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“Choc can play two games.” Charlie spoke for me. I arched an eyebrow at him.

“Can I now?”

He turned around and shot me his famous cheeky grin. “Yep. Now, Choc, let’s kill them.”

I chuckled at him. “Remember, I don’t know how to play,” I lied, and went to stand beside him.

Charlie waved his little hand. “It’s easy. All you have to do is get the ball past them and kick it through them trees.” He pointed at two trees.

Nodding my head, I said, “Ok. But don’t hate me cause I suck.”

“You won’t suck, Choc,” he said seriously, and lowered his knees ready to sprint at the ball.

Emily was smiling widely at me and sent me a wink. “Ok, Nath, let’s kill them.”

“MOM! Don’t steal my lines,” Charlie snapped and crossed his arms. “You make it sound lame.”

For a four or five year old, this kid had a lot of guts and a big mouth. I chuckled to myself and smiled. It was a real smile. I wasn’t faking it and that really surprised me.

“OK, GO!” Charlie yelled and then ran towards the ball.

Looks like the game begins, I thought to myself.

***

I held my stomach and laughed as I watched Charlie climb out of the lake, followed closely by a soaked Nathan.

Emily and I were laughing at their shocked expressions.

“They weren’t expecting that.” She smiled, watching her boys walk towards us all wet after their surprised drip in the lake.

“That was mean, Choc.” Charlie crossed his arms. “You betrayed me.”

I shrugged my shoulders and attempted to pull myself together. “Suck it up, Princess.”

Charlie’s mouth flung open before his eyes narrowed and that evil grin spread across his face. A grin I knew too well after spending nearly the whole afternoon playing with him.

“Whatever you are thinking, don’t,” I said, pointing a finger at him. But it was too late. He darted at me, launching himself in the air and bringing me to the ground.

Landing on top of me, he shook his shaggy blonde hair like a dog and water droplets flew across my face.

“STOP IT!” I laughed, as he continued to stray water over me. I put my hands in front of my face to try and block him. “You know I will get you back!”

Charlie continued to laugh, his small legs pinning me to the ground. I knew if I wanted, I could get him off me in a flash, but that would ruin his fun.

“What’s going on here?”

My eyes went wide at the new voice and shivers ran down my spine. And it wasn’t because of the cold water Charlie was spraying over me.

“Honey, you’re here, finally. Your kids have been running amuck,” Emily said happily as she greeted her husband.

I closed my eyes tightly. Of course this would happen to me. Charlie’s weight was removed from my body. Opening my eyes slightly, I noticed Xavier smiling at Charlie as he spun him around.

“You harassing people again, Charlie?” he smiled at his son and then turned to glance down at me. “Sorr-” That’s when he did a double take. “Chloe.”

“No, actually her name is Choc.” Charlie said brightly to his father while in his arms. “She likes it more.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up off the ground. Can you scream awkward? “I think you like it more, Charlie.” I shot the boy a small smile. Xavier’s mouth was hanging open, looking at me like he had just got busted, and, to a degree, he had.