“Perfect. You’re nervous; that's just how we want you.”
After spending the remaining part of the evening yesterday in a cigar bar, courtesy of Thomas, Hunter’s dad, we have successfully managed to lull Hunter into a false sense of security that this trip will be calm.
He really should know me better than that.
“Morning, sugartits.” I burst into his room and jump on top of him, wrapping him up and basically pinning him to the mattress.
“Shit,” he groans. “Leo, what the fuck are you doing? We’ve spoken about this. Personal space.”
“Sorry,” I say brightly as I move off him and throw open his drapes. “But the sun is up. You need to get up.”
“Clearly you have woken up in my favorite mood.” He stretches before sitting up and squinting as the morning sunshine streams through, hitting his barely awake face.
“Which is that?”
“Chirpy, full of energy, and fucking annoying.” He throws his pillow across the room at me, and I catch it with ease.
“I can see why that would be your favorite mood of mine. Now…” I clap my hands together. “Get your handsome self up and ready; we’ve got lots to do today.” Grabbing his hands, I pull him up.
“I’m very capable of getting myself ready.” He quirks his eyebrow at me as he stands.
“I’ve heard from Jade you are indeed very capable.” I guide him to the bathroom. “But I also know you are still half naked, and as gorgeous as you are, we have places to be.”
“I’m actually scared by what you and Jade talk about.” He turns on the shower and moves to brush his teeth.
“I think it’s best you don’t know.” I swat his butt, moving to leave the bathroom. “Now move that fine ass and get ready.”
Propping myself up against the headboard, I pull out my phone and scroll to find my dad’s number. He was invited to come to Vegas, but he felt he needed to be near my grandparents. They keep telling him they are fine, but he’s stubborn and thrives on being needed. Since I moved to London, he can no longer helicopter parent me, so they get his constant checkups.
The phone rings twice before he picks up.
“Hey, how’s things in Vegas? You behaving?” His teasing tone has my lips tugging in a half smile.
“All good, Dad. I’m behaving.”
“For now?”
“Yeah, for now. Sure, I’ll go rogue soon.”
“Wouldn’t have you any other way. So, what’s up?”
“Just wanted to check in. I haven’t spoken to you for a few days. Nana and Gramps okay?”
“I’m actually here with them now.”
“Leo, my boy.” Gramps’s deep croaky voice travels down the line. “Tell your dad to get on that plane and join you, will you? He’s driving us crazy.”
“Hey, thanks, Arthur." Dad sighs.
“He’s hovering around like a mother hen; I’ve told him he needs to be out there. Walk on the wild side and let loose, not be here with us old grumps.”
“My wild side is long gone, Arthur.”
“Your wild side never truly got going, son.” His soft tone hits me square in the chest, as I swallow the lump forming in my throat and my mind drifts to my mom.
Dad didn’t have anyone else when he met Mom—no family or at least none that he knew of. He aged out of the foster system and got a business scholarship, and that’s where he met Diana Beaumont. The ballbuster who knew exactly where she wanted to be and wasn’t going to let anyone stand in her way. I’ve heard so many stories from their time in college about how she was the smartest person in every room, but also, she was unfiltered. Her mouth ran away with her. It got her in trouble more times than they could count, but because she was so clever, she could talk herself out of any problem. Dad says I inherited that part of her.
Joseph Brent was hooked from the very first moment, but he didn’t make the first move, too nervous and struck dumb. Apparently, that was Mom. But if she told the story, it would be completely different. Their story was the perfect love story until it wasn’t.
