, and shortly after that, I was pregnant with Ellie. We had a small wedding, but Victoria and Lance, who are married with a couple of little ones of their own, were standing by our sides.
It’s funny to think we all met at a bar on Mardi Gras. As much as I’d like to alter the story to make it a little more romantic, the truth wins out. We all laugh about it all the time.
Luckily, Stark hasn’t tried to fight anyone else in the six years we’ve been together. In fact, I found some great books on anger management, which led him to actually see a therapist to uncover the root cause of his aggression. I don’t know what they talk about in there, but I don’t care; It’s none of my business. Stark is a wonderful, caring husband and the most loving dad I’ve ever seen.
When I look up, he’s taking turns throwing the kids into the waves. I set my book down to watch them. My heart swells. I constantly wonder if I’m deserving of such a wonderful life, but at the end of the day, I have to believe I am. We all are.
The kiddos run back to the blanket, soaked to the core, and I wrap them up in towels. Stark shakes his hair out, sendingdroplets of the ocean up and down my legs. I squeal, mostly because it makes the kids laugh. They love when daddy messes with mommy.
The sun sets, and we’re all getting hungry; cooler sandwiches are no longer cutting it. It’s time to head out for our last meal here on the coast. I rinse the kids and get them dressed and in front of the tv while Stark showers in the other room. As soon as it’s my turn to clean up, Stark strikes.
“Got a minute, mama?” He raises his brow. That’s not all that’s raised.
“Not now, sir. I’m still gritty from the beach.”
He wraps his arms around me. “I don’t mind.”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Yep.”
He kisses me long and deep. I melt into his touch, wondering if the feel of his tongue against mine will ever get old. I reckon it won’t. “The kids are hungry, and so am I.” My lips brush his when I speak.
“It won’t take long.”
I pull away. “Liar.” Stark smiles, and I press my finger into the dimple above his beard. “After dinner, when the kids are in bed, I’m all yours.”
“Promise?”
I reach down and stroke him over his pants. “Promise.” Stark taps me on the bottom as I head into the bathroom, a smile plastered on my face. That’s one promise I definitely intend to keep.