Chapter 9 #2
“It really is. I’ve flown out to meet up with coworkers when I was looking to hire, and I’ve gone to help my old boss, so really, I’m good. I promise.”
So, they all pulled out their phones and laptops and looked over the resort schedules and weighed all the pros and cons of which dates were best for each of them.
Ultimately, Axel and Maisie got the first four days starting tomorrow because they were the most motivated and didn’t need to make a plan.
Walker and Harlow took the next four, giving Connor and Lexi the most time to look at the best places to take the kids. Connor already had some ideas, but he wanted to make sure Lexi agreed with them.
“It’s getting late,” he announced as he got to his feet. “I’ll call down to the kitchen for them to come and clean up because I need to get Annabeth back to the cabin to get ready for bed. It’s a school night.”
Everyone stood and helped get some of the mess cleaned up, and it easily took fifteen minutes before he and Lexi and the kids could leave. He didn’t want to say too much about going away just yet because he didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.
“Do you think you and Jonah can hang out at the cabin with us for a little while?” he asked as they stepped onto the elevator.
Jonah was jumping up and down just because he could, and Lexi had to remind him to behave. When she turned to Connor, she shook her head. “I think he needs to unwind and go to sleep.”
“Oh.” And yes, he pouted.
“But how about we talk on the phone after they’re both asleep?”
“I guess. I prefer sitting with you in person, but…I get it.”
She gently patted his cheek. “Me too. But what you proposed tonight is going to be a great thing.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk about. Any suggestions?” He knew he was being vague, but with reason.
“Um…not really, but I’m sure you already do, so I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
“You know me so well.” And since the kids understood that they were dating, he was free to lean in and kiss her.
Chastely.
When the elevator doors opened on the main floor of the lodge, they followed behind the kids across the lobby and out the main doors. Annabeth talked about the science homework she’d finished earlier as Jonah sang a song about frogs.
This was good. Everyone was talking and laughing, and it was just all so good and everything he wanted. They hadn’t had any time to talk about moving things to the next phase, but hopefully that would come up while they were away.
He just had to wait a damn week—eight days—before he could bring it up again.
Patience was definitely not his strong suit lately.
They came to the cabins, and he kissed Lexi goodnight before he hugged Jonah and she hugged Annabeth, and then they went their separate ways.
Which he hated.
It took over an hour before his daughter was in bed, but as soon as she was, he went and showered and changed into a pair of shorts to sleep in. Then he got comfortable on the bed and texted Lexi.
Connor: Hey, is Jonah asleep?
She didn’t reply right away, but he didn’t expect her to. But five minutes later, she did.
Lexi: He is. It took longer than I thought.
Lexi: Then I grabbed a quick shower and almost fell asleep while shampooing my hair.
He grinned.
Connor: If I were there with you, I definitely would have kept you awake. Wink, wink!
Lexi: Lol! Yes, I’m sure you would have, and I would have loved it.
Connor: Can I call you, or are you too tired?
Lexi: I think I can manage to stay awake for a little longer.
Lexi: Plus, I love the sound of your voice.
He didn’t even hesitate before dialing her number.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said as soon as she answered.
“Mmm…there’s that voice,” she said, her own voice sounding both a little sleepy and sultry. “How’s Annabeth? Did she go to sleep okay?”
“Yeah. She was a little wound up, but she’s good once we get through our nightly routine.”
“That’s good. It’s hard to keep Jonah on one since we’ve been eating with everyone. I used to be able to have him in bed by eight before we moved here. Now every night is kind of like a free for all.”
“Damn, I’m sorry. And I remember you telling me something to that effect on that first day.”
“It’s okay. It’s also been good for him to be around new people and experience all the things that he has. It’s a trade-off.”
Nodding, he got a little more comfortable. “So…we get four whole days away next week. What are you thinking?”
She laughed softly. “Didn’t we already have this conversation? Why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking, and I’ll let you know my thoughts?”
“Fair enough. Okay, my first thought was Disney World.”
“Um…I think that’s a more than a four-day kind of trip,” she said.
“Good point. Okay, how about we go to one of those indoor water park resorts? I’m pretty sure Annabeth’s mentioned wanting to go to one of them before.”
“Could be fun. Jonah took swimming lessons at the YMCA last summer, so…”
But she didn’t sound particularly excited about it. “How about Cape Cod? My family has a house up there we can stay at.”
“I’m not sure it’s got a lot to offer Jonah. Annabeth will enjoy visiting a family home, but…”
“Okay, okay. That makes sense.” But he was losing hope. “What about going to San Antonio? They have a phenomenal zoo, and we can stay on the River Walk. I think Jonah would love it!”
“Connor, that’s a lot. Jonah’s never been on a plane, and that would be a long flight.”
The sigh was out before he could stop it. “I get the feeling you don’t really want to go away with me.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?” And yeah, he realized how frustrated he sounded. “Because from where I’m sitting, you sound like you have zero interest.”
Now she sighed. “Connor, we’ve been over this.
I don’t have the budget to travel. Now you managed to get me time off, but…
I need the paycheck. Desperately. I can’t keep living in Kelsey and Jayce’s cabin.
I know the time off would be great, but I didn’t think you were going to pick places that were just so…
much.” She groaned. “Please try to see this from my point of view.”
“I am, but no one’s asking you to pay for the trip.
You know I’m going to take care of everything.
Hell, I want to take care of you and Jonah forever, but you won’t let me!
” Pausing, he raked a hand through his hair as he blew out a long breath.
“We’ve been so damn busy that we haven’t had any time to just sit and talk about us. ”
“I know, but we have jobs and responsibilities. It can’t only be about you and what you want,” she gently reminded him. “And considering you are one of the owners of the resort, I would think you’d be laser-focused on getting everything set for the grand opening.”
“I am, but I’m also only human, Lexi. I need a break. I need a few days away from this resort and work and the guys and all the responsibilities. I need to spend time with my daughter.”
“Then maybe Jonah and I…”
“No. Don’t finish that sentence. I need to spend time with the two of you as well. I want the four of us to spend time together without all the distractions around here.”
She was quiet for several long moments before she finally replied.
“Alright. I don’t want to fly anywhere. That’s too much, and I don’t care that you’re paying. I’m not saying we have to stay close to Harbortown, but…maybe the indoor water park would be fun. I used to see commercials for them all the time, and they did look fun.”
He nearly sagged with relief. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us. Maybe tomorrow we can skip the group dinner and the four of us can eat together here and we’ll go online and check it out?”
“Um…please don’t take this the wrong way, but…
you can’t tell a four-year-old about this super fun trip that he won’t be taking for another week,” she said with a small laugh.
“I think we can eat dinner together—which would be a pleasant change from the whole group thing—but maybe while the kids are playing, you and I can look at the website and plan everything. What do you think?”
“I think I can’t wait.”
“Here we are!”
Lexi stepped into the villa Connor had reserved for the four of them. It was spacious and beautifully decorated, and she was both nervous and giddy about them having four days here as a family.
“Okay,” Connor called out because the kids were already running from room to room checking everything out. “Annabeth? Jonah? Can you come here, please?”
They immediately obeyed, but she knew they were beyond excited.
“Good job,” he told them. “Okay, so we have this entire place to ourselves. The room with the bunk beds is for Jonah, and the other bedroom with the two beds in it is for you, Annabeth.”
She sat on the sofa and pouted.
“What’s the matter?”
“Why does Jonah get the bunk beds?”
“Um…”
“Can Annabeth sleep in the other bunk?” Jonah asked.
Connor and Lexi exchanged glances before they agreed.
“I just thought you’d each want your own room,” he explained. “But if you want to share, that’s fine.”
“Yay!” they cheered before running back to the room with the bunk beds.
“You had to know that was going to happen,” Lexi teased as she casually strolled around checking everything out, trying not to appear too eager to check out their sleeping accommodations.
The kitchen was huge, there was a big living room area with a fireplace, and then a dining room. The kids had their own bathroom across from their bedroom, and then in the back corner of the villa was the primary bedroom.
It wasn’t overly posh—after all, this was a family resort—but there was a king-size bed and a private bathroom, so she was extremely excited.
Connor stepped in close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What do you think?”
“I think this is all wonderful.”
He chuckled softly before saying, “But…?”
“You know me well,” she replied with amusement. “But…I feel really weird about us sleeping together with the kids in the next room. Are we going to scar them?”