Chapter 34
34
KOLBI
I t had taken a few weeks to organize and plan, and another small bonus in Kendall’s paycheck to get her to stop asking questions about who she was booking a trip for, to get to this moment right now.
The one where I get to witness the utter disbelief and surprise on Magnolia’s face as she walked into the suite I had booked for us, her bag falling to the floor with a thud as she took in the mountains and small village that surrounded the resort. It was the last few days of March and still snowy on this side of the country and thankfully for me, a fresh powder had just fallen the night before we arrived. Her eyes were wide and round as she turned towards me, completely stunned by where we were. I thought seeing her board the private jet I chartered for us to get here was good but this was better.
“Kolbi…” she started as I walked towards her with a proud grin. “What–why– how ?” It was as if she couldn’t decide which question best fit the wonderings that were swirling around her head.
“I’d remembered you telling me that you’ve always wanted to come here, so I brought you.” I took her dainty hand in mine and pulled her further into the room and closer to the three oversized windows that looked out onto a private view of the mountain. From where our hotel room sat, we could look out and see the peaks and valleys of the snow covered rock, but no one could see us. The tinted window and height of the resort made sure of that. She looked up at me and blinked a few times before setting her sights on the view.
“But work? You’re always talking about how busy you are.”
I cupped her face in my hand and rubbed my thumb across her round cheek before shrugging.
“I had Kendall clear my calendar and I knew you wouldn’t need to be anywhere for your father’s campaign over the next few days. It’s not a big deal. I’d rather spoil you with a weekend away than sit at my desk any day.” Her shoulders dropped as I pressed a kiss into her forehead and was rewarded with a happy ‘hmph’ from her.
“I didn’t pack for cold weather though,” she worried. “When you said ‘pack a bag’ I just assumed we’d be holing up in your house for a few days. I didn’t really pack a ton of real clothes if I’m being honest…” Her cheeks turned a distinct shade of red as she dropped her chin, avoiding my glance. I leaned over, forcing her to look at me, and got the sense she had something she wasn’t sharing with me.
“What the hell did you pack then?”
Pressing her tongue into the side of her cheek, she spoke in the smallest voice. “Really just lingerie and pretty underwear….” Her wide eyes swooped up to look at me and I barked out a laugh.
“You only packed lingerie and pretty underwear? Are you for real?”
“And the shoes you said you liked last week…I put those in my bag too,” she hummed, looping her arms around my neck. The feeling of her round breasts pressing against my chest caused a stirring in my jeans.
“You little freak. We will get you some real clothes so you aren’t walking around outside showing off the family goods.” I kissed her once. “Until then, go look in the closet. I have a surprise for you.”
She raised a brow at me before turning away to head towards the walk-in closet. Before she was out of reach, I spanked her playfully on the ass, unable to help myself. I waited by the windows and smiled when I heard her squeal once she was inside the closet.
“You went shopping for me?” she shouted from inside. Knowing her sizes from when Kendall went shopping for her before, I asked her to go shopping again, this time for winter clothes fit for the slopes. I’d remembered how Magnolia told me she wanted to get bundled up and look at the snow, but didn’t have a clue what would look cute. So I had Kendall shop for me and organize for the hotel to put what she bought in the closet of our room before we got here. My legs took me towards where she was marveling at the clothes that were hung up neatly. I’d also asked Kendall to purchase me some winter clothes as well since I didn’t own anything that would be fit for the chill of Colorado. By the looks of things, she’d done a pretty good job.
“Do you like it? If not we can send it back and get you something else. I’m sure the shops around here have things that’ll work.”
“I love it all! Thank you for this, the clothes, for bringing me here. I can’t believe you did this for me.” Her arms were around my neck again, looking up at me with so much joy I wanted to capture in a photo to keep on my desk. If only .
“I’m glad you’re happy, I would do anything to make you happy.” I nuzzled my nose into her neck and leaned over, wrapping my hands under her ass. With a small jump, I caught her and held her tightly inside the closet. I could smell the scent of her lavender jasmine shampoo in her hair.
“Just being with you is enough to make me happy for a lifetime, Jack.”
1 new message: Dungeons and Dickheads
Hank:
Kolbi, where the hell are you? Kendall said you took today and tomorrow off? That you were on a trip until Sunday? This Sunday? The Sunday where I’m going to ask Bailey to be my wife? What the hell man?
Malcolm:
He was acting kinda fidgety last night. Hanky, did Kendall say where he went?
Hank:
No, she wouldn’t tell me. Just that he went out of town on business and his flight landed back in Charleston early Sunday morning.
Conrad:
While I’m normally one to let people live their lives how they want, I have to admit I am curious what our den mother is up to and why we aren’t already aware of where he is.
Malcolm:
Conrad, you’re the last person to just ‘let people live their lives’. How many times have you busted my ass for being late to campaign night in the last year?
Hank:
Kolbi? Hello?
Conrad:
That’s because your inability to arrive on time to predetermined plans impacts other people. It’s rude to not follow the time set for plans and routine events. Like campaign night, which is at the same time every week.
Conrad:
Speaking of campaign night, Kolbi was also late that one time back in February. Remember when we all got there before him?
Malcolm:
Anyone else feeling like we’ve been left out of something important?
Hank:
KOLBI? Please show proof of life before I call in the armed forces and track your cell phone using the computers at the office.
Relax children, I’m fine. I’m on a business trip until Sunday morning but I’ll be back in time to help set up the proposal as we talked about. You kids take care now, your den mother will be home in 72 hours.
“Whaddya think?” her voice purred and I looked up from my phone to find her standing in front of me fully suited up for the snow. She was wearing the all black snowsuit that was waiting for us upon our arrival and had an oversized black puffer coat thrown overtop. The lush faux fur lined hood almost swallowed her whole. Her dark hair was tucked inside her coat and when she did a spin for me, I couldn’t help but chuckle when I noticed she had a black satin bow tied into her hair. When she faced me again, the smile on her face made my heart squeeze.
“I think,” I started, standing from the bed where I’d been waiting for her and taking a step towards her, “You look like the cutest snow bunny on the mountain.” Her lips spread into a small smile as she looked up at me and I couldn’t help but lean down and kiss them.
“Do you like the suit? Does it fit okay?”
“Yeah, it fits great. Even the boots are the right size.” Her eyes fell to her feet as she popped her foot to show off the boots. “Thank you for all of this again.”
“You never have to thank me, angel. You ready to go?” We had decided to go for a walk around town to see the sights and take in the snow.
“Yep, let’s go.” Her hand threaded through mine as we headed out of our room and into town.
Walking through the snow covered town, we went in and out of the different shops and stores, taking in all the trinkets and sporting supplies. In one store, she had me try on a beanie which I ended up buying after she told me how much she liked the way I looked in it. We walked all the way down to the ski lifts and when I offered for us to go up the mountain, she promptly turned down.
“Remember Jack? I’d rather be eaten by an alligator than fly down a mountain on a pair of toothpicks like those people are. I’ll let them have their fun and happily enjoy some hot chocolate at the bottom of the mountain instead.”
So that’s what we did.
We found a small diner that looked like it had been here since the dawn of time and curled up next to each other in a booth, slowly sipping on the hot chocolates we ordered.
“Would you ever leave Charleston?” Her fingers were wrapped around her mug as she asked. Her eyes flicked towards me after studying her drink for another second.
“Mmmm,” I pressed my lips together, considering. “I don’t think so. My whole family is there, my friends are there, work is there.” I looked down at her. “Would you ever leave?”
She blinked a few times and cast her eyes back on her cup. “I think in my dreams I’ve thought about it. Running away, becoming someone else. But in reality,” a long sigh escaped her, “I don’t think I could. Too many people I love and care about are there.”
“Like your parents,” I tried and she barked out a laugh.
“That’s funny, but no. People like Ms. Ruthie and Margaret. And other people…” she trailed off, glancing up at me again. The arm I have wrapped around her tightens and I press my lips into her temple, letting her words sit between us. “I could never leave them. Just the thought of not having Ms. Ruthie in my life makes me want to cry.”
“She means a lot to you.”
“She means everything to me. She practically raised me. My parents were never really around when I was young and my mother was never really interested in, well, being a mother. So Ms. Ruthie filled that role.” Her voice trailed off and she blinked hard a few times. When I caught a glimpse of her eyes, I could see that they had become watery and her lashes were wet.
“I’m glad you had her when you were growing up, and now. We all need that kind of person in our lives.” I pulled her close and squeezed her hard.
“Yeah, we do. She and Margaret are why I am who I am today. I’d be a completely different person if it weren’t for them.” She laughed to herself and I wished for nothing more to know what she was thinking about.
“That’s how I feel about my friends. They’ve made me who I am today. We each bring our own thing to the group and together make up this weird, odd, dysfunctional family.” I laugh again, recalling our group chat from earlier in the day.
“I hope I get to meet them some time,” she said, her voice teeming with hope.
“I think we can make that happen, flower.” I smiled down at her as a knowing settled deep in my core.
A knowing that she was quickly becoming an important part of my life and I wanted to share how important she was to me with the other important people in my life. She’d already met my real family, so what would be the harm in her meeting my chosen family too?