Page 6 of NYE in The Cayman Islands

“It was a bit of fun, boys, see the funny side in it,” I say, splashing the water over in their direction.

“Yeah, lighten up,” Gray adds. “God, before you blink it will be our boys out here trying to rile up some old guys and thinking they are fucking hilarious. Coming home, telling us how funny it was.” Gray looks at all of us, knowing he doesn’t have any boys to worry about but still including our boys as his.

“Not mine, they are perfect angels.” I hold my hands up under my chin and pretend to be praying.

All three of them look at each other then back at me and burst out laughing, louder than before.

“We are talking about the same kids, right? Because I’m the first to admit that my son John will be right in the thick of it.” At least Mason is realistic that both our sons are growing up just like we were. Noisy, curious, and full of energy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I don’t know, I kind of have a feeling that it’s the girls that we will have to worry about. The boys will be noisy, and we will know what they are up to, but the girls will be the sneaky ones and not so sweet and innocent like we are hoping for.” Gray rolls his eyes, as he is the one who has the most to worry about.

“I don’t know, I think Jack will have them all under control, and with the help of his cousin Grace who seems to be everyone’s mother, then I think we will be fine.” Lex seems convinced his oldest son will be the guiding influence.

I am now close to Lex and tap him on the shoulder. “I want to hope so, but he is only one boy, we can’t expect him to perform miracles now, can we.”

“Anyway, I think we are done with the paddleboarding. Let’s go check on the girls and move on to the more sedate pedal boats where we can take our girls with us and make them do all the pedaling.” Turning to the shore, we start to wade back in toward the beach.

“Always such a gentleman, aren’t you, Tate,” Lex yells after me.

“I’m joking, Lex. Seriously, you need to lighten up today.” I’m not sure why I’m even saying that because today is no different to any other. Mia and the kids have certainly helped, but he still gets so uptight, and I know it doesn’t help when we keep picking on him, but he is such an easy target.

As I’m walking up the sand, I lay the board and paddle down with the pile the girls had left. I can see the four of them leaningin together and hugging. I might be mistaken but it looks like they are hugging Bella, but it’s probably just the angle. They are so close that they are doing things like that all the time.

It still has me feeling a little on guard.

I just want everyone to have a great time together.

They all like to joke about me, and I put on the smart-ass attitude most of the time, but I care deeply about everyone here, and it’s my job to make sure they are happy, and I don’t want to let anyone down. Plus, they will never let me hear the end of it.

“What’s going on here?” The tone of my voice is light, but it’s not how I feel.

They pull apart from their hug, and Bella has tears in her eyes.

That lighthearted tone just changed in a split second.

“Tink, who do I have to kill for putting those tears in your eyes?” Moving to her side in two steps, I’m about to pull her up to me when she waves me away.

“Oh, don’t be silly, I was just laughing so hard at those guys knocking you all off the boards. You must admit it was pretty funny.” Wiping her face, the others join in and are all talking at once. I swear sometimes it’s like a chicken pen when they are talk over the top of each other. I think they do it on purpose half the time to confuse us boys, and to be honest, they succeed.

“Yes, yes, hilarious!” Lex declares, picking up his towel from Mia who is holding it out for him.

Gray joins us, leaning down and kissing Tilly on the top of her head as he reaches behind her to grab his towel. “Mr. Old and Grumpy over there is not impressed by a few younger guys trying to show off and rattle a group of older—not old, but older—men. I mean, it’s just that they obviously felt threatened by us and needed to take out the competition on the water.”

“Oh, they bruised a few egos, did they?” Tilly starts laughing at the scowl on Lex’s face.

“Not a chance. My ego is big enough to take a nudge or two from those college guys.” I’m laughing now at the thought of us when we were college-age and the stupid shit we got up to.

“I think we are all forgetting the antics of our younger selves, people. I seem to remember, Lex, you led that prank on those older law students at college that were making life hell for a few of your friends and that girl you were trying to impress, what was her name again? Martina or something like that.” I think back to the time we visited Lex at college and helped him pull this off.

Mason laughs. “Yes, that was freaking funny. The email you guys sent me trying to tell me what you had done had my whole platoon in stitches that night in the mess hall. I just wish I was there to see it.”

Paige is now looking at him quite intently and waiting for the story. “Not our quiet Lex, I can’t imagine him instigating something. I mean, we’ve heard about him following you idiots in doing stupid things, but Lex, what made you become a rebel?”

“I hate you all, you know that, right? Why do these trips away always result in some stupid story coming up?” Lex grumbles.

“Why are you worried about this story, Lex? It sounds like you might have taught these guys a lesson, or did something bad happen?” Mia is trying to be sympathetic to her husband, but I can tell she is trying to hold back laughter.

“Ughh, I’m not going to get out of this, am I?” he asks, looking around at us all.

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