One
“Why am I looking at your face instead of my fiancé’s?”
With the grin he was famous for, Slater preened for the laptop camera. “What, no hello? No nice to see you? What’s that about?”
“Ugh, fine. It’s nice to see you, Slater,” Milo said with just a hint of weariness. “I’m just surprised to see you on my screen instead of Nora.”
“Yeah, well…her hike ran a little long and she has “Video Chat with Milo” scrawled in big letters on our office calendar so I figured I’d better answer when you called.”
“Ah. Okay. I wish she had just texted me. I would have called later.”
“It’s not a big deal. You and I haven’t chatted in a while.” Pausing, he looked closer at the screen. “You’re like…wearing pants, right?”
For a moment, Milo sputtered before snapping, “Why would you even ask that?”
He shrugged. “Maybe this was a sexy video chat. How the hell should I know? Maybe that’s what the two of you do when you have to go a few weeks without seeing each other.”
Milo groaned. “You’re the worst. Seriously. What is wrong with you?”
“You can’t be too careful in situations like this,” he said easily. “So, how’s life treating you?”
“Lousy. Nora’s there, I’m here, and the only flight she could find to come and visit this weekend has something like three layovers.
” He let out another long breath. “In another week, I plan on being there to launch the new satellite office, but we were going to spend time together here in Seattle before settling in back in Harbortown.”
Nodding, Slater made himself more comfortable. “Nora mentioned that you’re going to live in your cabin here until you find a place in town.”
“It made the most sense. She’s already moved her stuff out of Axel’s place and into mine. I wish we had cabins that were a little larger.”
“Why?”
“She loves living on the property, and it makes things easier for her. Plus, it’s kind of cool staying there and seeing everyone every day.”
“You know that’s not really a thing anymore, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…Walker and Harlow aren’t here nearly as much anymore.
They rented a place by their new resort and spend most of their time there.
Connor and Lexi still have their rental place in town, but their house should be ready in the next month, so they’re not here nearly as much either.
Plus, Connor hasn’t said anything definitive, but he’s got his eye on a location in town for his restaurant. ”
“Really? I thought he put that on hold until after the baby’s born.”
Shrugging, Slater replied, “You know he can’t sit still for too long. It makes him crazy. I don’t think he’s doing much with it, but…he mentioned it the other day and you know it’s only a matter of time before he starts working on it.”
“True.”
“Axel and Maisie are here full time but some days I swear it’s easier to find Waldo.
Maisie’s super busy. Besides helping Connor and Lexi with the house, she’s helping Walker and Harlow with their resort, and she has a ton of clients in town.
And Axel? Well, I don’t know when he sleeps because he literally has his hands in everything all over the resort. This has been good for him.”
“That’s why we all decided he was the perfect one to run the place, right?”
“Yup. So things are changing and we don’t really do group dinners as much as we used to have.
” He paused. “I mean…they’re not gone altogether, but it’s rare.
We’ve got some great fresh additions to our activities team starting up now that the holidays are over and we’re gearing up for the spring.
Once you’re here with your new office and Nora’s traveling less, I’m gonna take my leave and move on. ”
“Do you have any idea where you’re going to go or what you’re going to do?”
He shook his head. “Not a clue. But…I’m just ready to move on to something else.”
For a moment, neither spoke, but he could tell Milo was studying him. Hard.
And that was never a good thing.
“Any chance you’re planning on going to the ceremony for your dad? They’re retiring his jersey or something, right? Cal Slater Day?”
Shit.
“Nope.”
“Slater…”
“Did you really think I would? Dude, come on. I have done everything humanly possible to put distance between me and him. Why would I want to celebrate the career that destroyed my family? And how do you even know about it?”
“Evie mentioned it the other day. She heard a couple of guys in the office talking about it and was just curious.”
He muttered a curse. “I hate that people even think about him. Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t go to anything that honors that bastard.”
“Okay, but…”
“Look, am I grateful for the career that basically sent me to the resort as a kid because he was traveling? Sure. Those summers were some of the best times of my life, and it’s how we all became friends.
But other than that, his baseball career did nothing but bring grief, pain, and embarrassment to my family. It destroyed my mom.”
“Slater, I know things were rough, but your mom…”
“Don’t, Milo. Just…don’t. Okay? You weren’t there, so you have no idea.
Believe me, if I could, I’d write to whoever the hell is in charge of these ceremonies and blast them for giving that bastard any kind of honor.
Sure, he was one of the best pitchers the league has ever seen, but he’s a shitty human being. ”
“Unfortunately, they don’t look at that sort of thing. They only focus on career accomplishments, and, like you said, he was one of the best pitchers in the league. And then his coaching career…”
“Whose side are you on, anyway, huh? Are you saying you think I should actually go to this thing?” he asked incredulously.
“Because you don’t know my father, okay?
You may have met him once or twice and got taken in by his charm, but it’s all an act.
The only person he has ever cared about is himself.
” He muttered another curse, feeling more frustrated than he had in a long time.
“I just thought you might go, that’s all. I didn’t mean to piss you off.”
“Yeah, well…any time my father comes up in conversation, it pisses me off. Do you have any idea how many people have recognized me over the years and tried to cozy up to me because I’m Cal Slater’s son?
I’ve had women throw themselves at me while wearing his damn jersey.
” He shuddered. “And I’m not talking women his age, I’m talking all ages—young and old.
How creepy is it for someone to hit on you while talking about how much they love your dad? ”
This time, Milo shuddered with him. “Okay. Point taken.”
“Thanks.”
“I remember witnessing that a time or two. But…come on. When was the last time that happened?”
“Last week.”
“No!”
“Yup. Right here at the resort while on a hike. I was on a hike with a group, and they were all baseball fans. I nearly jumped off a damn cliff just to get away from all the questions!”
Milo chuckled and then instantly sobered. “Sorry. Just the image…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s hysterical. I felt like a hunted animal.”
“Damn, Slater. I don’t even know what to say. I kind of hate the thought of you taking off and disappearing again.”
In the distance, he heard people and knew it was Nora and her group coming back.
“I think I hear Nora’s group,” he said. “So what are you going to do about her going there? Is she going to take the flight with all the layovers?”
“She swears she’s fine with it, but I’m not. I even had Evie checking all the airlines in case we missed anything.”
“If anyone can find it, Evie can.” Milo’s assistant had a way of making everything look effortless. Slater had met her on his trips to Seattle and always enjoyed catching up with her. She was pretty, personable, and quick-witted—and easily one of Milo’s greatest assets.
Not that Slater had ever given much thought to seeing her anywhere other than Milo’s office.
“I wish. She’s had no luck.” He paused. “Any chance you have any pilot friends who might be okay with chartering a flight?”
“I’ll do it.”
Milo’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“Dude, I’ve mentioned this to you multiple times since you and Nora got together, and you never take me up on it.
I have access to planes, and I don’t mind flying out there.
We’re slow for the next two weeks, so it’s not a big deal for me to fly Nora out, and if I can make it work, I’ll hang out and then fly you two back. Or did you book those flights already?”
“I haven’t booked them yet.”
That made him laugh. “You’re slipping, buddy. The Milo I know would have everything scheduled already.”
“Yeah, well…getting this satellite office off the ground has me flying by the seat of my pants. I have a few people willing to make the move with me, and it’s just snowballing a bit more than I thought it would.”
“That’s a good thing, though, isn’t it?”
“I hope so,” he said with a nervous laugh. “Do you really think you can get a plane and get Nora here on Friday?”
“Absolutely. That part won’t be a problem. I’ll just have to see about how long I can keep it.”
“Thanks, Slater. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”
“It’s not a big deal. Do you need me to fly your team back with you, or are they doing their own thing?”
“They’re handling their own stuff. I mean, I’m covering it, but they’re all not coming right away. But would you mind flying Evie with us?”
“Evie’s coming?”
Milo nodded. “I thought it would be a good idea if she came and helped me get set up. She keeps my life organized. And I think she’s going to stay for a month. At least, I pitched the idea to her, and she’s thinking about it.”
Evie at the resort for a month? That could be an incentive to stay a little longer. Things had really gotten a bit stagnant around here now that everyone was paired off and always with their significant others. Maybe having Evie here would break up the monotony.
Not that he was going to say a word to anyone about it.
“If she’s game, then I don’t mind flying her back with us. No biggie.”
“Great. Thanks.”