Was some part of me a little worried about being a mother when I’d never had a mother of my own? Sure. But I did have a loving father who was a great example of what love could look like. And, unlike him, I was good with the ‘girly shit,’ so if we had a daughter, she would have someone who could teach her how to put on makeup, get the right bra size, and how to use pads and tampons… without having to pull up a video online in front of her and make it awkward for both parties.
I guess I would have to figure out at least some basic cooking skills, though, if I wanted to raise a kid. But I had a feeling I knew someone who would be all too happy to teach me how to make a few basic recipes.
“What’re you smiling about?” Caymen asked, making me jump.
“Hm? Oh, you with a tool belt on,” I told him. “I think we might have to include that with the wifebeater the next time.”
“You’re ridiculous,” he said, but he totally flipped his hammer the next time he reached for it solely for my benefit.
It was hot.
I cranked up my heating pad, popped a chocolate in my mouth, and cursed my cycle for getting in the way of this newfound fantasy of mine.
Caymen - 6 months
“I know it’s a completely different boat,” Noa said, reaching up to hold her white sun hat with the obnoxiously wide brim on her head, “but I can’t help but feel like we have some late-night attack ahead of us.”
“Well, this is a super yacht,” I reminded her as I hauled one of the bags up higher on my shoulder. “I don’t think anyone could reasonably pull up beside and scale it.”
“You say that, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it in a movie.”
“Yeah, but in movies, guns have endless magazines and people can take high-speed car chases inside a crowded mall.”
“Fair point.”
It was the first time in months we’d even heard from Zayn. Which had been suspicious. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but I could tell Huck was concerned that maybe the last deal almost going sideways had soured our relationship with the international arms dealer.
We’d all been relieved when he called to offer any (or all) of us to join him on his mega yacht.
But it was school time for kids, so most of the guys had to stay home. It was just me, Noa, Dixon, York, and Velle.
Add in Zayn to that equation.
It was going to be a party on the water.
Noa and my lives had been pretty calm since we moved mostly out of the clubhouse. We worked, got take-out, and watched movies.
Sure, we went to the clubhouse a few nights a week for dinner, but we typically left before the parties got started.
So we were due.
“Oh, my friends!” Zayn greeted us, arms spread, flutes of champagne in each hand. “Don’t worry. I promise no one will be kidnapped off this boat today.”
“Careful,” Noa said, taking one of the flutes. “You never know.”
“See that boat?” he asked, nodding toward the water behind the yacht.
“Yeah,” Noa said.
“That is my security crew. Well, there are some on board as well, but they will be following us and making sure there are no issues. So drink, enjoy.”
I took my champagne as Noa moved forward, eager to check out the space.
“How have you been?”
“Ran into some trouble in Turkey,” he admitted. He waved it off, but I could see the darkness in his eyes.
“Sorry to hear that. Did it all get sorted?”
