“Maya!” Emily gasped. “You went deep, girl.”
“You knew I was going to say something. I mean, let’s face it, it was inevitable.” Maya laughed at Emily. “He’s lucky I only threatened to hurt him. I could have gone even deeper.”
“Don’t mess with my girl.” Jordan pretended to punch Maya’s chest. “She might be small, but she’s mighty.”
“No one is hurting anyone.” I raised my glass of scotch. “You’ve got Dad’s back, don’t you, Ben?”
Emily kissed the top of Ben’s head. “No, Ben’s on my side.”
“I’m on Fenway’s side!” Ben shouted.
Of course, only Emily and I chuckled since no one else knew who Fenway was.
Jordan lifted Ben in his arms. “I wish we could take you to LA with us, little man. It’s too bad you have school.”
Jordan and I were leaving next week for a three-day trip to the West Coast for a little bit of business, but mostly pleasure. When it had been planned, Emily hadn’t agreed yet to move in, so Jenny was staying the two nights at my place.
“I wanna go.” Ben pouted.
“At least you have me.” Emily put her hand on Ben’s back and slowly looked at me and smiled.
“I have an idea.” I nodded toward Emily and then at Maya. “That is, if the ladies are up to it.”
“I hope you’re about to tell us that Emily and I get to have a two-night slumber party with Ben at your house?” Maya announced.
“That’s exactly what I was going to suggest,” I replied to Maya.
“Yesss.” Maya smiled as she looked at Emily. “We’re so in, aren’t we, babe?”
“That’s a hard yes.” Emily continued to rub Ben’s back while Jordan held him. “Do you want Maya and me to spend the night with you while Dad’s gone?”
“Yes!” Ben jumped in Jordan’s arms.
Emily laughed. “It’s settled, then.” She looked at Grandma. “How about you and Melinda come over for dinner one of those evenings, and we’ll have a girls’ night with Ben?”
Grandma lifted her arms in the air and danced, her new knee holding up just fine. “Count us in, darling.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Emily
Gavin:I miss you, baby.
Me:I miss you too. We’re having the best time, Gavin. Jenny picked up Ben from school, gave him a bath, got him dressed in his jammies, and stayed here until I got home from work. Maya came over a little before dinner, and now we’re eating the cupcakes we baked together. You know, just a little sugar before he goes to bed.
Gavin:It won’t keep him awake. Sugar hits him hard in the morning. In the evening, it takes three stories and the kid will be knocked out.
Me:Business stuff all done?
Gavin:We wrapped up the meeting late morning, checked into the Cole and Spade Hotel in Laguna Beach and went surfing. Heading to a cigar bar soon and then dinner at one of Walker’s restaurants.
Me:Have the best time with your brother.
Gavin:You do the same with Ben and Maya.
Gavin:Grandma has already texted me twice about your girls’ night tomorrow night. Needless to say, she’s excited. She’s sending over her chef, by the way.
Me:She told me, lol. She doesn’t want us to do anything. She really spoils us.
