09 | Kids

"This is so hard," Sadie says, hands on her hips as stares at the board in frustration. She's the one who asked me to teach her.

I chuckle, picking up the board and putting the tail in the sand so it's standing on its own. "It's hard for everyone when they first start out."

She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "You make it look so easy though. Can your brother do it?"

At the mention of Hudson, I turn to see him messing with her three younger siblings. The four of them have been working on the base of a sandcastle while I've been helping Sadie.

"Yes he can," I say to Sadie. "Hudson," I call over to him.

He looks up and says something to the kids before jogging over to us. I hand him the board and point to the water. "Sadie here wants you to show her that you can skimboard."

"Oh does she now?" Hudson grins, taking the board from me.

Sadie's cheeks turn a bright pink as her eyes widen. "Y- yeah," she stutters.

Hudson and I share a look before he winks at me and heads to the water. He drops the board and places his back foot on first before stepping on it with his other. He does a trim in the small wave before heading to shore.

Theo, the youngest of the four, starts yelling and hollering as he throws his tiny fists in the air. "That's so cool!" he shouts.

The kid's sudden admiration makes Hudson laugh and lose focus, causing him to fall into the wave.

The disappointing look on Sadie's face makes me laugh as a soaked Hudson walks up to us, shaking his head and spraying water everywhere.

Sadie's holds her hands up as she looks away to avoid getting her face wet. "Stop!"

Hudson drops the board and places his hands on his hips. "Well, Sadie, I hate to break it to you but you are on a beach."

"Yeah Sadie!" Theo shouts before running over to her and wrapping his arms around her legs. He tries to carry her to the water but fails to do so, not moving her an inch.

Sadie rolls her eyes at him. "Theo, stop."

Hudson waves over the two other kids, Zander and Mia. They run towards him and he whispers something in their ear.

Sadie seems to pick up on what their intentions are. "No, that's not fair!"

Theo keeps his arms wrapped around her as hard as he can as the two other rush over as reinforcements. The three younger ones work together and get Sadie into the water.

She falls onto her butt and glares at her siblings while they snicker, high-fiving each other. She stands up and starts splashing them with water.

Yelling and laugher fills the air as Hudson and I watch, laughing ourselves.

"Hey, V!"

I jump into Hudson in shock. "Olivia!"

She winks as a grin grows over her face. "You and Hudson causing trouble?" she asks, her eyes landing on the kids in the water.

"I was trying to help one of them skimboard, but don't think she has the patience to learn how to just yet," I reply, watching Sadie pick Theo up out of the water.

Olivia's smile continues to grow as she watches them. Jaden walks up beside her and places his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. Olivia says something to Jaden that I can't quite make out, but she points to the kids. Jaden laughs and kisses the side of her head.

"What are you guys doing here?" Hudson asks them, leaning around me so he can look at them.

"Well after you two disappeared, we figured we should join y'all." Jaden sends a wink to Hudson. "The party was starting to get overrun with high schoolers so we bailed."

Olivia grins at him before awkwardly smiling at us. "We have a few more coming if you guys don't mind?"

Hudson and I look at each other, knowing who she's meaning. Axel and Elea. "Yeah, that's fine," Hudson says.

*****

The sky is starting to darken as Sadie and her friends run around the beach. Theo and the rest of his siblings, along with Hudson, are still working on the sand castle, determined to finish it before they have to leave.

Olivia is sitting in between Jaden's legs as they huddle around a fire with Elea, Caleb, Axel, and several other that they're friends with.

Hudson pushes himself up from the sand and passes the spot I'm sitting in, gently squeezing my shoulder.

"Done building sandcastles?" I ask, grinning up at him.

He shakes his head. "Yeah, if I squat any longer I don't think I'll be able to walk tomorrow."

I laugh. "Getting old Hudson?"

He tries to swat at my head but I duck just in time. He walks towards the fire where everyone else is sitting.

My eyes trail back to the half finished sandcastle and I see poor little Theo all by himself. From where I'm sitting I can see he's pouting.

Pushing myself up, I walk over to him, grabbing one of the plastic shovels. "Can I help, Theo?"

His eyes brighten when he looks at me. "Really?" he asks, getting excited.

"Mhm." I nod my head. "Now, tell me what to do."

Theo starts pointing out things we need to do to get the sandcastle finished.

Adam, who was sitting by Axel earlier, walks over to us. "Can I help build the sandcastle?" Adams clasps one of his thumbs as he waits for an answer from us.

Theo blinks at me once and then nods his head at Adam. "Yeah! We need all the help in the world!"

I silently laugh at Theo's excitement about everything. Adam, who I think is about the same age as Theo, gets to work by grabbing a bucket. Before long, we're done with the castle.

Adam and Theo throw their hands in the air as they jump around. "We finished the castle!" they shout continuously.

Theo's mom walks over and asks to take a picture of us with the sandcastle. Theo climbs into my lap while Adam puts his tiny elbow on my shoulder to lean on. Adam reminds me so much of Axel, it's crazy how similar they are I think to myself as I smile. Theo and Adam grin as well and she takes the picture. After the photo is taken, the boys scramble off to play.

Theo's mom lends me a hand and helps me up. "Thank you so much for playing with my kids today. I know they'll remember this day forever."

The sincerity in her voice causes me to smile. "It's been fun," I say. "I've never had younger siblings, so it's been a treat playing with them."

She smiles at me, holding out her hand. "I'm Jennifer by the way."

I shake her hand. "Vienna."

Jennifer holds her phone up to me. "I hope you don't mind, but I took lots of photos with you and the kids, including the sandcastle pictures. Is there a way I can send these to you?"

"Yes please! I would love those." I give her my number and I watch as she attaches them to a message.

Jennifer turns to me and squeezes my elbow before leaving. "Would it be possible to set up a playdate for Theo and your little boy in the future?"

"Oh." My face drops. "Adam? He's not mine."

A look of horror takes over Jennifer's face. "I am so sorry! I didn't know. I just assumed you were a young mom!"

"It's okay," I say quickly, trying to stop the guilt from spreading over her face. "I promise it is."

"He's actually mine."

Jennifer and I turn around at the exact same time to see Axel walking up to us. He holds his out to Jennifer and she shakes it. They do introductions and Axel mentions Adam being his younger brother.

My skin prickles at Axel's close proximity. His arm brushes mine every time he shifts to talk to Jennifer.

They finish their conversation with Axel giving her his number so they can set up a future playdate for Adam and Theo. Before leaving, Jennifer's eyes glance between the two of us.

"You know, you two will make great parents one day."

"Oh, we're not to-" The look she gives me cuts me off. She's smiling like she knows something that Axel and I don't.

After goodbyes, Jennifer tells her kids to say bye. Sadie, Zander, and Mia wave at me and Hudson before following their mom. Theo waves bye to Adam before running up to me and wrapping his arms around my legs, just as he'd done with Sadie earlier.

Theo tilts his head so he's looking up at me, a small pout on his lips again. "I'm going to miss you."

My heart melts watching him. "Theo," I say quietly, bending down so I'm face to face with him. "I had fun today. Thanks for letting me build the sandcastle with you."

He goes in for a hug, squishing his my nose as he does so. After he releases the hug he takes off towards his family, yelling "bye" to Adam as he does so.

I can't help but smile at the interaction.

"You did it again," Axel says, a hint of a laugh in his tone.

"What do you mean?"

"When Jennifer told us we'd make great parents. You assumed she thought we were together. Just like the night we saw Elea's mom." He winks at me before kicking his shoe into the sand.

My cheeks warm at the mention of our first unofficial date. We had ran into Amelia, Elea's mom, on our way to an ice cream shop. This time though, my embarrassment is at an all time high.

Axel, who's still standing next to me, lets his head fall with a smile on his face, slightly shaking his head. For the first time since I've been back, Axel looks truly happy. "But you wonder why I thought you wouldn't leave this town."

I turn so I'm looking him straight on, the embarrassment I felt moments ago slipping away. "You should've told me about Adam."

His smile turns into a sad one as he shrugs his shoulders. "I'm sorry I didn't, but I also know what you would've done had you found out about him. Tonight just proves it."

My lips press against each other. He's right, had I know I probably would've stayed.

"I didn't want to be the reason you stayed in Bayside. You're so much more than this town. So much more than the rest of us."

I huff escapes my lips. "I don't know about that."

"Vienna." That catches my attention. "You once told me you never wanted to live life with any 'what ifs.' I didn't want me, or even Adam, to be the cause of a 'what if' in your life." He sighs, shoving his hands in his short's pockets as he turns to watch the waves.

I hate to admit it, but I know he's right. A part of me is upset he made that decision for me, but another part is thankful.

"Why didn't you ever contact me after I left?"

His eyes find mine, a sadness clouding them. "What was I supposed to say? I wanted you back?"

My mind focuses on one word he just spoke. He wanted me back. I'm silent in return, not knowing what to say.

"I figured you had moved on. You were at college while I was stuck here."

"Axel," I say, trying not to let my anger seep into my tone. "I didn't move on. I told you that earlier."

His head falls, this time his lips are pressed into a thin line. "Why not?"

I laugh, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "Why do you think? Axel, you were the one. Yes we were young then but you made me laugh, you made me feel adventurous, you were my best friend. It's always been you and no one else."

Just then it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It feels good to finally tell him how I've been feeling.

But the look on his face tells me he wasn't expecting that.