Alec’s

We got out of the car. The air smelled like pine and sunshine, and Aspen was

practically dragging us toward the enclosures before we'd even paid the entrance f*e.

"Looook!" she squealed. "That one's got a funny tail!"

"That's a lemur," Alec said, keeping pace with her tiny footsteps. "They live in Madagascar."

Aspen frowned up at him. "Where's that?"

"A magical land very far away," he teased, tickling her side.

I couldn't help but laugh. "He means it's an island off the coast of Africa."

Aspen's eyes widened. "Is that where giraffes live?"

Alec and I exchanged a glance before he said, "Close enough."

Alec then lifted her up and put her on his shoulder so that she could have a better view of all the animals. Her eyes were wide with excitement. She pressed herself forward on Alec's shoulders, peering over the fences and into each exhibit like she was hunting for treasure.

"Look, Mommy! An elephant!" she gasped, pointing dramatically.

Alec looked at me and grinned. "Wanna tell her about elephants or should I?"

"Go ahead," I said, already amused.

He adjusted Aspen slightly so she could see better. "Okay, little butterfly, elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They can weigh over six tons, and they're really smart-kind of like Uncle Jason when he's not talking."

Aspen giggled. "Do they have wings?"

"Nope," I said, coming to walk beside them. "But they flap their ears like wings to cool off."

"Whaaat?" Her jaw dropped in disbelief.

We moved from the elephants to the lions, where Alec pointed to the large male resting beneath a tree. Before he could say anything, Aspen screamed, "Mufasa!"

We both laughed softly as those around us smiled at her.

"That's a lion, but I guess you already know that." Alec commented with a wide smile on his face.

"Yes. Mommy and me watch lion king all the time." Aspen answered without taking her eyes from the lion. "But where are Simba and Scar? And Timon and Pumba?"

"They are probably around here somewhere." I answered, "Maybe they are shy and don't want to come out."

"Oh, okay."

We passed flamingos, tigers, wolves—even a small reptile house where Aspen made us all jump by shrieking at a snake that moved suddenly.

After that, we walked past a row of game booths and stalls filled with candy and stuffed animals. Aspen gasped at the sight of pink, fluffy cotton candy and tugged on Alec's sleeve.

"Can I try it? Pleaaase?"

He looked at me first. "Mind if I spoil her a little?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're already doing that."

Still, I nodded, and soon Aspen was holding a giant puff of sugar, licking it like it

was the most magical thing she'd ever tasted.

"It's so cloudyyy," she murmured, eyes wide. "It tastes like hugs!"

We both laughed, and Alec reached out to wipe some sugar from her cheek with a gentleness that made my stomach twist.

As we passed one of the booths, Aspen's eyes locked on the wall of stuffed animals. She gasped again. "Mommy! Look! A monkey! And a big elephant!"

"Which one do you want?" Alec asked, already stepping forward.

"The monkey! But... can you win it?"

"Challenge accepted," he smirked.

I crossed my arms and watched he handed the man behind the

counter a few tickets. It was a

classic ring toss-easy to play, nearly impossible to win.

"Good luck," I teased.

Alec threw the first ring. Missed.

Second. Missed again.

"Are you gonna embarrass yourself in front of your little Butterfly, Alpha?" I said, arching an eyebrow.

He narrowed his eyes playfully and huffed, "Do I get something in return?"

Before I could tell him that he'll get Aspen's adoration, said girl jumped in. "You'll get kisses from me!"

"Deal," he said immediately as determination set in. He threw one more... and landed it.noveldrama

Aspen squealed again. "You did it!"

The booth attendant handed over the plush monkey and Alec presented it to her

with a dramatic bow. "For the bravest butterfly in the kingdom.”

She took it with reverence, hugging it tightly.

"Now it's your turn, Mommy," she said, pointing to the next booth.

"Oh no," I laughed. "That's not "

"Pleaseee?"

Alec was already smirking. "Come on. Show us what you've got."

I sighed, stepping up to a

training. Not a lot. Just Somenet

balloon-dart booth. I'd had

enough t

threw the first dart and popped one. Then another. And another.

Aspen cheered like I'd just saved the world. When I handed her the

stuffed elephant, she squee

it in

one arm and her monkey in the other. "Now I have both!"

Alec looked at me and pouted, "Now I feel like a sore loser."

Can you believe that? Alec pouted! That's completely insane.

I glanced at him and stuck my tongue out. "That's because you are."

He laughed, but there was something soft in his eyes. The way he looked at me in

that moment, it made everything else around us blur.