I glanced back at him over my shoulder, smiling. “You just gotta keep up, handsome.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he replied dryly, but there was a smile on his lips.
We made it over to the slide and I helped Melo climb the steps, staying close behind him while Remy hovered at the bottom like he didn’t quite trust either one of us to act right.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yes!” Melo nodded.
“Alright, go ahead.”
He pushed off and slid down, landing with a soft thud before popping right back up like he had springs in his feet.
“Again!” he said when I slid down.
Remy laughed, stepping forward. “Let GG breathe for a second, buddy.”
“I’m good,” I said, already moving back toward the steps. “C’mon, round two.”
Melo cheered and ran back up, and this time when he sat at the top, he looked up at me with a mischievous little grin. “You come down with me together!” he announced.
"Let's do it." I climbed up beside Melo, sitting behind him at the top. For a second, I just looked out over the park, the breeze brushing against my skin, the sun warm on my face. “Ready?” I asked, placing my arms lightly around him
“Ready!”
We pushed off at the same time, sliding down together. His laughter filled the air again, loud, and bright, and I couldn’t help but laugh with him as we landed at the bottom.
“That was fun!” he said, bouncing on his toes again.
“It was,” I nodded, brushing my hands together.
Remy walked over, looking between with that warm smile. “Y’all done or y’all got more in you?”
“More!” Melo answered.
I laughed, glancing at Remy. “You tapped out already?”
He shook his head. “Not even close. I’m just pacing myself.”
“Mmhm,” I hummed. “We’ll see.”
Melo grabbed both of our hands this time, one in each, swinging them as he started pulling us toward the next set of equipment.
I looked down at our hands for a second, then up at Remy. He was already looking at me. Something soft passed between us. Easy. Unspoken. Everything about this moment just…fit.
There was no pressure or confusion. It just felt right. Like they belonged to me, and me to them. I could already feel it in my heart that they did.
This could be my new normal.
I wanted it to be.
Remy smiled gently. "Thank you," he mouthed.
"Thankyou," I mouthed back blowing him a kiss. He caught it and swallowed it with a grin making me laugh.
“C’mon!” Melo urged again, breaking the moment.
I smiled, squeezing his hand lightly. “We're coming, baby.”