Chapter 60

Ramon POV

“Go ahead, baby,” Lake called, though I could see the effort it took to let Ollie go with these virtual strangers. “Stay where I can see you, okay? And if you need me, just call.”

“And I need to take Mr. Hoppy!” Ollie added, pointing to where his stuffed rabbit was still in the car.

I retrieved the rabbit and handed it to him, watching as the cousins immediately cooed over it and assured Ollie that they had special places where stuffed animals could watch all the fun. Then they were off, a moving mass of children sweeping Ollie along with them toward the pool area where I could already see the pool toys and floaties set up.

My brothers had reached us by then, and I found myself caught up in the familiar ritual of greetings—handshakes that turned into hugs, the kind of back-slapping that only happened between siblings who genuinely liked each other.

“So you finally brought them,” Romeo said, his tone carefully neutral but his eyes sharp