Page 125 of Mayhem
The conversation shifted to an Asian-infused restaurant the women wanted to try for dinner and a poker tournament held the following afternoon. Nik wanted to enter, and Paetyn didn’t see the harm in them participating for fun.
“While the five of you do that, I think we’ll do some shopping and check out their art gallery,” Alijah stated.
“I want to take some pictures,” Chayse said. “There’s this hiking trail on the other end of the resort. That jungle-like area, and I think it would make for some good pictures.”
“Yeah,” Erin started. “We can—”
“No,” the five of them stated at the same time.
“No?” Lawrence asked.
“One of you better tell us whatsweetreason you have for trying to dictate what we do tomorrow while you’re wasting money,” Erin stated.
“Quickly,” Alijah added.
“You can go shopping and to the art gallery, but you can’t go into the jungle alone,” Kieran stated.
“We’re capable of taking care of ourselves,” Chayse informed.
“And I need the five of you to realize that regardless of me dating a man, I still am one,” Lawrence told them.
“No one is saying you’re not,” Remy responded. “But I get to worry about your safety, and that’s what this is about.”
“We’re not saying no,” Cruz stated.
“Really? Because that was the exact word that came out of your mouths,” Alijah countered.
“We’re asking that you wait until we can go with you. We know you can take care of yourselves, but it puts us at ease when we can be there in a situation that has the potential to be dangerous. If we let you go alone, and something happens, we’d blame ourselves. Choose a different day and time, and we’ll go. That way, whatever amazing thing you see, we’ll get to experience it with you firsthand instead of you having to tell us. We get to make that memory with you,” Paetyn stated.
“Erin, I am so sorry,” Chayse said after a brief silence.
“Why?” Erin asked, confused.
“Because you live with that,” Chayse responded.
“Right,” Lawrence agreed with a shake of his head.
“How do you ever win an argument?” Alijah asked. “I was prepared to be stubborn and argue as long as necessary.”
“Same,” Chayse responded. “Now, I just want to nod and agree.”
“That’s sorcery. It has to be,” Lawrence threw out.
Erin snorted. “It’s definitely something, but we don’t really argue.”
“I see why,” Chayse responded.
“You act like we do,” Nik countered.
Paetyn tuned them out at that point as Erin placed her legs over his lap. “We’ll choose another day and find something else to fill the time.”
“Thank you, Angel.”
Paetyn took a drink of his Patrón as he ran his free hand up and down her leg. They could do whatever they wanted as long as it wouldn’t endanger them.
35
Erin laughed as Chayse took what was probably her hundredth picture since they’d started on the trail twenty minutes ago. The morning air was nice, and the trees gave off shade as they took in the jungle area on the island’s far side. They’d wanted to come early, hoping it was not too crowded, and before the afternoon heat set in. They hadn’t seen many others yet.
