Hunter

Familar faces

Drew

Mom took me to the park to play. I ran around until another kid bumped into me, knocking me down. My dad said never to let anyone knock me down. I stood up, brushed off my pants, and got ready to hit the kid when a girl with brown eyes and hair stared at me with expanded eyes.

"Sorry," she squeaked and played with her hands. "I didn't see you."

I relaxed my hands and put my hands on her upper arms. "It's okay. Are you okay?"

The girl nodded when she looked at me.

I dropped my hands and shoved them in my pockets. "I'm Drew."

"Elizabeth."

"That's a long name."

"It is? That's what my mom and dad call me."

"I'll call you Beth." I shrugged.

"Okay. Did you want to play with me and Matty?"

"Sure."

"Come on!" Beth waved at me to follow her.

I ran after her when she stopped. I crashed into her back, making us fall to the ground.

"Watch it," another kid growled before pushing me from Beth and helping her up. "Are you okay?"

"Yep," Beth said.

I sat on the ground, looked at Beth and the boy, and furrowed my brows.

"Matty, this is Drew." Beth held out her hand to me and helped me up. "I asked him to play with us."

Matty looked at me. "You want to play with us?"

"Sure." I shrugged.

"Okay. Tag, you're it." Matty tagged me and ran away.

I chased him and tagged him back. Then he tagged Beth. We played and ran around the playground.

******
Hunter

I hung back while Drew played with two kids. They laughed while chasing each other. I scanned the area and spotted Alex watching the kids. The two kids ran toward her as she crouched and smiled at them. Those must be Ryan and Alex's twins. Ryan mentioned visiting a doctor to help them conceive kids.

I monitored the surroundings so no one messed with the kids or Alex. It's one of the reasons I brought Drew to the park. Ryan mentioned that Alex was taking their kids to the playground. When the girls traveled alone with the kids, I showed up to monitor the situation.

Drew talked to Alex while she listened before glancing past him and spotting me when Drew pointed me out. I need to work on Drew's tactics of drawing attention to yourself.

Alex stood up and walked with the kids towards me until she reached me. "I didn't know you had kids."

I nodded once. "I have Drew."

"I didn't even know you were married unless you aren't." Alex's eyes widened in fear. "Oh, God. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed."

"Alex, it's okay. Yes, I'm married to Drew's mother. Her name is Gail."

Alex relaxed when I didn't raise my voice.

"Can we play now?" The little girl asked.

"Yes, but stay around the playscape where I can see you," Alex told her.

"Okay." The girl took off with the boy and Drew as they ran around the playscape.

Alex stood beside me and watched them. "I didn't mean to ask you personal questions. Ryan explained to me about you. I shouldn't have asked."