Page 6 of Beauty
Fine. I sigh and open the text thread again. I’ll let them know I’m okay and then tell them to leave me the hell alone for the next four days. They’re going to have to get used to easing up on the reins anyway. What are they going to do, track my every move from another continent?
Me: Hi, my annoying, overbearing brothers. I’m fine. Yes, I’m in the Bahamas. Beckett, turn the tracking off on my phone or I’ll toss it into the ocean so you can’t find me. Love you all. See you on Tuesday!
Before they can respond, I power down the device. When the screen goes black, the last of my stress eases out of me like a wave returning to the ocean. Unfortunately, just like those waves, it will return.
I need to figure out how to let it all go. No amount of boundary-setting will keep them from caring. That means it’s time to learn not to let it bother me so much. It’s time to discover who I am without them.
As the car turns into the resort parking lot, a spark ignites inside me, sending goose bumps skittering across my skin. Maybe it’s because I’ve never done this kind of thing alone, but at the sight of the white and turquoise buildings, I can’t help but feel like this is a new beginning.
I’ve just stepped out of the car when a man rushes toward me, wearing a large, professional smile. “Ms. Langfield!”
My heart sinks.
There’s no way this isn’t my oldest brother’s doing.His emergent energy screams “Beckett Langfield threatened to do unspeakable things to me if I don’t follow his instructions to the T.” Fuck.
The man approaches me, practically tripping over his own feet. “Welcome to Blu. We were just informed of your arrival. Please accept my apologies for not sending our service to pick you up.” He gives the perfectly fine sedan behind me a look of disgust while a second man rushes over and takes my luggage from the driver.
With a conciliatory smile at the driver, I rummage in my purse so I can tip him. But before I can pull out cash, I’m guided away. “Miguel will handle that for you,” the concierge says. “Let me show you to the private lobby. I’ll bring you a drink and get you settled there while housekeeping gets your new villa ready.”
I sigh. It’s pointless to ask, but I do it anyway. “Villa?”
“Oh, yes.” His eyes light up. “You’ve been upgraded. Congratulations.” The man looks at me like he expects to find me jubilant over this information. I suppose most people would.
So I paste on a smile and force a cheery tone. “Thank you so much. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”
FOUR
NOAH
“I’ve been upgraded?”
As I take in the marble lobby with views out to the ocean, I wait for someone to jump out and tell me I’ve been punked.
I make a lot of money, especially after signing my new contract, so I can afford to upgrade, but I grew up in a middle-class home with a single parent. My dad put every extra dime we had into my hockey career.
It wasn’t until I was a junior in high school that he literally won the lottery. After that, we had more than enough to splurge, but my dad’s focus then shifted to funding my education and paying off debt. Now he lives in a simple apartment in Boston and maintains a bank balance that’ll allow him to retire any time he wants.
After growing up that way, and with the influence of my frugal father, the tropical vacation itself is an upgrade in my life. Being told I’ve been moved into a villa suite is quite honestly shocking.
And unnecessary.
What the hell am I going to do in a full suite?
“Yes, Mr. Harrison,” the pretty attendant says, lashes fluttering. She’s been flirtatious since she pulled up my reservation and discovered the upgrade. “Follow me.” She comes around the desk, tablet clutched to her chest, and leads me through the lobby. Rolling my small suitcase behind me, I follow, taking in the colorful plants that pop against the white backdrop. This place is so Hannah. I’m determined to pay her back for this trip, though I know she won’t accept money.
My stepsister is my closest friend, and I miss the shit out of her. She works for Boston’s major league baseball team, which just so happens to be under the same ownership as War’s new team. Though she recently published her first book and one day hopes to write full time.
In a perfect world, I’d be living in Boston too, raising my son, spending time with Hannah, and playing for the Bolts with Tyler Warren and Brooks Langfield, another good buddy from college.
I banish the thought. Because where I live is solely dependent on Jen. I’m not going to miss out on anything when it comes to my son.
I blow out a breath. Why the hell are all my thoughts so doom and gloom? I’ve got this one weekend to enjoy myself. I’m not a dad yet.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and when I hold it up, a text notification appears.
War: Did you get your new room?
Chuckling, I type a quick response.
