Chapter 11
Jake
We were on the eve of our retreat, and my excited ass was trying to keep it no more than twenty miles per hour over the speed limit while driving the kids to Ash’s dad and Carmen’s place.
The more I thought about checking back into the beginning of my relationship with Ash, the more excited I became.
Even without this escape, which I was fortunate enough to have been given, I’d already snapped my busy ass back into place, being more present with the kids and my wife.
Even Collin jumped at the chance to bring things back to how they were in the early days of his and Elena’s relationship.
He’d even gone so far as to recreate the moment when he’d purchased their first Christmas tree, which was dead and brown thanks to my pranks, so it was safe to say this retreat would be taking lessons from me and my best friend instead of the other way around.
We’d figured out exactly what to do, all without having to go to some intimacy spa however, because of the seclusion of the villas, which were built over water, and the fact that we were doing this to give our wives the attention they were craving, I suspected we’d hardly see each other.
I could hardly wait for tomorrow morning. The wheels of the Mitchell and Associates private jet couldn’t land at our destination fast enough for my liking.
“So, you and Ash must revive the forgotten love?” Carmen said, tasting the enchilada sauce that she was making for our kids’ favorite dish.
“Meh,” I shrugged. Ash and I weren’t in that much of a bad place in our marriage. “We’re not reviving anything, Carm,” I said, taking a sip of the beer she offered me when I first arrived with the kids. “We’re just using this trip to enhance what we already have going.”
Carmen smiled at me with the same look I’d seen on everyone else’s faces when discussing this getaway.
It was half the reason Collin and I stepped up the game with our wives and ensured we carried more of the load with the kids to ease that burden for them, too.
It felt like everyone knew something we didn’t.
“What’s that look?” I finally called her out.
“Look? There is no look, Mijo,” she said, pursing her lips in humor and pinching my cheek as if I were a little boy. “I just can’t wait to hear all about this when you lovebirds return renewed, refreshed, and restored.”
“I looked this place up,” I eyed her mysterious grin with speculation, “and you should know that my lady will be one fulfilled woman when we get home.”
She chuckled. “Oh, I know,” she arched a knowing eyebrow at me. “When Ash told me about the retreat and spa you four were attending, and I saw that it was practically the mothership calling Ashley home, I couldn’t have been more thrilled for you.”
“That’s the thing,” I said, concerned again about this trip even though I swear I looked it up. It seemed to be the ultimate paradise, so I didn’t understand what everyone was going on about. “You all seem like you know something I don’t know.”
“Does this bother you?” she playfully said.
“Immensely,” I answered.
“Good,” she nodded. “Sometimes it’s nice to be humbled in ways we don’t expect.”
I frowned. I wouldn’t get anywhere with Carmen on this, and I definitely wouldn’t with Ash’s dad.
It felt like somehow Collin and I were busted, but for what?
Jesus, we were two fucking doctors who didn’t work nine-to-five jobs.
Ash and Laney understood that, and in the past couple of weeks, we’d been putting forth a lot more effort.
So why did this all feel like it was a setup?
Ring! Ring!
“Collin, hang on a sec,” I answered my phone. “I’ve gotta take this, Carm,” I leaned toward Carm, kissing her on the cheek. “Have fun with the kids. I’ve hired a company to have the beach house fully decorated for Christmas once we get home.”
“You’ve thought of it all,” she patted my cheek. “Go enjoy your beautiful wife. We have some exciting plans for the kids. I promise they won’t miss you while you’re gone.”
“They never do when they’re with you guys,” I chuckled. “Tell Mark I’m sorry I missed him.”
“I will,” she smiled, then her phone rang to interrupt our farewells. She gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I headed out.
“Sorry, dude. You there?” I said, getting in Ash’s Range Rover and allowing the Bluetooth to pick up the call with Collin.
“Yeah, and if you always keep Ash waiting like you just did me, I understand why you’re joining me on this love renewal trip.”
I could hear the agitation in Collin’s voice, and it wasn’t because I made him wait. I had an inkling he felt the same way I did.
“What’s your problem? You should be as excited as I am to get out of here for a while.”
“That’s the thing,” Collin said. “You just dropped the kids off at Ash’s parents, right?”
“Yep,” I said, pulling out of the neighborhood and down the street that would lead me to the freeway. “I was saying goodbye to Carm—”
“I just dropped our kids off, too,” Collin said.
“Okay?”
“And Miguel seems way too fucking excited to know we’re going on this little sex trip with our wives,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. “Carmen was the same way,” I answered. “I don’t want to think there’s more to this, but shit, man. From the way we’re forever fucking with everyone, I think they just want to see us sweat. Seriously, what the fuck can go wrong?”
“True. We are going to the Maldives,” he answered.
“And yes, I was concerned after Jim and Avery acted weird about it, too. I was starting to believe that the fucking jet was going to leave us in Dubai during the layover or some shit, but—”
“Yeah, Laney is packed with swimsuits and clothes for the tropics. I thought the same thing about ditching us, but I was leaning more toward them landing our asses in Iceland or some shit.”
“You know they’d love to see our faces when we got back, and they asked if Santa Claus was at the North Pole, coaching us on how to love and appreciate our wives like he does Mrs. Claus,” I said.
“Well, fuck. What if that’s what’s going on? This could all be one big ass prank to get us back. I could see your little son heading that up since you pranked him about Santa not coming last year.”
My lips twisted. John had a vengeful streak when the mood struck, and if his uncles were all asking for ideas, my son would spearhead the project.
“Nah. Although highly believable,” I answered Collin. “John knew exactly why Santa put a lump of coal under the tree. After he took back his threat of telling his sister that Santa wasn’t real, we showed him where the gifts were hidden. So, the Santa beef should be squashed.”
“You think we’re just being paranoid?”
“We’re not paranoid. We’re just not gullible and stupid,” I said.
“So, what are we going to do?”
“Well, if these jokesters dare to fuck with us, we’ll spend the entire trip planning and plotting how to get them back. Jim’s not that dumb. He grew up with me and knows I won’t just roll over. I’ll dish it right back.”
“Then why does something feel off?” Collin asked.
“If we don’t board the same jet as our lovely wives, we’ll know something is up. If we do? Then we’re good.”
“I’m packing warm clothes just in case,” Collin said. “I don’t trust these fools.”
“Well, firstly, we’re flying private, so we can pack our entire wardrobe. Secondly, the guys would fuck with you and me, not our wives. You know that.”
“So, you think we’re really getting two solid weeks of alone time with Ash and Laney?”
“Let’s hope so,” I said.
“Okay. No more overthinking,” Collin agreed hesitantly.
“Well, wheels are up on that jet at seven in the morning. So, finish packing, and if this is a prank, let’s make the most out of it for the ladies.”
With that all discussed and out of the way, I relaxed. If this were a prank, it would amuse the hell out of Ash and Laney, and that’s how Collin and I operated anyway. We loved making everyone laugh, even if it was at our own expense.
It had been way too fucking long since I’d had quality alone time with Ash. So, all that mattered was that I was with her. I didn’t care where we were so long as we were together.