Smartass.
Turning his attention back to Lexi, he said, “I’d love for us to take the kids somewhere for a few days. And I’m not opposed to taking Annabeth out of school if you and I can’t snag a weekend. What do you say? Please? The four of us deserve a little getaway. You know…testing more waters.”
She smiled sweetly. “I…I guess. I just don’t want anyone to think I expect special treatment because we’re dating.”
Obviously, everyone heard her, and they all promised that wasn’t the case. They agreed that she was part of their core team and deserved this break just like everyone else.
“Okay then,” Harlow said, clapping her hands together loudly. “Let’s break out the calendar and schedules and then we can either draw straws or put numbers in a hat to determine who gets to pick their dates first.”
“Basically, we’re working with only the next two weeks, right?” Axel asked.
“Exactly. And there are four of us—three couples—vying for time during those weeks. That means we each get approximately three to four days,” Walker said.
“Since I’m the lone guy without a girlfriend and no one to have to discuss this with, I’ll just take whatever dates are left,” Slater volunteered. “I’ve had the chance to get away more than any of you, so if we really do the math, that means you all get four days and I’ll take two.”
“That doesn’t seem fair, Slater,” Maisie said.
“It really is. I’ve flown out to meet up with coworkers when I was looking to hire, and I’ve gone to help my old boss, so really, I’m good. I promise.”
So, they all pulled out their phones and laptops and looked over the resort schedules and weighed all the pros and cons of which dates were best for each of them. Ultimately, Axel and Maisie got the first four days starting tomorrow because they were the most motivated and didn’t need to make a plan.
Walker and Harlow took the next four, giving Connor and Lexi the most time to look at the best places to take the kids. Connor already had some ideas, but he wanted to make sure Lexi agreed with them.
“It’s getting late,” he announced as he got to his feet. “I’ll call down to the kitchen for them to come and clean up because I need to get Annabeth back to the cabin to get ready for bed. It’s a school night.”
Everyone stood and helped get some of the mess cleaned up, and it easily took fifteen minutes before he and Lexi and the kids could leave. He didn’t want to say too much about going away just yet because he didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.
“Do you think you and Jonah can hang out at the cabin with us for a little while?” he asked as they stepped onto the elevator.
Jonah was jumping up and down just because he could, and Lexi had to remind him to behave. When she turned to Connor, she shook her head. “I think he needs to unwind and go to sleep.”
“Oh.” And yes, he pouted.
“But how about we talk on the phone after they’re both asleep?”
“I guess. I prefer sitting with you in person, but…I get it.”
She gently patted his cheek. “Me too. But what you proposed tonight is going to be a great thing.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk about. Any suggestions?” He knew he was being vague, but with reason.
“Um…not really, but I’m sure you already do, so I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
“You know me so well.” And since the kids understood that they were dating, he was free to lean in and kiss her.
Chastely.
When the elevator doors opened on the main floor of the lodge, they followed behind the kids across the lobby and out the main doors. Annabeth talked about the science homework she’d finished earlier as Jonah sang a song about frogs.
This was good. Everyone was talking and laughing, and it was just all so good and everything he wanted. They hadn’t had any time to talk about moving things to the next phase, but hopefully that would come up while they were away.
He just had to wait a damn week—eight days—before he could bring it up again.
Patience was definitely not his strong suit lately.
They came to the cabins, and he kissed Lexi goodnight before he hugged Jonah and she hugged Annabeth, and then they went their separate ways.
Which he hated.
