#VACAY Copyright © 2018 CAMBRIA HEBERT
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Published by: Cambria Hebert
http://www.cambriahebert.com
Interior design and typesetting by Sharon Kay of Amber Leaf Publishing
Cover design by Cover Me Darling
Edited by Cassie McCown
Copyright 2018 by Cambria Hebert
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Author’s Note
About Cambria Hebert
Romeo
“Family meeting!” I yelled from the bottom of the stairs, then, without pause, hit a few buttons on the phone screen.
“This better be good,” a voice grumbled in my ear after several rings.
“Family meeting,” I declared again.
He started to groan, but I hung up.
Family meetings were not negotiable. Not ever. Especially when I had something good I wanted to say.
Rimmel shuffled out of the kitchen, drowning in my hoodie and a pair of oversized sweats. Her hair looked like a chicken took up residence in the strands, and her nose was all scrunched up, accentuating the tired look in her eyes.
“Roman Anderson!” she chided, sassy as ever. “What in the world do you think you’re doing yelling up the stairs like that at six a.m.?”
Running a hand through my damp hair, I gave her a crooked smile. “Family meeting, baby.”
She snorted. “There can’t possibly be anything that important at this hour. If you wake up the boys with all that yelling...” she warned. In her arms, our daughter stirred. Rim glanced down then back at me accusingly. “Look what you did!”
I rolled my eyes. “London was already awake,” I pointed out, gazing directly at the bottle Rim was holding.
Rimmel looked down at our daughter, her eyes softening. My heart clutched a little, tightness squeezing my chest. London might be our youngest child, but seeing Rim standing in my house, drowning in sweats and holding my daughter, was something that would always affect me.
They were perfect standing there. My girls.
“Your daddy is a crazy man,” Rimmel told London. “Calling silly meetings at the crack of dawn.”
London made a sound and reached up for the black-framed glasses perched on Rim’s face.
“Nothing I do is silly! Don’t be telling my girl disparaging things about me,” I grumped, going forward to gently take her out of Rimmel’s arms. After taking the bottle, I glanced down. “Don’t listen to her, Strawberry. Mommy’s just grouchy without her coffee.”
London smelled like Rimmel, and I cuddled her closer into my chest. She reached for the bottle and pulled it to her mouth, her wide blue eyes staring at me like I was the only thing she saw in the world.
Smiling, I brushed at the soft dark hair covering her head. She was a miniature version of my wife, only with blue eyes.
The only one of our children to actually favor Rim in looks over me.
“Go get some coffee, baby. I got this.”
When Rimmel didn’t move, I glanced up. She was staring at me and London.
Lifting an eyebrow, I said, “What?”
That kissable mouth of hers pulled into a soft smile. “I just like watching you with her.”
“You make good kids, smalls.”
“You aren’t so bad yourself, Mr. Anderson.”
Heavy footfalls on the stairs made Rim lift her head.
“I’m gonna kick you in the ass, Rome,” Braeden grumped, scrubbing a hand over his face as he yawned.
“Rise and shine,” I drawled, then leaned over to kiss Rimmel on the forehead. “Get your coffee,” I instructed softly.
“It better already be made,” B bickered, brushing past.
Rimmel smiled and turned to go into the kitchen, but her feet got caught in the damn too-large sweatpants and she pitched sideways.
I lunged forward, clutching our daughter in one hand and reaching out with the other. Braeden moved a little quicker and scooped her up before she could hit the floor.
“Girl, either eat a steak or get some pants that fit,” he said, placing her on her feet.
“I thought you were half asleep.” She smacked his chest and started toward the kitchen. She fell so much it didn’t even faze her anymore.
I glanced down at London. “You can look like Mommy all you want, but how about taking on my reflexes, huh?”
“I ain’t so tired I can’t catch my sister before she busts her ass.” B scolded Rim as they continued into the kitchen. “We got shit to do today. A hospital visit ain’t on the list.”
“You know what this meeting is about?” The accusation in her voice made me wince, and I hot-footed it into the living room. I’d let him deal with that.
Ivy appeared, looking more awake and put together than anyone else in this house. “Morning.”
“Princess,” I drawled.
“What’s all this about?” she asked, adjusting one of her slippers that looked like a pair of tall, colorful boots. “It’s the weekend. Why are you waking us up at the crack of dawn?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
In my lap, London twisted around to glance at Ivy and smiled.
Smiling, Ivy came forward and bent close. “Good morning, London,” she crooned and tickled her belly. “How’s my favorite niece this morning?”
London laughed and fell back into my chest.
“Brothers should be more loyal than this,” Rimmel told B as they both came into the room, carrying mugs of coffee.
Braeden stopped in his tracks. “You questioning my loyalty as a brother? Oh, hells no!”
“What else am I supposed to think? You won’t tell me what’s going on!”
“It’s a surprise,” he said, leaning over to kiss Ivy on the head. “Hey, baby.”
Ivy smiled at him, then took his coffee and started drinking it.
Braeden crossed both arms over his chest and glared at Rim. “Now, about this question of loyalty...”
Rimmel made a cute sound and sat so close she was practically in my lap with London. Shifting, I draped an arm around her, pulling her even closer.
“Who was the guy just last week who damn near got into a brawl at the grocery store to get you the last pack of apple cider they had?” B scoffed. Then, jabbing a thumb at himself, he grunted. “Oh. That’s right. Me.”
“Getting into an argument with a sweet old lady doesn’t count!” Rimmel rebutted.
“Sweet old lady?” Braeden gasped. “She damn near brained me with her cane!”
Rimmel started laughing, her body vibrating against my chest.
“My damn brains were almost all over aisle twelve, and this one laughs?” B intoned. “You better get your wife, Rome.”
“Now, baby,” I told her dutifully. “B doesn’t fight old ladies for just anyone.”
Rimmel and Ivy laughed some more. London copied them because she could.
“Unbelievable,” Braeden muttered, plopping down on the couch nearby. Ivy sat down with much more grace on his other side.
Rim handed me her coffee, which I helped myself to, and threw her arms around B. “Thank you for fighting a granny for me, B. You’re the best brother a girl could have.”
Braeden scoffed, and Rimmel leaned over to peck him on the cheek.
“All right, then,” he said, gruff. “I forgive you.”
“What’s this shit about Braeden being the best brother?” Trent declared, walking into the room. “I’m insulted.”
Drew trailed along behind him, looking like a zombie with a steaming mug of coffee clutched in his hand. “What the fuck is this all about?” he complained. “It’s the middle of the night, Anderson.”
“Little ears are present!” Ivy chided Drew.
His eyes opened a little wider and focused on London. “Sorry, haven’t had my coffee.” Leaning over the back of the couch, he kissed her on the head. “Hey there, sweetheart.”
“Where’s mine?” I cracked, offering my cheek.
“The only dude he’s kissing is me,” Trent declared, shoving my head away.
I laughed.
“What’s this all about?” Trent asked, sitting on the arm of one of the chairs.
Drew slid into the seat of the same chair. Barely a second later, he held the mug up, and Trent took it for a sip, then handed it back.
“It must be bad,” Drew bitched. “I mean, it damn well better be, summoning us up here in the middle of the night.”
“It’s six a.m.,” Rimmel interjected. “It’s morning.”
“For people with chickens living in their hair,” Drew muttered.
Everyone laughed, but Rim gasped and her hand smacked her wild hair. “I didn’t have time to comb it!” she insisted. “I had a daughter to feed!”
Drew made a chicken noise.
I started to laugh.
Rim’s eyes flew to my face. “Don’t you dare laugh, Romeo!”
I coughed. London copied me. After kissing her cheek, I looked at Drew. “You insulting my wife?”
“Have you looked at her hair?” he returned dubiously.
“Unfortunately,” I murmured.
“Yours is just as bad!” Ivy and Rimmel declared at the same time.
Trent made a sound, plucking the coffee from Drew right as he was about to drink it.
“Frat boy!” he yelled and reached up.
Trent held it out of reach. “No more coffee ‘til you tell my sister you’re sorry for calling her a chicken head.”
Rimmel laughed. “Tell him, Trent!”
“Who’s the best brother now?” He smirked.
“For the love of God...” Braeden muttered.
“Sorry, Rim. You know I love ya,” Drew mumbled.
“Love you,” she said sweetly.
Trent gave his coffee back.
“Can we get down to it now?” Ivy asked. “Three boys will be running down those stairs any minute now, and the kitchen is going to turn into a war zone.”
“I love those boys,” B declared proudly.
“We make good kids.” I agreed.
B held his fist in front of Rim, and we pounded it out. When I pulled back, London was watching.
B held his fist out to her. “Give Uncle B some love,” he said.
She looked between him and his fist. Gently, I grabbed her wrist and pushed her hand against his.
“That’s my girl,” he said.
London held her arms toward Rim, who pulled her into her lap. Since my lap was vacant, I pulled Rim and my daughter into mine. Rimmel kissed beneath my chin, and I smiled.
“So?” Trent asked. “What’s the word?”
B and I looked at each other and smiled.
“One word,” he announced. “Vacay.”
“Vacay?” Rim repeated.
Tugging her a little closer against my chest, I clarified. “Remember when we met Liam Mattison a few months ago at the hall of fame event?”
“The snowboarder gold medalist?” Ivy remembered.
I nodded. “He invited us up to his resort in Colorado. We decided to take him up on the offer.”
“We?” Rim echoed.
“Me and Rome,” Braeden put in. “Surprise!”
“Don’t you think the kids are kinda little for that? It’s too cold for them.” Ivy’s words were cautious.
“Adults only,” B told her and flung his arm around her shoulders. “‘Bout time I had my wife all to myself.”
Ivy giggled, but Rimmel sat up, twisting around to gaze at me with wide brown eyes behind her glasses. “You want to leave the kids here?” she asked warily. “And go all the way to Colorado without them?”
Well, that wasn’t the reaction I was anticipating. I thought she’d be happy.
“They’re gonna stay with my parents. Mom is thrilled as shit to have our kids all to herself for a few days,” I explained.
B made a sound of agreement. “My mom said she’d keep Jax and Nova.”
Ivy elbowed him in the stomach, and he made a sound. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“You’re being an idiot,” she told him and pointed at Rim.
All eyes went to my wife, but her stare was still focused on me. London reached up with a chubby hand and grabbed a strand of hair that had fallen over Rim’s shoulder. She tugged, but Rim didn’t seem to notice.
“I haven’t been apart from London overnight since she was born,” she whispered.
“She’s almost one, sweetheart.” I reminded her.
Rimmel’s lower lip wobbled, and I very quickly realized that was not the right thing to say.
Oh, fuck.
“Hey, okay now,” I said quickly, slipping my hand around her neck to cup the back of her head. “Don’t cry.”
Rim leaned down, her forehead on my chest. Squished between us, London wiggled and wormed around.
“I need more coffee,” Trent declared, pushing off the arm of the chair. At the back of the couch, he stopped and reached down for London. “Come on, Lo-Lo. Uncle Trent needs help.”
London went with him happily, and both my arms went around Rim. After a minute, I pulled her back and held her out so I could look at her face. She kept her head down, not wanting to look me in the eye.
“You aren’t ready to leave the baby yet.”
She sniffled. “I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful. You planned a whole trip for us all. I just...”
“Just?” I pressed.
Her eyes lifted, then went back down. “It took us a long time to have a daughter.”
I sucked in a breath, my eyes darting to everyone else in the room. Both guys looked like they swallowed lemons, and Ivy frowned.
“She’s still so little. How can I just leave her here? What if something happens? What if something happens with the boys?”
“The boys love staying at my parents’. They stay there when you go to my away games. My mom helicopters over them so much it’s a wonder they even want to go there.”
Braeden snorted. “Total helicopter grandma.”
“You know they will take care of London, too.”
Rimmel nodded, when she glanced up, I noticed the single tear track down her cheek. I sighed. “We’re not going.” I glanced over at B. “You guys go.”
“Hells no,” he declared. “If we don’t go as a family, we don’t go.”
Drew made a sound. “Agreed.”
Rimmel sucked in a breath and straightened. Before turning to the rest of the fam, she brushed the tear off her cheek. “I don’t want to be the reason the entire family misses out on a vacation.”
“If you ain’t ready, you ain
’t ready.” B shrugged.
“You have horrible grammar,” Ivy told him.
B grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. “You love me anyway.”
Ivy squealed but didn’t bother pulling away.
Trent came back into the room, London in one arm, his mug in the other. “What’d I miss?”
“We aren’t going,” Drew said simply.
Trent shrugged. “Whatever,” he answered mildly, setting his mug on the coffee table and lowering to the floor with London.
With my daughter in his lap, he snagged a pink bear off the pile of toys nearby and held it out to her. She reached for it and pulled it to her mouth to chew the ear.
“You really should have more standards,” Trent muttered, pulling the bear back. London reached for it again with an impatient sound.
Trent spun her to face him and held her up in the air. “You sassing me already?”
London laughed.
“Women,” Trent muttered, pulling her into his chest. London laid her head on his shoulder and patted his back.
The scene was kinda cute, and I couldn’t help but glance over to Drew, who was still sleepy-eyed, but all the alertness he had was focused on Trent with my daughter. Half asleep or not, watching Trent interact with London hit him in the feels. It was written all over his face and the half smile hidden on his lips.
“I’ll go,” Rimmel announced, drawing all our attention from Trent and London.
“Baby, you don’t—”
Rim put a hand on my shoulder like she could restrain me. Maybe she could, because I stopped talking and listened.
“I know it’s time,” she said, eyes focused on me. “You’ve been very patient... I know you were disappointed I missed so many away games last season.”
I felt my eyes soften. “I’m never disappointed in you, smalls. Having you home with our kids is more important than you being at my games.”
“I want to do this,” she said, resolved. “Valerie is going to be so happy to have all three of her grandkids for a few nights.” She paused, glancing at me swiftly. “It’s just a few nights, right?”
I smiled. “Just a few. And if you get homesick, I’ll bring you home.”
A beat passed, and then she nodded.
“Hells yeah!” B said, jumping up off the couch. “Better go pack. We leave this afternoon.”
“This afternoon!” Rimmel and Ivy gasped at once.
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