Chapter 3 #2
“I know it’s hard, but I’m already sad that they are growing up so fast. I mean, Jack’s already figuring out his first crush, and then next thing he will be driving, and we’ll be packing him up and sending him off to college.
” Mia gently rests her head on my shoulder.
And all I can think about is she has just let Jack’s secret slip.
“Wait, what! My nephew has a girlfriend, and you didn’t tell me?” Paige cries out louder than necessary, but thankfully, Jack’s still out in the water.
“Oh shit, don’t say anything. None of you.” Mia glares at them all as she tries to backpedal. “And Charlotte is not his girlfriend, just a friend. So don’t say anything, promise me, otherwise he won’t ever forgive me.”
“That’s so sweet.” Tilly smiles and reaches over to squeeze Mia’s hand. “It’s okay, we won’t embarrass him.”
“Speak for yourself, this is gold,” Tate bellows as Bella slaps him in the gut and glares at him to stop.
“I hope you have given him the talk, buddy,” Mason remarks. “Our jet is at capacity for passengers; we don’t need another unexpected generation to start. Otherwise, I’m going to have to buy a freaking commercial jet, and that’s a bit over the top.”
“Lalalalala, this can’t be happening.” Mia starts singing with her hands over her ears at the thought of Jack having sex.
“Do you need me to step in as the expert doctor specializing on the end result of what happens if you have unprotected sex?” I can’t tell if Gray is being serious or just trying to gear me up.
“For fuck’s sake, you are all ridiculous.
Of course I’ve had the talk with him. He is a good kid, and I trust him to do the right thing.
He isn’t even thinking about that yet. Besides, the age of consent is seventeen and we’re a long way from that yet,” I say, remembering back to the night we sat in his room talking.
“Ummm, do you remember what we were all like at his age?” Tate says. “He is definitely thinking about it, watching it online while using the box of tissues or a sock in his room, and for all you know, he has already done it. He turns fifteen next month, get real, Lex.”
“No, stop, he is still my little boy,” Mia pleads.
Mason shakes his head. “Correction, we remember what you were like at that age, Tate. But in saying that, guys, I have to agree with what Tate said. He’s already in the era of raging testosterone and learning how to control those thoughts and his body.
While you girls were dealing with the body changes of becoming a woman, we were over there just trying to stop getting a boner every time a pretty girl looked at us.
Looking back, it’s a confusing time, for sure. ”
Mason is close to Jack, always has been regardless of being his uncle. They bonded the moment they met, and I love knowing there are always other great role models and mentors around my kids if something ever happens to me.
“I can’t help it if you fuckers were slow to come to the party. Or that I was in high demand with the girls.” Tate’s words earn another whack in the ribs from Bella.
“You know I’m right here,” she says. “I don’t need to hear this shit.”
He just laughs and pulls her toward him and settles her body in between his outstretched legs, leaning her back against his front as he wraps his arms around her.
“None of them compared to you, Tink, you know that. Plus, you were still in diapers when I started thinking about girls.” And now I know why he wrapped her in his arms, because that comment was sure to earn him another playful smack from her.
“That makes it sound ick, don’t say things like that.” Bella shakes her head at her husband.
“Okay, can we circle back to the good stuff?” Paige asks. “You have already spilled the beans. Tell us all the gossip on this Charlotte girl. Is she good enough for our Jack?”
“He’s going to kill me, so you are all sworn to secrecy, understood?” Mia pleads with the group.
Everyone nods, but I don’t trust them one bit. But part of me is happy he has aunties and uncles around him to care enough to rib him about things all in fun, and he knows that too.
“He met her on day one of the music workshop we signed him up for over the last week of school and then into the school break,” Mia starts.
“So, you can imagine how popular I was when he found out we were leaving for ten days?” I chip in.
“The constant messaging on his phone makes more sense now,” Mason mentions. “I’ve noticed he is hardly without his phone unless he is in the water.”
“Yes, I made a deal with him, that he needs to be present in everything we are doing but can still message her, just not doom scrolling on social media for no reason.” I have to admit, he has been pretty good at sticking to what we agreed on.
“Then I have to say, she is more than a friend with the amount of time he has been spending with his fingers flat-out typing on his phone,” Tilly adds.
“Yeah, I think you might be right,” I agree.
“Shhh, all of you. I want the gossip before he returns. Do you have a picture, or have you met her?” Paige is already so invested it makes me laugh.
“Oh my God, give the kid a break, he’s just met her. I’m surprised you aren’t already messaging Ashton to get a security check on her background, parents, and friends.” I burst out laughing.
“Oh, good idea,” Paige replies as she reaches for her phone, and Mason swipes it out of her hand.
“Don’t you dare, you don’t even know this girl’s last name, tiger.” He glares at her.
“Won’t be hard to find out,” she mumbles under her breath.
Tilly laughs. “No, we all need to stay out of this and let Jack fumble along like every other awkward teenage boy. It’s a rite of passage.”
“I was never awkward, just saying,” Tate pipes up, and we all groan at him.
The conversation continues for a little while, until Mia spots Jack heading up from the surf, and she threatens the group to keep their mouths shut or she will send all the nannies we have hired to help this week home.
Got to love a protective momma bear.
“How was that, JJ?” I ask as he makes it to us with the biggest smile on his face.
“That was freaking awesome! I wish we had surf like that in Chicago.”
Mia throws him his towel as he starts trying to pull the wetsuit down his arms. We rented everything he would need, including a full wetsuit which would help him in the water but also stop the sunburn on most of his body.
But just watching him trying to pull the wetsuit off is enough to have us all in hysterics.
“What?” He looks at us all. “You try and get out of one of these things, they stick to your skin like glue.” I can see Jack getting frustrated.
“There is a trick to it.” Mason stands and shows him how to pull it off.
From the corner of my eye, I can see Mia snapping lots of sneaky pictures, because Jack has also gotten to the point where it’s not cool for Mom to take staged photos, but of course takes twenty-five Snapchats of himself a day to send to friends.
Finally, wetsuit-free, Jack starts talking flat out, telling us all about the waves he caught as if we weren’t here watching him. Once he finally finishes his big retelling, it’s time to head home, because tonight is New Year’s Eve.
I haven’t told them what I have planned for tonight, just that they need to pack a little overnight bag, as tonight the kids are being looked after by the nannies, which Jack was not impressed about, and us adults are staying somewhere else.
Saying our goodbyes at the front door, all the kids are ushered back inside, and the rest of them look at me, wondering where the cars are.
“We better not be walking to our mystery destination, Lex.” Paige looks at me, half joking, but I know she is not a lover of exercise.
“You would kill me if that was the case. I’ve already put my life on the line by bringing the kids with us. But I promise you will all be forgiving me by tomorrow morning.” I smile at what is about to happen. “Now follow me.”
Taking Mia’s hand, I walk around the side of the house and down a set of stairs in the gardens that weave their way down the slope of the property toward the water.
“What’s going on?” Mia whispers to me as the rest of them are also asking questions behind me.
We stop at a locked gate, and I whip the key from my pocket to unlock it.
As they all step through, I lock it behind them, moving through where they are all standing, wondering what is going on, and again, I take Mia’s hand and walk down the last part of the path, coming out from behind the beautifully manicured hedge to the vision of the sleek black-and-silver luxury superyacht that is pulling in to berth at the private dock.
For all the chatter and sarcastic remarks that I’ve been getting for the last few minutes, there is stunned silence.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I turn quickly and snap a candid picture of the looks on their faces. It’s not that they don’t all know this type of luxury, it’s just the location.
“Lex,” Mia gasps and squeezes my hand tighter.
I love spoiling her and giving her new experiences and memories.
Two of the crew jump off the yacht onto the dock, one tying it off and the other is heading toward me.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Foster, your chief steward, and I’m here to make your stay with us as perfect as it can be. Which one of you is Mr. Jefferson?”
I step forward with my hand extended. “Call me Lex, and this is my wife, Mia.” Then I proceed to introduce the others, while the other crew member who has finished securing the yacht takes everyone’s bags on board for us.
“Lovely to meet you all and welcome to our superyacht, Southern Arora. Let’s get you on board and settled with some champagne to start off the festivities.” He motions to the gangway that has now been put out.
After making sure all the girls are on safely, I wait for Mason, Gray, and Tate to walk past me and board so I’m the last one.
“Thanks for all your help with tonight.” I clap Foster on the shoulder as I step onto the gangway.