Page 70 of Loving Kai

John laughed. “For the fourth time.”

Kai pushed the book away and held his arms out to Abe.

“Okay, buddy. I missed you, too.” He went to Kai and picked him up. He kissed Kai’s damp hair, which was even curlier when it was wet, then tucked a strand of it behind his ear. The curl popped right back out, and Abe laughed.

Milo nodded. “I knew it.”

“You knew what?”

“That you’d be a good father someday.”

“How did you figure that?”

“You’ve always liked kids, no matter how much you tried to hide it.”

“I’m still not coming into your class on Career Day.”

“How about Adventure Day?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a new one. Parents who do adventurous things.”

“I don’t have a kid in your class.”

“You have a nephew in my class. That’s close enough.”

“So, racing motorcycles?”

“Yeah. That and horses, climbing mountains, extreme hiking, snowboarding. Not to mention volunteer firefighter.”

Abe set Kai on the floor, and he ran over to John, who put him on his lap. “All things I may never do again.”

John shook his head. “Son, having a child doesn’t mean your life is over.”

“It kind of feels like that right now.”

“You’ll find a balance.”

Milo grinned. “Yeah, and in the meantime, you can come tell my kids about all the things you used to do.”

Abe picked up a pillow and threw it at Milo.

John held up a hand. “Boys.”

Milo laughed. “Sorry. Of course you’ll do at least some of those things again. Then you get to teach your son to do them when he’s old enough.”

“Hmm. I could get him a tiny little motocross bike.”

Allie came into the room. “Oh no, you don’t.”

Milo ignored their mother. “A tiny little snowboard.”

“I can get a backpack carrier thingy and take him hiking.”

Allie went to John and picked up Kai. John smiled at her. “Here we go again, sweetheart.”

Allie walked past Abe on her way to the bedroom and put her hand on his shoulder. “Welcome to the next twenty years of endless worry and sleepless nights.”