“Women and children first. Excuse us. I’ve got a hungry little man who’s been yelling for hot dogs the last three minutes.” Hayley cut in front and grabbed the plate Mike handed her with a hot dog for Cameron and a cheeseburger for her. It wasn’t the one that fell. “Thanks, hon.” She kissed Mike’s cheek and sat at the picnic table with Cameron beside her. When Mike served Grayson the one that fell, Parker and I busted out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” he asked. He covered the patty with a tomato slice and a ton of ketchup. “I mean, you lost. I’m surprised you can see through your tears of defeat and blinding rage at losing to me. Again.” He took a giant bite and all I saw was a guy eating sand.

I kissed Parker. “We let you win.”

He pointed at us. “And you’re great losers.”

“Would you be nice?” Matt said. He sat next to Grayson and stole a chip from his plate.

“I’m calling it a tie. There were several fouls that last play. We’ll have to play the tie-breaking game another time. I need to leave in about thirty minutes,” Max said.

“Aw, do you have to go?” I pouted.

“I go where the money is.” He held out his palms and shrugged.

“You’re amazing. You’re the only person I know who’s going to retire by forty,” I said. I loaded my plate with potato salad and watermelon and sat next to him.

“No, I’ll be filthy rich by then and I won’t want to retire,” he said.

“Come sit down, babe. You grilled enough food to feed us the entire week.” Hayley patted the other side of her.

“And you did a great job.” I held up my cheeseburger as though toasting him. We all did. I had a wonderful family, a career I busted my ass for, and the love of my life. I was the luckiest person here. I smiled when Parker put her head on my shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

I looked at her. “You.” I loved that I still made her blush.

“You look so happy.” She touched my arm softly.

“I really am. Like I legit think I’m the happiest person in the world,” I said.

“I believe you.”

“It’s about damn time,” Hayley said. She squeezed our hands. “I love you both and I better be staring at forever.” She gave us the mean mommy look. Parker and I laughed.

“She’s my forever,” I said. I was never going to hide or be embarrassed by my love for Parker. We’d gone through too much. Parker sighed. It was a good kind of sigh. One that made my heart quicken and fill with love just when I thought I was already full.

“Always and forever,” Parker said.

“We’re all pretty lucky,” Matt said.