“Yes.”
She blinks and drops her fork. “Okay, Hudson. Where to?”
“The island.” I glance at Blake to be sure it’s ready for the season.
Blake nods. “Shit, I wanna go there.” Blake rarely takes vacations, so he probably forgot he can actually vacation on our private island in the Caribbean.
“Come with us,” comes out of my mouth before I can filter myself, but I feel good about this, so I don’t retract the invite.
Blake sighs. “I’ll see what I can do. When are you leaving?”
“Next week if I can get a pilot. Preferably sooner. You have sooner?”
“I booked the pilot for Thursday. Was going to hit California for a meeting. But I can cancel if…” He looks at his wife.
“The island sounds nice, Blake.”
Blake nods. “Done. We’ll leave Thursday, and I get to set the departing hour, and everyone will get there on time.”
Benny claps. “How fun!”
“Agreed. Two honeymoons in one trip.”
“Fun and efficient,” I deadpan.
Benny points a fork at Bishop. “You want to come?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “He doesn’t,” I say.
“I don’t,” Bishop confirms.
Thank God.
“But why not?” Vanessa asks.
Fuck.
“I’m not gonna be the fifth wheel.”
“So get a date,” Blake says.
I eat Blake’s crab-stuffed mushrooms ’cause that’s the only thing I like on the Italian menu. To think I married into an Italian family is comical.
My wife, I bet, cooks great Italian food that I’m gonna eat and not complain about. I make a pact with myself to eat and shut up and not be that annoying pest like my uncle. My aunt is divorced as well. She and Mom live together now.
While the ladies argue with Bishop, I people watch, and the rest of lunch passes. I consider canceling my plans and taking my wife elsewhere for our honeymoon, but when I see how her eyes light up as Blake shows her the website for the resort on the island, I don’t have the heart. Still, who spends his honeymoon with his brothers?
Bishop dials and says, “Hey, Mom, want to go with me to the island?”
Okay, so the entire family is coming. Christ.
Blake leans over. “You guys will take the penthouse.”
“Really?” My wife’s eyes are saucers.
I sigh.
Blake pats my hand. “It’ll be fun.”
