Page 2 of NYE in The Cayman Islands

“Good for you, I crawled into bed at two am after an emergency delivery of a little boy who decided he wasn’t waiting until I got back from my trip. So that fifteen minutes would have been appreciated,” Gray grumbles as he sits back in his seat,smelling his coffee as he sips it and sighs. “You’re just lucky this plane has strong coffee, otherwise I might be a grumpy gyno this morning.”

“I’m sure it’s no different to every morning, hey, Tilly?” Mason laughs as he comes out of the cockpit.

“Says the man who was the eternal grumpy shit until he met Paige. We are thankful every day since she turned up,” Gray replies.

“I just love her for her jet.” Mason winks at Paige, and we all hold up our coffees, cheering Paige as she laughs, and Mason pulls her in for a side hug and leans down to kiss her on the top of her head.

“Okay, speaking of jets, where is this one heading today?” Lex asks the question on everyone’s lips.

Looking toward Mason, he nods to me that he is ready for us to depart.

“Damn, I hate that it’s time to finally tell you. I have loved torturing you all for months.”

“Does that mean I get a break from your torture after today too?” Bella is looking at me with that sparkle in her eyes that tells me she is over leaving the kids and is ready to enjoy our time away.

“I’m pretty sure you signed a piece of paper that gave me permission to be your pain in the ass for the rest of our lives.” Leaning down, I give her a big, exaggerated smooch on the lips.

“Why didn’t someone warn me what he was like?” She giggles.

“We did,” they all cry out at the same time.

Standing up straight again, I flip them all the bird. “Maybe I won’t tell you then, you can all suffer for a few more hours.”

“You do know my husband is the pilot, right? I do have ways of making him talk.” Paige taps her nails on the arm of her chair like she is thinking of what she is going to do.

“No, that breaks the strict no-mile-high-club rule when we all fly together.” I wave my finger at her like a child.

“Ah, I am the pilot, pretty sure I’ll be busy flying the plane,” Mason says, chuckling and winking at Paige at the same time.

“I’ve seen you multitask before,” Paige counters his argument.

“Okay, that’s the end of this discussion. I really don’t want to know what my sister and her husband have done on this plane. Now, Tate, pretty please can you tell me where you are taking us?” Mia bats her eyelids at me, using the sweet innocent voice she has.

“Not fair, Mia, you know I can’t say no to you.” Everyone groans at me, but they’re also waiting for the answer.

“Well, Las Vegas…” I didn’t get the rest of the sentence out and the guys all start cheering and fist-bumping each other. “Hang on. It was my first choice, but my beautiful stick-in-the-mud wife vetoed that choice, threatening divorce.” And this time all the ladies are hive-fiving each other.

“Thank God. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have seen any of you the whole time we were away. Hmmm, actually, there could be merit in that idea. Save that for a later date,” Tilly says, laughing with the girls.

“You know I hate the cold, and we have spent the last two in the snow, so this year we are off to Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.” Mason passes me the flower leis that I had him stash on the plane earlier.

Walking around, I put one on each of them.

“Now drink up those coffees because once we are in the air, the mimosas will be served, and we can start shedding off the winter woolies.”

“I knew it. You were always going to chase the sun.” Lex smiles at me. “And I’m sure you have a jam-packed day of adventure planned for us all.”

I laugh out loud. “Oh, you have no idea what’s in store for you. Time to let your hair down, Mr. Serious.” Ruffling his hair, I take my seat and look at Mason.

“Ready when you are, Captain White.” I salute him, and he can’t help but laugh.

“I always knew Tate’s year would be painful,” Mason mumbles as he kisses Paige before heading back to the cabin, and we all start strapping into our seats.

“Keep me safe, baby,” Paige calls after him, to which he replies, “Always.”

And even though I know they are playing around, it’s something Mason takes very seriously with not only Paige and his family, but with all of us extended framily. He is the protector of the group, and we all love him for it.

Thinking through all the bookings I have arranged for after we land, I know that today is going to be a very long day, but one we will never forget. If we are going to end this year together, let’s do it with a bang.

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