“Just call him CC if you can’t deal with Coco,” I suggest, and he looks pleased with the suggestion though I bet it will piss Jacinta off.
“If—when—we sort out the stalker situation and you want to stay, we can look at setting you up a practice. I can also put some feelers out if you want to stick with an internship first. Dad did say that the zoo you interviewed with was in some financial difficulties. Maybe we can buy them out.”
Well, he definitely got that attitude from Nana. I can’t fault the man for wanting to do right by his children, but it’s definitely easy to see how the Summers kids might have gotten just the tiniest bit spoiled.
“We’ll see,” I tell him noncommittally. “At the moment, I'm just enjoying getting to know you and hoping the stalker loses interest.”
By this point, we’re outside the stables, and I can hear Jacinta cooing to the horses, promising them that I’m going to take care of them. A small smile grows as I think about what I’ve got ahead of me. Starting the day with Holden and Oli, getting in a little time with the horses, and then my first trip to Hawaii. Maybe I can be foolish for a second and just tell myself that things are turning around. Or at least they will be if I get moving.
“Thanks, Dad. Love you.” I leave him blushing with joy and step into the stable with an impatient Jacinta.
* * *
We are driven to the airport by the limo because the helicopter was needed to take Dad, Declan, Nana, and Poppy to the office. Holden and Oliver were spending another day at home, but I think Hope was going out to update Holden and who knows where Thomas was. Off doing mysterious things probably.
Like the return trip from dropping off the horses with Declan, this one was filled with us getting to know each other. A rowdy game of 20 questions was played, nothing too serious, favorite color and animals, that kind of thing.
When we arrive at the airport, we pull up in front of a smaller plane than the last one we were on. Kai must see my disappointed face.
“What's wrong, Harlow?” he asks, helping me out of the limo.
“Oh nothing, I was just looking forward to seeing James and Chris,” I explain, shaking my head. “They were really kind to me on my flight out, but Poppy told me they fly the big one.”
“If the big one isn’t being used, one of them will fly this one,” Jaxon interjects, pulling his and Kai’s bags out of the trunk of the limo. “Not sure who was scheduled to fly today. Normally, Kai would do his own flying, but he wanted to sit back and enjoy the flight with you. ”
“You have your pilot’s license too?” I ask him in surprise. Declan was the only one I’d seen fly.
“Yeah, both helicopter and plane. It fits well with my adrenaline junkie nature.” He winks, a full body chuckle erupting from his mouth. I can feel myself growing lighter the more time I spend with Kai; there’s just something about his contagious joy that makes me love being around him.
Before I can say anything, the door to the nearby office opens. Cecelia storms out, a scowl on her face and a rolling bag being haphazardly dragged behind her.
“You’re late. I’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes,” she complains as she gets to us.Hmm, I thought she was told to be half an hour earlier than us.Seems they were right about her trying to miss us. Bitch. “Here are your damn clothes. I don't work foryou, so don't ask me to do anything again,” she spits, eyeing me up and down. “You don't even work for Neighpalm, and I will not run around and do errands for you. Find someone else, or better yet, do them yourself.”
She turns and walks away, leaving both Jaxon and Kai gobsmacked that she would speak like that in front of them. Or that’s what I'm assuming anyway. Me, I don't care. The woman means less than nothing to me. She can say what she wants.
“I’d say Nana was on the right track with that one. Man, is she going to be pissed when she finds out that her access has been reduced,” Kai says, shaking his head.
“I’d like to be a fly on that wall when they tell her,” Jaxon agrees, and they both snigger childishly.
Rolling my eyes at them, I start toward the small jet, pulling the case behind me, but they both catch up, Kai with their two bags over his shoulder and Jaxon taking the one out of my hand. They allow me to walk up the stairs first, and when I get up there, I’m thrilled to see a familiar face.
“Good morning, Harlow, nice to see you again,” James greets me cheerfully.
“Hey, James. How are you?” I ask, giving him a hug. He was the first person to be kind to me on this adventure, and I’m grateful to him.
“Really good,” he replies, smiling broadly.
Pulling away, I move so that Kai and Jaxon can board the plane. They both shake hands with James before passing, and there’s something honestly genuine about their words when they check in on how he’s doing.
“So the flight is about five and half hours. You asked for no hostess, but there's a platter of food and drinks in the galley as requested. Just help yourself to it when you want it,” James tells us as the jet fires up its engines. I must look confused because he laughs. “Chris is on the flight too. Kai asked us if we wanted to spend some days in Hawaii together instead of flying home, and Jaxon put us up at the hotel. So of course we couldn't say no.”
I look at them both, and they shrug. “Nana mentioned that you liked them both and they made you feel comfortable, so I asked them to fly. It also doesn't make sense for them to return when nobody else needs the plane.” I throw my arms around Kai at his explanation, kissing him on the cheek.
Jaxon grumbles about giving them their accommodation, so I roll my eyes but give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek too. Need to make some baby steps if I’m going all in here.
We settle in for our flight, and before long, we’re high in the air, winging our way to the tropical island.
Chapter Nineteen
