Page 35 of Boss with Benefits

"Our grandparents built it in the fifties," Valeria yelled over the wind from the back seat of the convertible.

We were driving along the shaded, winding roads on the way to the small grocer where we'd stop and pick up items before heading to the house.

"It's a two-story log cabin. Mom and Dad renovated it during the pandemic, added a guest house, and installed a pool for the growing number of grandkids," Tina said, adjusting the scarf wrapped around her dark, curly hair.

"I heard they closed down that camp across the lake," Valeria said, leaning between the seats.

"What kind of camp was it?" Frankie asked.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Rachel had been uncharacteristically quiet on the ride up from the city. She sat behind the passenger seat, staring at her phone.

I pulled into the small parking lot of the market, and we piled out.

"A YMCA camp." I tugged two shopping carts apart. I gave one to my sisters and kept one for myself. "But it didn't survive the pandemic."

My sisters were in charge of alcohol, and Rachel tagged along with me as I picked up food and snacks.

"So are all your sisters coming?" Rachel asked, running her finger along a row of nutrition bars.

"Tina's twin, Maria, will be there with her family. She has three kids—twin boys who are eight, and a girl who's five. They'll stay in the guest house. My other sisters can't get out of work this year."

I loaded the cart with veggies and dips and meat to grill. Rachel loaded it with salty chips, donuts, candy, and sugary sodas.

"You have the palate of an eleven-year-old." I shook my head, my stomach hurting just looking at that crap.

"Shut it, old man. I'm young and spry with a metabolism that just won't stop."

After a fight over what flavor of ice cream to buy—we bought five kinds in the end—we were at the self-checkout.

I wanted to ask her about her grandfather and what was going on there, but I kept my mouth shut. I was determined not to get further involved in her personal life. Despite her joining me on family vacation. Ironic, I knew.

"Are Maria and Tina identical?" Rachel asked as she swiped the food over the scanner and I bagged it.

"No, and they couldn't be more opposite. Maria always wanted to get married and have kids. Tina says marriage is a romance killer. She's been accused of being a love bomber, but that's not true. She knows what she wants. She loves the high of falling in love but not the monotony of being in a relationship." I tapped my credit card and loaded the bags into the cart.

"By the way, Mom doesn't know Frankie is Valeria's girlfriend," I said.

"She's way too Catholic for that," Valeria chimed in behind us, unloading the alcohol next to the register.

"Doesn't that bother you?" Rachel asked.

"Nah. She's from a different generation and culture." Valeria shrugged. "It's not worth the fight."

"She doesn't know you're queer?" Rachel's voice shot up.

"Nope. So please don't say anything."

Rachel frowned and looked over at Frankie. "Don't you mind?"

Frankie hesitated but then said, "It's just a weekend."

Rachel looked affronted on Frankie's behalf, but I jumped in to defend my sister. The last thing we needed was Rachel stirring things up.

"Valeria's proud of who she is, but like all of us, we let Mom live with her outdated views. It's a precarious balancing act, and I don't want anyone disturbing the peace, especially some self-righteous kid."

"I'm not a fucking kid," Rachel huffed. "And it's bullshit."

"It's none of your business," I snarled.

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