Chapter One
LEX
“Do you think the girls will be upset if they don’t get to dress up for New Year’s Eve?” I ask Mia softly, who is naked and lying on my chest in bed.
“I won’t care, I’m always happy in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, you know that,” she replies.
“Yeah, and you come before anyone else, so I’m planning for you.” Kissing the top of her head, she giggles.
“Well, the rest of the girls aren’t like me. They like nice sparkly, pretty things, so make your choices at your own risk.” She tilts her head and looks up at me with those beautiful eyes that are always full of warmth.
“You could help me plan this.” I have an idea, but I haven’t shared it with anyone, yet.
“Not a chance, you are on your own. You have a silent competitive streak, and you will want to beat the boys on their trip selections from the last three years. I don’t want to get wrapped up in that, thanks. I already have enough on my plate with the kids and work. You still have six months, I’m sure you’llcome up with something.” Propping herself up on her elbow, Mia looks at me while rubbing her hand over my chest.
“I’m not that bad,” I grumble.
“Lex, you’re talking to your wife, the woman who knows more about you than you know about yourself. You may not be a lawyer anymore, but you still have that dog-eat-dog attitude inside you. I’ve seen it come out on the basketball court many times. Or even with Jack when you two are playing chess. Between you and his fourteen-year-old rushing testosterone, there are plenty of competitive vibes in this house.” She kisses me softly as she settles herself back on my chest where she loves to be, with her head over my heart.
“That boy is too damn smart. How can a kid his age beat me at chess. Seriously.” I sigh. “Pity he doesn’t apply that brain to his schoolwork and get his grades up.” I never want to be like my mother and push him to the point he hates me, because I love Jack so much. But as much as I love him, he frustrates me equally as much.
“He is the top of his year in music,” Mia defends him. “The other subjects just aren’t as important to him. We both know where he uses his energy, and it’s hard to argue because he’s good at it.”
“Still, he could be top of his year in other subjects too. You never know where life will take him or what school grades he will need.” I would love for him to work with his mother and Aunt Paige in the family business, but I haven’t ever voiced that to him or Mia. Because if there is one thing I learned growing up, it’s that every child should feel they have the space to choose where their life is heading. My mother took that choice from me, and it’s just one of the things I’ll never forgive her for.
“Lex, I know you would be super proud if he got on some of the honor rolls at your old school, but it’s just not important to him. Please don’t ever let him feel like you’re disappointed inhim.” Mia’s voice dwindles to nothing more than a whisper, and I feel like I’ve just been punched in the gut.
I roll her off me so that she’s flat on the bed and I’m over the top of her, my face mere inches from hers.
“Jack, or any of our other kids for that matter, could never disappoint me, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I love that boy so freaking much, and I’m extremely proud of him every day. Those honor rolls are from a lifetime ago and meant more to my mother than me. I don’t care what career they choose; I just want them all to be happy. Because let me assure you, I know what it’s like to get up and go to work every day in a job that no longer gives you any joy. It sucks.” I try to see into her soul to make sure she believes me.
“Our children are the luckiest kids in this world to have you as their father.” And there it is, the smile and twinkle in her eye that tells me she’s happy. I never get tired of seeing it.
“Remind them of that when they think I’m being mean and won’t give them another helping of ice cream.” Dropping my head, I start to kiss up her neck toward her ear. “Speaking of dessert, I haven’t had mine yet.”
“I didn’t know it was on the menu tonight.” Mia giggles.
“It’s on my menu every night,” I growl as I slip down and start to take my fill of my beautiful wife.
“What do you mean you need us to clear our calendars for ten days around New Year’s Eve?” Tate looks at me like I’ve grown horns. “Do you know how hard it is to take time off in the holiday season, let alone ten whole days?” He throws the basketball at me across the court.
“For fuck’s sake, you are the chief of neurosurgery at the hospital. Surely with six months’ notice, you can make it work,” I reply, bouncing the ball in front of me. “Same with Bella and Gray. You are all heads of your departments; the medical world will survive without you all for a week or so.” I know Mia has already cleared the schedules for her, Paige, and Mason.
“What about Tilly, it’s her busiest time of the year,” Gray grunts at me like I didn’t include his wife.
“Yeah, and I’ve already checked with Fleur. It’s her year to attend the events, so she said Tilly will be fine.” They forget I’m the fine-details man in our group.
“What the hell are you planning that we need ten days, and how the hell are we going to get someone to watch our kids for that long?” Tate is still grumbling which makes me laugh on the inside because he’ll probably love this trip the most.
Mason is quiet as usual. Being our pilot, I’ve already had to clear it with him, so he knows exactly what’s going on. Especially with it being a long-haul flight with all twenty of us. He has had to book extra pilots, and I know nothing about the planes that Ellen Corporation own. They started with one but now own two, the second being a bigger plane to fit us all and is able to handle longer flights. Although I’m not sure they’ve ever used it for a flight this long before.
“Don’t worry about the kids, I’ve got that taken care of. Can you just stop being a pain in the ass and sort out your schedule at the hospital? I need to know by next week.” There are so many wheels in motion right now. I just need to know that I have everyone on deck and locked in.
“Yes, sir.” Tate mock salutes me, and I roll my eyes at him.
“I’ve got to run. I’m due in a meeting in thirty minutes.” I pass the ball to Mason who brought it this week.
“How’s the build of the new house coming?” Gray asks.
