chapter four

I gaze out at the window as the SUV pulls up to the private jet that will take us to Hawaii. Talk about traveling in style. Of course, Justin had to be a pain in the ass this morning and pout that our vacation was ruined when he heard we weren’t flying alone. I tried to calmly explain to him that it only made sense that everyone would fly with us because what else were they going to do? What kind of fucking sense does it make to have to separate jets on the same day flying to the same location so we can spend a few hours alone? Justin didn’t see it that way. In fact, his exact words were, “Yes that’s fucking right.”

I made him sit in the back with Trace and Derek so Gia and I could talk. I wasn’t about to ruin our vacation because he’s decided to throw a diva fit and act like a child. Tyson squeals as he sees the huge jet and Gia points to the machine, describing how we were going to go up in the air. His face shows confusion and awe as she describes something along the lines of Dumbo flying. I get a warm feeling just watching the two of them.

The car stops and we all pile out of the car, filing onto the huge jet. Justin grabs my hand as we get out and pulls me to him, “I can’t believe you wouldn’t sit next to me.”

“I’m sorry, ill behaved children have to sit in the back.”

He sighs, “Look I’m sorry alright? I just was looking foreword to some serious alone time with you that’s all.”

“And were going to have it I promise.”

Justin squints until we board the plane and makes sure to pull me onto his lap as everyone else get’s on, “So we ready to go?”

“No, we have to wait for Lexi and Shane.” I remind him out loud though he already knows. I suppose he was hoping that I might forget and we could just take off without them.

Justin leans back while rolling his eyes and glances at his watch, “I’ll give them another five minutes before we take off.”

Gia shakes her head as Tyson runs up and down the plane, looking at everything and squealing. Derek gets down on the ground to quiet him and starts to read a book to him as I hear a car pull up. I turn around to look out the window to see Lexi and Shane getting out of the car. I lean into Justin and whisper in his ear, “Be nice.”

“I’m always nice.”

I smile as Shane enters with Lexi, “Sorry were late, Lexi’s luggage wouldn’t all fit,” he says, tossing her a look of annoyance.

“I had to have my things. It’s hot there, you need lots of bathing suits and clothing.”

Shane sits down next to us, “Without someone’s screw up in the plans we wouldn’t be here. This isn’t a vacation,” he hisses.

Justin looks at him, “I like you more and more. So this is the new manager huh?” he asks, his tongue hanging from his mouth as he takes a look at Lexi.

I smack him and stand up, “Justin this is Lexi, my new assistant manager.”

Justin smiles as he looks up at her, “Lexi.”

She leans over and shakes his hand, “So nice to finally meet you.”

Trace grins form ear to ear as he checks her ass out, “Lexi, it’s so nice to meet you.”

Justin purses his lips and Trace catches his eye, backtracking, “Why don’t you come over and sit with me Lexi. I’d love to hear about your new job.”

She blindly follows Trace and sits over with him while I just lay back and relax before the grueling work begins.

________________________________________________________________________

I have been sitting in this damn room for what has to be at least nine hours. Nine damn hours and the end is finally in sight. Shane has his head on the table and try to keep his cool with Lexi. The two of them are at opposite ends of the spectrum and I have the lovely job of moderating each idea.

Lexi finally puts down the phone and the last fax comes through the machine, “This is the last of the paperwork.”

“Thank God,” Shane responds, throwing his pen down on the table and rubbing his eyes.

I sign it and put in the stack next to me, looking at my watch, “I can’t believe it’s four already.”

Lexi stands up stretching, “I can’t believe it’s only four.”

I gather up my things and turn off my cell, “I’m going to go find everyone. Do you guys want to get something to eat or do you want to go find the others at the beach?”

Shane yawns, “I’m going to go with you. I plan on laying on the beach until I’m burned to a crisp.”

Lexi grins, “I’m always up for the beach. Why don’t we grab some shots and head out?”

I rub the back of my neck uncomfortably, “Shane is a recovering alcoholic.”

Shane shakes his head as Lexi covers her mouth, “I am so sorry.”

He just puts his arm around my neck, “It’s fine. I’m at the point where I can watch others drink anyway.”

I rub his arm, “You sure? We can just hit the beach.”

“Naw, grab your drinks and we can walk over.”

I shrug and we go outside, basking in the sunlight that we were deprived of because there were no windows in the conference room. Shane stands back and I feel guilty doing this but he did say it was okay and I’ll only be gone a minute. Lexi stands next to me as we grab our shots, drink them and go back to Shane. He points down the beach, “I think I see them.”

I shield my eyes from the sun with my hand as I look down the stretch of sand, “I think you’re right.”

We walk down a little ways until Tyson sees me and starts sprinting down the beach until he reaches me, wrapping himself around my leg. I pick him up and Shane plays peek a boo with him behind my shoulder. Justin waves from the water and walks out, dragging his surf board and kissing me, “Hey baby. You done?”

I nod, “Yeah were done. You having fun?”

“Just doing a little surfing. You going to join us?”

Gia takes Tyson from my arms, “The water’s wonderful. I’m so glad I’m enjoying your vacation.”

I roll my eyes, “Yeah me too G.”

Trace comes out of the water and sticks his board in the sand, “So you finally going to give surfing a chance Beth?”

I take a step back, “No way.”

“How about you Lexi?” Trace grins at her as she shimmies out of her clothing.

“I’ll go swimming and cheer you on, but I can’t surf. I tried once, it was a disaster.”

Justin takes my hand and pulls me into the water, “Come on. Just give it a try.”

I nervously look at the board, “I’m not a real sporty girl.”

Shane laughs, “Isn’t that the truth. But seriously, get yourself on that board. Surfing is fun.”

“Says the guy who knows how to surf.”

Justin ignores me and puts the board the shallow water, “Okay, first you just paddle like this, then when you see a wave you push yourself up on the board with your legs.”

I groan, “I know, I remember from the last lesson when you tried to teach me.”

He just smacks my ass and helps me onto the board, “I know you can do this.”

Gia starts to snicker, “Yeah Beth, get up and just magically surf.”

“Not helpful Gia,” I say, shakily standing on the board with a death grip on Justin’s arm. He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind but I don’t care. Hell he’s lucky I’m even within the vicinity of a surf board after being swallowed by a wave and almost drowned.

“Okay baby, you need to let go now.”

I bite my lower lip hard and let go, swimming out to the ocean. I see a wave coming up and I feel my legs go out from under me as I try to stand up. The wave comes and goes as I slide into the beach.

“Um that has to be worst attempt at surfing I have ever seen,” Trace spurts out as he sits on the sand laughing hard.

“Thank you Trace,” I groan.

“Just paddle out there and stand up. I’ll go out there with you,” Justin offers, pulling his board out of the sand.”

I wipe the hair away from my face, pulling it into a ponytail which is something I rarely do just because I feel like my hair covers myself adding a layer of protection, “Fine.”

He paddles out with me and points to a wave coming in, “Okay on this one just try and stand up alright?”

I nod and wait until he says “Up!”

I get my feet underneath me and barely stand on the board. But I’m up. I find the board follows my feet as I guide myself into the shallow water before falling off. I come up for air as I choke a little on the salt water. Justin picks me up from the water and kisses me, “You did it!”

I try to just breathe as he hugs me tightly. He sets me back on my feet and carries my board out of the water, “I can’t believe you finally did it.”

“I barely rode a little wave,” I say, though I am a little proud I was able to do it at all.

Derek gives me a high five as I sit down exhausted on the beach, “Nice job B.”

“Thanks,” I pant, “I did my best.”

Justin smiles proudly, “That’s my baby. Did you see her? Pretty soon she’ll be as good as I am.”

I chuckle, “No, thank you.”

Justin lays down on top of me, kissing my neck, “Damn baby. I got the cream of the crop.”

I watch Shane ride in and collapse next to me, “Nice job.”

“Thanks.”

Justin puts his head on my stomach, “You ready to call it a day?”

I run my fingers though his short hair, “Yeah I’m ready.”

He stands up and puts his hand out to me, pulling me up. Trace is too busy playing with Lexi in the water to even know were gone and Gia and Derek are playing with Tyson in the shallow water. That leaves Shane. I turn to him as he lies in the sand, “Shane you want to come with us?”

“No you guys go ahead. I’m going to enjoy the weather before Lexi and I catch a plane home tomorrow.”

Justin puts his arm around my shoulder, “Okay well enjoy it.”

“Will do.”

We start to walk back to the hotel as I towel myself off. I barely put the card in the hotel room door before I’m pressed against the back of it as it shuts. His lips make it’s way over my body and I gently push him away, “Let’s take a shower first.

He smirks against my skin, “Alright.”

I strip out of my bathing suit and head into the shower with him. I wash the sand off my skin as Justin’s focus is more towards how quickly he can get us to the bed. I can’t even remember the last time we had sex because of the work required for the opening of the new facilities.

I turn off the shower and let him carry me to the bed. I lean over and pull out a condom, beckoning him to come closer. He crawls over me and kiss my shoulder, “There was something I wanted to talk to you about.”

I look at him like he’s lost his mind, “Now?”

“It’s kind of important.”

I sigh and sit up, “What is so important that it is stopping you from having sex?”

Justin sits up eagerly, “I was thinking since we have been together a long time and all and we consider us married….”

“Can you spit it out so we can get on with the sex?”

“I was thinking we cold have a baby,” he says with a big smile.

I sit back against the headboard in shock. What the fuck? His smile drops a little as he looks at my expression in confusion, “Why aren’t you happy?”

I push him off me storming into the bathroom and locking the door. His rapping on the door only causes me to ignore him more as I go into my own world where the last ten minutes didn’t happen. But they did. And eventually I’m going to have to come out.

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