As usual sorry for the long wait. Hope you enjoy the new chapter, let me know what you guys think when you finish reading, I always appreciate it when you take the time to leave a review :)
[No one's POV]
"So how mad do you think they're going to be?" Paige asked as she walked into the room and sat down on the vacant couch, causing Emily to look away from the tv and over at her wife.
"I don't know but Paige you and I both know if they have any complaints they're going to try to get you to bail them out of it somehow." Emily said giving Paige a knowing look.
Paige nodded, "I know I know, don't give in. I got it Em, trust me I can handle grounding them." She said confidently.
"Mhm you say that now." Emily teased, "but just wait until they get down here."
"No faith in me huh?" Paige asked smirking.
Emily shook her head immediately, "I've seen how wrapped around their fingers you are, so no, not a bit of faith."
Paige pouted causing Emily to laugh and lift her body up bending across the way to kiss Paige's lips quickly before readjusting back into her previous position, "Better put on your stern face, all that noise should wake them up soon." Emily suggested as the sound of a drill echoed through the house.
"I got this." Paige said quietly.
Emily looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Are you telling me or yourself that?" Emily asked still smirking at Paige.
"Shut up." Paige said laughing slightly, before another voice spoke out into the room.
"Okay I never thought I would have to say this to either of you but I just woke up to a strange man in my room this morning." Parker said as she entered the room looking at Paige and Emily questioningly, "why is there a strange man in my room? This is me asking assuming and hoping that you're the ones who put him there."
Kacey walked down the stairs tailing her sister before anyone could answer, rubbing her barely opened eyes, "mom there's some random in my room and I would really like him and his drill not to be, what's going on?" She asked walking past Parker, dropping down onto the couch resting her head in Emily's lap as she laid down stretching out across the length of the couch.
"Seriously. Do you know how terrifying it is to wake up to a man drilling next to you? It's slightly traumatizing to be honest." Parker added dramatically.
"Relax, he's just installing a new security system." Paige stated simply.
Kacey groaned in confusion as her face scrunched up, "to our bedroom window?"
Paige shook her head, "to the whole house Kacey."
Parker's face scrunched in confusion like her sisters as she leaned on the back of the couch, "and why are we doing this? I'm pretty sure no one's going to break into our house mom."
"Yeah and why does he have to install it at the crack of dawn?" Kacey threw in.
"Well since you and your sister think that your bedroom window is basically a front door that you can come and go through as you please. And apparently when the window isn't suitable you two can't help but sneak in and out of front doors and back doors so we're putting in a security system." Paige said instantly gaining negative reactions from the girls.
"So you're installing a security system not to keep people out of the house but to make sure we stay inside?" Kacey asked lifting her head up off of Emily so she could look over at Paige, who nodded.
"If a door or window is opened after the security system is turned on, I'll know about it, so maybe this will make you two second guess running around at night without permission." Paige stated with a shrug.
"I'd just like to point out that technically I'm not climbing out of windows and such, that would be someone else in the room." Kacey said gesturing to Parker with a slight head nod.
"Wow Kace I'm so glad you have my back, remind me to call you if I ever need help hiding a body." Parker added sarcastically glaring at her little sister who simply shrugged. Parker slightly shook her head before returning her attention to Paige, "Mom don't you think we're being a little extreme here?" Parker asked.
"A little extreme Parker? Are you kidding me?" Emily asked clearly upset, "no, extreme would be locking you in a room and never letting you leave again which was considered so feel lucky that this is what you got." Both Kacey and Parker's wide slightly widened in surprise that Emily had expressed her anger, which hadn't really been done that much since the accident. Kacey slightly scooted away from Emily as the two girls remained silent.
Emily took this silence as a sign to continue as she stood up from her spot on the couch, "Regarding punishments, both of you are clearly grounded so Kacey for the next two weeks you'll be going to school, going to practice, and then coming straight home, nothing else got it." Kacey nodded with a sigh as she looked down leaning deeper into the couch not bothering to argue with Emily.
Emily nodded and then turned her attention to her oldest daughter, "Parker since you've racked up quite the list of trouble in the last couple weeks you'll be doing the same thing, except for the next month. Also any type of training that you want to do, you do it here at the house, we don't need you running around town whenever you want to train." Parker groaned as she threw her head back but mumbled out an 'okay' knowing that she didn't have much of a choice but to accept the punishment at this point.
"Also swimming is off the table this week," Paige added in looking at Parker, the girls eyes instantly widened but Paige continued before Parker could protest, "between grades and the lying I think you need a little time to get back on the right track."
"But what about the meet on Thursday? I already had to sit out a meet and I missed a practice last week mom, I can't afford to miss an entire week of practice and another meet." Parker said clearly thinking it was unfair.
Paige knew what her and Emily talked about earlier as punishments for the girls and that they were unnegotiable. She also knew that Emily had just told her not to budge no matter what but she couldn't help but feel bad as she looked at her daughter's desperate face. She sighed as she looked at Emily who was giving her a stern look, which Paige quickly looked away from before looking back at Parker.
"We'll see what happens okay?" Paige said hesitantly, "I'll let you swim in the meet if you behave but you're not practicing on Monday. You're going to go get drug tested and then when you're done the results should be back by Wednesday and if everything seems good then you can practice and swim at the meet."
"Drug testing? You're serious?" Parker asked slightly in disbelief, "I told you I wasn't taking anything."
Paige looked over to Emily for help. She simply shrugged, "We just want to make sure you're telling the truth."
"What so now you don't trust me?" Parker asked a little upset.
"Should we?" Emily asked maybe a little harsher than she originally meant to, "You definitely haven't given us much reason too."
Parker rolled her eyes even though she knew it was true before looking at Paige obviously looking for some sympathy from her. "Parker it's not that we don't trust you, we just want to be one hundred percent sure you aren't still getting involved with any of that stuff." Paige stated softly.
Parker sighed and nodded, "Fine, whatever." She mumbled annoyed before turning around and leaving the room.
"But I'm still allowed to swim right?" Kacey asked softly, slightly raising her hand to get her parents attention.
Paige nodded at the girl, "Yeah, as long as we don't need to drug test you too. We don't right?"
Kacey shook her head, "No, still the good one with a single night of bad judgment. Just the one time drunk remember." Kacey laughed awkwardly at her attempt to joke, "To soon isn't it, it felt to soon as soon as it came out of my mouth." Kacey paused for a moment looking between her parents before she pointed in the direction Parker went as she stood up quickly, "I'm just going to go while I still have swimming privileges." She said as she jumped off the couch and hurried out of the room.
"Good idea." Emily called out with a small laugh before turning her attention to a stressed out looking Paige, "Relax babe, you gave out a deserved punishment not a death sentence."
"I know that it has to be done, I just always feel kind of bad about it when we have to do it." She admitted with a shrug as Emily walked over to where Paige was still sitting.
"You budged a little." Emily stated with a smirk.
Paige rolled her eyes as a smile creeped onto her face, "Did you see her face? I only gave her a little hope, what's so wrong with that? I technically did nothing wrong."
"When in the world did you turn into such a softie?" Emily teased with a smirk as she lowered herself into Paige's lap, whose arms instantly wrapped around her wife's waist as Emily's arms rested loosely around Paige's neck.
Paige looked up in thought with a small smile on her face, "I'd say the first time you yelled at Parker got me. Those big brown eyes looked at me and I was a goner."
"Really?" Emily asked her face slightly falling.
Paige nodded with a small laugh remembering the situation, "You didn't even really yell at her. She was testing your patience and well you didn't have much that night. You shouted maybe three words in her direction and man the look on that little girls face." Paige paused shaking her head letting out a puff of air dramatically, "goner."
"Alright I think you've had enough fun tonight, time to get out." Paige said playfully, looking down at the little girl who simply splashed her hands down into the water again happily shouting a quick 'no'. Paige laughed as she reached down and swiftly lifted the girl out of the tub anyways and onto the floor as she wrapped a towel around her. A laugh left the little girls mouth as Paige swooped her up off the floor once again and carried her out of the bathroom and down the hall.
Paige quickly changed the one and a half year old into her pajamas as she got her ready for bed, "Okay all set princess." She said with a smile leaning down to kiss the top of Parker's head once she was dressed, "Let's go see what mama's doing." Paige said excitedly to the child as she set her on the floor and reached down for her hand as they made their way out of the room.
Paige couldn't help but smile widely at the little hand that gripped one of her fingers tightly as Parker lead her down the hall and slowly did her best to walk down the stairs as quickly as she could without falling down. Once the two had reached the bottom of the stairs Parker let go of Paige's finger and ran over to Emily who was sitting on the couch with a now few months old Kacey in her arms.
Emily told the small child now standing in front of her with her little hands resting on her knees to stay quiet in a hushed tone, receiving a nod from an intrigued Parker who craned her neck to get a better look at the sleeping girl in Emily's arms. She looked up at her mom with bright eyes still clearly fascinated by the fairly new baby girl in the house.
Emily looked over her shoulder and saw Paige standing at the bottom of the stairs taking in the view of her family. Emily couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Paige, who's t-shirt had very few dry spots on it as did the sweats she was wearing. "I see you had fun in the bathtub." Emily said quietly as she returned her attention to her oldest daughter, reaching her free hand out to lightly tickle the girls belly as Parker fell into a fit of giggles moving her hands over Emily's in attempt to stop it.
Paige looked down at herself and sighed, "Yeah I should've known better than to get ready for bed before bath time."
Emily simply nodded in agreement as she stood up slowly, "Speaking of getting ready for bed, I think it's past someone's bedtime." Emily suggested with a raised eyebrow as she looked down at the little girl in front of her. She slowly stood up with a slight crouch as she rested her hand on Parker's back pushing her forward softly, encouraging her to walk back towards Paige. Parker happily obliged running over to Paige with a slight wobble, wrapping her arms around one of her mother's legs.
Paige held onto the rail on the side of the stairs as she easily took a step with the small girl still attached to her limb, "Hold on tight baby." Emily said worriedly as she walked slowly behind them, Parker letting out small laughs every time Paige stepped up a stair until they were at the top and Parker let go falling down onto the floor before standing herself up and racing down the hall towards Kacey's room.
Paige sped up her walk, chasing after the girl. Emily entering the room slowly behind them, immediately walking over and setting Kacey down in her crib, "Goodnight baby girl." She said quietly as Paige walked up beside her.
"You wanna say goodnight Park?" Paige asked the little girl standing below her who nodded. Emily picked the girl up resting her on her hip so Parker could whisper a quick 'night' to her baby sister.
Paige smiled before she placed a quick kiss on Emily's cheek, "I'm going to go clean up the bathroom real quick, can you handle this one?" She asked poking Parker's stomach with her finger receiving a giggle from the little girl and a nod from Emily.
"Goodnight little one, see you in the morning." Paige said kissing the girl's head before walking off.
"Ready for bed princess?" Emily asked excitedly as she placed kisses all over the little girls face, walking her to the room next to Kacey's. Despite Parker shaking her head no repeatedly Emily carried Parker over to the small bed in the corner of her room and pulled down the sheets before leaning down to place the girl on the bed.
Parker however tightened her grip on Emily's neck, refusing to let go of her mother, "Come on Park honey, it's time for you to go to sleep."
"No mama." Parker shouted with a wide smile.
Emily sighed and readjusted the small child in her arms before lowering herself down onto the bed, laying down with Parker. Emily let out a yawn as she cuddled up to Parker who squirmed around in her arms clearly not wanting to go to bed. Emily softly rubbed her back trying to soothe the restless girl but Parker continued to thrash around in the bed energetically.
Emily sighed as Parker crawled over her body and dropped down onto the floor making a run for the door. "I don't think so." Emily said quickly scooping the girl up, returning her back to the bed as the little brunette laughed. The older woman tucked the sheets tightly around her daughter before kissing her head, "Goodnight baby girl." She said as Parker shut her eyes, Emily turning to exit the room.
Emily turned off of the lights shutting the door behind her leaving it slightly cracked as she made her way towards the bathroom to help Paige. She turned around when she heard a faint giggle and saw Parker peaking around the corner of the cracked door. "Parker?" Emily dragged out as she started walking back to the child's room causing the girl to quickly bolt back inside disappearing from Emily's view.
Emily opened the door to find Parker back in the bed, quickly shutting her eyes hard as soon as Emily entered. Emily, although tired and not necessarily in the mood to deal with the restless child's antics, couldn't help the smile that crept onto her lips at the sight of the little girl as she peaked at her mother through one eye before slamming it shut with a small giggle when she saw Emily staring a her.
"No more playing Park okay? We can play tomorrow princess but you have to go to sleep so you're not too tired in the morning." Emily said re-tucking Parker back in before leaving the room again.
Emily repeated this process a couple more times before it really started to grow old. Parker was clearly enjoying herself, doing her best to sneak out of the room and run from Emily but Emily had more than enough of the game that she didn't sign up to play tonight. She placed Parker back in the bed and laid with her for a while until the child's breathes evened out and she was sure she was asleep.
She exited the room quietly and let out a heavy sigh as she walked down the hall and into the bathroom in her and Paige's room where she found Paige finishing up cleaning it. Paige turned around when she heard Emily enter the room and raised an eye at the exhausted look one her wife's face, "The little one sounded like she was having fun but your face says that you were definitely not." Paige said teasingly.
Emily sighed as she rubbed at her face, "I'm exhausted, so no I was not having fun chasing around our wild child but I finally got her to go to sleep."
Emily looked back down at Paige who was kneeled down wiping some water up off the floor with a towel, when she saw Paige's gaze shift behind her and a small smile crept on her wife's face, "Are you sure about that?" Paige asked as a muffled giggle filled the air and Emily threw her head back in frustration as she turned around to see Parker standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
Emily took a step towards the girl which sent her running back towards her room. Paige laughed to herself as Emily slowly followed behind the little girl mumbling under her breath as she left the room. A few moments passed before Emily's loud voice broke the silence and the faint sound of Parker's laughing halted immediately.
"Oh boy." Paige mumbled to herself before standing up and quickly making her way out of her and Emily's bedroom. She walked out into the hall and leaned against the wall as she took in the sight and she was pretty sure she felt her heart shatter into a million pieces as Parker silently turned her head towards her. Her beautiful brown eyes were wide and not nearly as bright as they had been minutes ago. Paige's face fell as those eyes met hers, water threatening to spill out of them as Parker's bottom lip quivered harshly, clearly not sure what to do.
Paige tore her eyes away from their daughter's to sneak a peek at Emily who was wavering on whether to give into the girl or to stand her ground. Paige on the other hand couldn't stand to even think it over as she kneeled to the ground and opened up her arms, Parker immediately accepting the offer and running towards her mom. She threw her arms around Paige's neck and buried her face into her neck as she let out a whimper. Paige felt the hot tears on her neck and sighed as she stood up with the little girl in her arms and rubbed her back soothingly, "It's okay Parker. You're okay." She said softly as she walked the girl back into her bedroom.
Emily sighed and rubbed her face tiredly feeling terrible as she stood out in the hallway still hearing Parker's crying as Paige attempted to calm the little girl down. Emily decided to let Paige handle the situation instead of barging into the room and upsetting Parker once again so she walked back down the hall and into the bathroom and picked the towels up off the floor before heading down to the laundry room, tossing in a load of laundry and starting the washer.
She turned the lights off downstairs and made her way to her bedroom and quickly got ready for bed. She had just sat down on the bed when Paige entered the room quietly, "Did you get her down okay?" Emily asked looking up at Paige with worried eyes.
"She went right to sleep once she stopped crying." Paige said walking over to Emily who frowned.
"I literally am the reason our daughter cried herself to sleep."
Paige let out a small laugh which caused Emily to throw her a look, "She's cried herself to sleep before Emily. She's still a baby, babies do that sometimes." She said trying to make Emily feel better.
"Yeah but never because I yelled at her." Emily said as she fell back onto the bed groaning, her feet still hanging off the side, "You should've seen her face Paige."
"I did." Paige scoffed, "And as long as she has those big brown eyes that look up at me like that every time she gets yelled at, I'm not. Going. To do it."
Emily lifted her upper body up off of the bed, resting her weight on her elbows as she looked at Paige questioningly, "And what if she has those big brown eyes forever?"
"Well then I guess she's just going to get away with murder as long as she lives." Paige said teasingly, "Or you'll just have to yell at her." She said leaning over the side of the bed, resting her hands on either side of Emily bending down to place a small kiss on Emily's lips.
Emily pulled back slightly before Paige's lips could meet hers, "Umm and why exactly do I have to yell at her?"
"Because you've already done it." Paige stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "There's no sense in making us both be the bad guy." She stated before trying to lean in and kiss Emily again, who simply put her hand on Paige's chest stopping her from leaning in anymore.
"Oh no, that's not happening. You can't just not ever yell at them."
Paige sighed, "Fine I'll yell at them, just not while they're little. I mean if Parker looked at me like that because I yelled at her I honestly think I might die Em."
Emily giggled at the genuine look on Paige's face, "How old are we talking?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know when they're teenagers and they hate us, I feel like it'll be easier then." Paige said with a smirk.
Emily laughed, her eyes slightly widening while she shook her head in disbelief, "You're going to make me be the mean parent for thirteen years?"
"Yep." Paige smiled and pressed a quick kiss to Emily's lips before pulling away slightly, "Or maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be perfect angels who do no wrong."
"You're never going to yell at them are you?" Emily asked knowingly leaning up to capture Paige's lips.
"Nope." Paige mumbled over Emily's lips as she lowered her body on top of her wife's deepening it.
Emily groaned softly, "You're wet." She mumbled against Paige's lips.
Emily could feel a smile creep onto Paige's lips as she kissed her way down Emily's jaw line, "Well not yet but it won't take long." She stated suggestively as she slipped her hands under Emily's shirt and ran her nails softly over the tanned skin of her wife's stomach.
Emily giggled as she wrapped her arms around Paige's neck, "I was talking about your clothes you dork." She said softy as she nipped at Paige's ear.
"Oh." She dragged out the word dramatically pretending like she didn't already know that's what Emily meant as she placed one more kiss on Emily's lips before standing up, "I have an easy solution for that." She said quickly stripping her shirt and sweats off as Emily laughed readjusting on the bed so she was now laying underneath the sheets.
Paige walked over shutting off the lights before returning to the bed and crawling in next to Emily, who instantly curled up into Paige's body placing a light kiss on her neck as Paige wrapped her arm loosely around the woman next to her, "I'm so tired." she said with a sigh kissing the top of Emily's head, "Who knew kids were so exhausting."
"Literally everyone babe." Emily said with a small laugh.
"Hmm right. They're cute though I'll give them that, at least when their mean mama isn't making them cry." Paige teased earning a light hit to the chest.
"Don't." Emily whined, "I already feel bad enough." She said as she buried her head into her wife's neck.
"I'm just kidding baby, you're the best mom ever." She said tightening her grip on Emily who tilted her head up slightly placing a kiss on Paige's jaw before laying her head back down in the crook of the pale girl's neck sighing happily.
"I love you and the girls but no more right?" Paige asked.
She felt Emily shake her head, "No way." Emily said immediately, "I think two is perfect."
"How long was it before I changed my mind?" Emily asked curiously.
"Kacey hit four and you got a real bad case of baby fever. I managed to hold you off for about a year before we started trying for Taylor."
Emily laughed, "Well I'm glad I convinced you that three would be perfect."
"Me too." Paige said kissing Emily.
The rest of the day went by as smoothly as it could've gone under the new circumstances. Parker kept to herself for most of the day, clearly upset by the punishment she received as did Kacey, who was taking it slightly better trying to stay in her parents good graces. Taylor was pretty happy to find out that the two older girls would be spending most of their free time at home, enjoying the fact that she would get to hang out with the girls that were usually busy doing something else.
The next morning Parker seemed to be in a better mood, kissing up to Paige all morning obviously trying to get her mother to agree to let her back in the pool despite her parents original agreement that some time focusing on herself rather than swimming might be good for the girl.
The school day had passed quickly and before she knew it Paige was sending Parker off to the clinic to get drug tested before practice telling her to come back when she was done.
[Parker's POV]
I had just gotten back from getting drug tested and was sitting over on the bleachers watching the end of practice. I was pretty sure I'd be back in the pool in a day or two so I was trying not to stress myself out over the time lost and relax a little.
"Hi." A voice startled me slightly as it pulled my attention away from the swimmers in the pool and onto a girl standing over me, "you mind if I sit?" She asked pointing to the empty space next to me.
I nodded staring at her as she sat down. I had never seen her around here before so I was pretty sure she didn't go to the school, if she had I would've definitely noticed her before now. Her skin was naturally tanned, brown hair falling over her shoulders in slight waves, and when she had sat down and turned to face me I couldn't help but stare into the piercing green eyes staring back at me. I felt my cheeks get warm as a small grin spread across her face clearly aware of my obnoxious staring.
I quickly dipped my head down embarrassed before returning my gaze to the pool, "are you on the team?" She asked. I nodded as I turned my head to look at her again, "why aren't you in the pool? Injury?" She asked curiously.
"Not exactly. Just got into a little bit of trouble with coach, I should be back in the pool soon though or at least I hope I will be." I stated before smiling at her, "I'm Parker."
She reached out and grabbed my extended hand shaking it softly, "ah so you're the star swimmer I'm supposed to watch out for." I raised an eyebrow in confusion causing her to let out a small giggle, the sound forcing the edges of my lips to tug upwards unwillingly, "I'm McKenna, I just transferred here and my dad has definitely done his research on my competition."
I smirked liking that I was considered a threat to the girl sitting next to me, "so you're a swimmer?" I asked raising an eyebrow in interest. When she nodded I couldn't help but ask, "You any good?"
She smiled looking back out to the pool where practice was wrapping up, "I'm okay." She said amusedly with a shrug.
I nodded, "Isn't it a little late to transfer, I mean the season already started." I pointed out.
The other girl shook her head, "My dad got a new job so we had to move here, but there's still plenty of season left."
"Well in that case welcome." I said as some of the girls started to make their way to the locker room and Paige started to make her way over to us. I laughed when McKenna stood up immediately when she saw her coming, clearly nervous to meet the coach.
"Hello coach McCullers." She said sticking her hand out to shake my mom's hand, "I'm McKenna Johnson, I just transferred here I'm looking to join the swim team." She stated confidently with a charming smile.
"Oh yeah of course, I think your father called me last week. He sent me some footage of you swimming, you're quite impressive." Paige returned with a smile, "why don't you come by my office tomorrow and we can get you all set up."
McKenna nodded excitedly before my mom turned to me, "did you get everything you needed to do done? Testing, schoolwork?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am." I said standing up.
"Good I'll talk to your teachers and make sure you're improving in your classes. Did the clinic tell you when the results would be back?" She asked.
I nodded, "She said that they might be back as early as tomorrow."
"Okay I'll call them tomorrow and if they say that you're clean then you can swim." I nodded in response with a small smile, "also I have some things that I have to do around here before I go home so your mom is going to pick you up, she should be out front already."
"Is Kacey staying with you?" I asked.
"No I'll tell her to meet you out by the car. No funny business Park, you go straight to the car." She said sternly and I nodded again as Paige headed back to the locker room.
"Coaches daughter huh?" The girl still standing beside me asked.
"Yep." I said as I moved around the other girl making my way out of the pool area.
I heard her hurried footsteps behind me, trying to catch up as I got out into the hallway. The girl quickly returned to my side again, "so that's your edge then." She stated thinking out loud.
"Hardly." I responded with a dry laugh, "If being the coach's daughter gave me an edge do you think I'd be on the bench during practice this week and possibly sitting out of the next meet?" I asked.
"Hmm, good point." She agreed, "So you don't do too good in school then?"
"What?" I asked looking over at her questioningly.
"That's why your sitting isn't it, at least that's what I got from your mom. She said something about schoolwork and talking to your teachers." She explained.
"Oh. Right." I said shaking my head, "umm yeah I guess the academic part of school isn't my strong suit." I admitted, slightly embarrassed.
"I could tutor you some time. Help you out a little bit." She offered nervously which made me smile over at her, "I mean if you want." She added looking forward instead of at me now, "And maybe you can help me out a little with swimming, since you're supposedly the best around here."
"As much as I would love some extra help my life's kind of on lockdown right now." I said with a sigh, "academic trouble isn't the only trouble I've been getting into lately." I admitted slightly hanging my head.
"You know for a supposed troublemaker you don't seem all that bad." McKenna stated causing me to lift my head to meet her gaze.
"And hopefully from now on nobody will see the bad side." I stated before shrugging slightly, "I'm trying to be better."
McKenna nodded with a small smile, "Well maybe when you're not in so much trouble you can take me up on my offer."
I nodded before my attention was drawn to someone calling out my name. I glanced over my shoulder to find Kacey running down the hallway to catch up to me, "Thanks for waiting sis." Kacey said sarcastically as she reached me causing me to laugh a little.
"Sorry I didn't know I was supposed to." I said.
"Mhm sure." She said before noticing the girl next to me, "Hi."
"Oh this is McKenna," I said gesturing to her, "she just moved here. She's going to be on the team." I explained before moving my gaze to the other girl and gestured to Kacey, "This is my sister Kacey, she's on the team too."
Kacey and McKenna exchanged pleasantries before Kacey looked over at me, "We better get to the car before we get in trouble for taking too long, I wouldn't be shocked at this point if we were being timed."
I nodded at Kacey before looking over at the new girl, "It was nice to meet you McKenna, we'll see you around."
"It was nice to meet you guys too, I guess I'll see both of you at practice." She said with a smile before turning around and walking off in the other direction as me and Kacey made our way to the front of the school.
"I thought mom said no funny business." Kacey simply stated raising an eyebrow at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about?" I said confused.
Kacey laughed, "Please Parker I saw you drooling over newbie back by the pool."
"What?" I asked denying anything, "I definitely wasn't drooling over anyone."
"Whatever you say." Kacey teased, "Just remember you have a girlfriend already."
"Firstly, Brooke isn't my girlfriend. I mean she kind of is but you know how Brooke is, she refuses to label anything between us. And secondly, I am allowed to think other girls are hot, Brooke doesn't care." I said thinking about it a little more, simply shrugging as we got to the car, "I mean as long as she doesn't know I think McKenna's hot there shouldn't be any problems."
Kacey just laughed as we got in the car, "Hey mama." She said as she got in.
"Hey guys, what are you laughing about?" She asked which caused Kacey to laugh some more as she reached over and pinched my cheek, "Our little Parker here has the hots for the newbie swimmer." She said teasingly as I swatted her hand away.
"I do not, Kacey is just trying to irritate me." I stated as Emily turned and looked at me eyebrows raised.
"Don't you already have a girlfriend?" Emily asked causing me to roll my eyes as Kacey let out another laugh before responding for me, "Parker says she's allowed to think other girls are hot. She doesn't think Brooke would care." Emily shook her head as she pulled out of the school parking lot and headed in the direction of the house.
"You know what you guys suck." I said teasingly as I shook my head, "I don't have the hots for the new girl," I stated pausing to give Kacey a look, "and yes mama I do have a girlfriend already which is exactly why nobody should be saying anything to me about the new girl. Just because I was nice to her doesn't mean I have the hots for her."
"Whatever you say Park." Kacey said smirking as if she knew something I didn't.
The short drive back to the house didn't consist of much more talking until we reached the house and Emily saw a car in the driveway, "Who's that?" She asked.
I pulled my attention to where she was looking and smiled, "Hey grandma and grandpa are here." I said as Emily parked the car in front of the house and me and Kacey jumped out of the car. Kacey immediately ran over to the two people standing in the driveway, but I stopped by Emily's door as she got out sighing, "You alright?"
"A heads up would've been nice but I'm fine, go ahead." She said smiling and gesturing for me to go say hi to my grandparents. I smiled and turned, jogging over to them.
"Hey grandma." I said giving her a hug and then turning to my grandpa being pulled into a hug immediately. He pulled away and smiled down at me as he placed his hand on the top of my head and ruffled my hair, "Hey grandpa." I said smiling.
"Hey how's my champ." He asked causing me to laugh a little.
"Good." I simply responded, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well we thought we'd come visit and see how everyone was doing." Paige's mom said as her gazed moved over Kacey's shoulder. I turned to find Emily slowly walking up to us, smiling politely even though it was clear she was slightly uncomfortable.
[Emily's POV]
"Mr. and Mrs. McCullers." I said nodding my head in acknowledgement, "How are you?"
"Good sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Paige's mom asked as she pulled me into a hug, which wasn't a surprise. Paige's mother had always been very nice to me and I wasn't really nervous to see her again. However, I was a little nervous to be around Nick McCullers again.
"I'm feeling really good, thank you." I responded smiling at the older woman.
"I'm glad to hear that, Paige said you were doing very well." I nodded before awkwardly looking around at everyone, "Why don't we all go inside." I suggested, receiving nods from everyone as they made their way to the front door behind me. I unlocked it and stepped aside letting everyone enter ahead of me before walking in.
The girls tossed their bags down by the front door and made themselves comfortable in the living room with their grandparents. It felt weird being in a room with Paige's parents and her not being here with me, but it shouldn't have. I wondered if it had never stopped being like this with them even within the last couple of years when they were around, or if this feeling of uncomfort was just brought on by the accident. I shuffled around on my feet for a moment before deciding on the open seat next to Mrs. McCullers on the couch.
"Where's Paige?" Mr. McCullers asked looking at me but being slightly lost I didn't answer right away, instead Kacey jumping in for me, "Mom had to stay at work and get some things done before she came home so she had mama pick us up."
I nodded, "Actually I'm going to go call her and let her know you're here so she doesn't stay at work too long." I stated, once again receiving nods from everyone as I walked upstairs and dialed Paige's number.
"Hey Em everything okay?" Paige asked, answering the phone rather quickly.
"Umm not really. Did you know your parents were coming?" I asked a little harsher then intended.
"Coming when?" Paige asked confused, "Nobody said anything to me about them coming."
I sighed, "Now Paige. They're here right now."
"Wait there as in at our house there."
"Yes Paige where else would they be?" I asked losing patients.
"Whoa calm down Emily. I didn't know they were coming okay, they never said anything, probably because they knew you would be uncomfortable."
"So instead they show up out of the blue. So considerate, but why am I so surprised it is your father after all."
"Okay." Paige dragged out before I heard some shuffling on the other side of the phone, "I'm coming home right now, please try to not bite my head off when I come home and don't kill my father either before I get there."
"Ha ha you're so funny, just get here quickly please. Also can you pick up Taylor from her soccer practice, I know my mom was supposed to pick her up and drop her off later but I don't know if I want her over here while your fathers here." I responded.
"Yeah I'll get her, I'll see you in a little while."
"Okay thanks, bye."
"Bye."
[No one's POV]
Emily hung up the phone, taking a few deep breathes before turning to leave the room and go back downstairs. She walked down the stairs and saw everyone gathered around in the living room. Parker enthusiastically discussing something with Paige's father, while Kacey and Paige's mother talked quietly with each other on the other side of the room.
When Emily entered the room everyone paused for a moment to look at her as she spoke, "Paige just left work, she was going to pick up Taylor and then she'll be home." Everyone nodded in response as Emily gestured over to the kitchen, "I'm going to go see what we have so I can get started on dinner."
"Oh let me help you dear." Paige's mother stood up.
"Oh you don't have to do that."
"Please I would love to help you." She insisted and Emily nodded gratefully not wanting to argue with anyone, especially Paige's parents. She turned and walked into the kitchen, Mrs. McCullers following behind her.
They got started on dinner, making small talk that wasn't very important as they cooked together. It didn't take long before Emily heard the front door open and she heard Taylor's voice fill the air as she greeted her grandpa in the other room, soon after bursting into the kitchen and instantly running over to her grandma, giving her a hug.
"Easy Tay." Paige warned as she walked into the room behind Taylor.
"Oh stop it Paige, I'm not that old, she's not going to break me." Mrs. McCullers said.
Paige laughed, "I'd beg to differ." She said as she hugged her mom, earning a small smack to the chest, "I didn't know you guys were coming."
Paige's mom pulled away from her daughter, "I told your father we should've called but you know how he is." She said looking between Paige and Emily apologetically.
"It's fine mom, don't worry about it." Paige said as she walked over to Emily and kissed her cheek, "So how mad are you?" She whispered as Mrs. McCullers was dragged out of the kitchen by Taylor.
Emily sighed turning to face Paige, "I'm not mad." She said wrapping her arms loosely around Paige's neck, "I'm sorry I was angry on the phone it was just a bit of a surprise that's all."
Paige nodded placing a quick kiss on Emily's lips before sighing, "I'll go talk to my dad and see what's going on, okay?"
Emily nodded turning her attention back to the dinner cooking behind her as Paige walked over to the sliding door on the other side of the room, "Dad can I talk to you for a second." Paige shouted into the next room over not really waiting for a response as she walked out of the room and into the backyard.
Nick standing up and following behind her already knowing what it was about. Paige stopped right outside of the sliding door and waited for her father, closing the door behind him when he came out. She turned and faced her dad who had come to a stop a couple of feet away from the door, "Dad what are you doing here, you should've told me you were coming."
"We just wanted to come visit and see how everything was going. We haven't been down in a while and we wanted to see the girls." He responded simply.
"Okay and that's completely fine but you can't just show up out of nowhere." Paige said getting frustrated with her dad.
Nick sighed, "I don't see what the big deal is Paige, what's wrong with wanting to come see my daughter and grandchildren. It was a last minute thing but I thought that it would be a nice surprise."
"You know that you and mom are always welcome here dad but things have been crazy around here the last few days and Emily is still working out here feelings towards certain things and surprises are a little overwhelming for her at the moment."
Nick shook his head, "Look I know Emily has never been my biggest fan and I understand why that is but I thought we worked it out."
"Yes dad but she doesn't remember any of that." Paige interrupted, Nick nodding as he let out a sigh. "Just be careful because she's not in the best mood right now and I don't know how she's going to act towards you."
"Are things okay between you and Emily?" Nick asked looking at his daughter, "I mean since the accident, how are you dealing with everything."
Paige sighed and sat down on one of the chairs by the pool, "We're fine dad, please don't start questioning me about my marriage."
Nick put his hands up in defense, "I'm not I just want to make sure you're okay because you look pretty worn out."
"Yeah well I am." Paige said truthfully, "Like I said there's been a lot going on around here, not just with Emily but with everyone."
"Is it because of Emily and the accident?"
"Dad you can't just blame everything on Emily." Paige stated getting frustrated.
"I'm not, I'm just saying that it can be a lot to take on and when these things happen they can cause problems."
Paige let out a heavy sigh pausing for a moment before responding, "Obviously we've had some times since the accident where it's been hard for the family but she's been feeling better and she's been remembering things here and there. It's been hard but we're figuring it out."
Nick nodded not wanting to press his daughter any more on the matter, "Don't put so much pressure on yourself to hold the family together honey."
Paige couldn't help but laugh, "You do realize how weird that sounds coming from you right?"
Nick laughed at his daughter's response, "Yeah well I'm not the same guy I was back when you were a kid. I'm not the same guy Emily remembers, but if she acts like I am tonight then that's fine, I can take it." He said as he leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Paige's head, "I understand that the circumstances are tricky so I promise I'll be on my best behavior for you, your mom already made sure I would be, so don't worry."
Paige let out a small laugh, "Thanks dad." She said standing up, "I love you."
"I love you too honey." He said as he threw an arm over his daughter's shoulder and kissed the side of her head.
Just then Parker poked her head out of the sliding door, "Dinner's ready." She said causing Paige and her father to walk over and rejoin everyone in the house. While everyone took their places at the table Paige silently hoped for the dinner to go well and to just be able to get through the night without anyone causing a fight.