Page 128 of Mayhem
“Then we can’t wait to see what it is,” Paetyn responded.
They lapsed back into a comfortable silence, seeing fewer people on the beach the further they journeyed towards the area their hut was in. They wouldn’t be able to walk to it and would have to take one of the transportation options or one of the walkways off the beach to get there, but they still had a distance to go before they did either.
“Oh, baby,” Erin said.
“Hmm?” Paetyn questioned, and she paused, pulling them to a stop with her, and looked at him.
“How did you know I was talking to you?”
“I just knew,” he responded.
She furrowed her brow. “Do I call you that more often than anything else? Or more often than I call Cruz that?”
Both men chuckled. “No, Angel.”
She looked between them. “You knew I was talking to him too because you didn’t answer me,” she directed at Cruz.
“I did,” he agreed.
“What kind of magic trick is this?” she questioned, and again they laughed. She shook her head. “That dessert at the restaurant tonight, can you make it for me but with raspberries instead of blueberries when we get back?” she asked, continuing their walk.
“Of course, baby.”
They took one of the walkways off the beach towards the nearest transportation area sometime later.
“Baby,” Erin stated.
“Yes, Maly?”
“How did you…hmm.” They arrived at the transportation area. They’d only been waiting a minute or two when she said, “Babe.”
“Yes, Angel?” Paetyn asked when Cruz asked, “Yes, baby?”
“There is no way,” Erin stated, and Paetyn couldn’t help but chuckle as Cruz gave her an amused look. “You know what? I’m going to chalk it up as my nifty little superpower.”
Once on the cart, the ride to their hut took a few minutes. When they entered, Cruz went into the bathroom to start the shower, and Paetyn helped Erin undress. It wasn’t particularly late, but the following day was full. After breakfast, there was scuba diving with the others, then the three of them would go parasailing after lunch before rejoining the others that evening for dinner at a cabaret show.
Paetyn kissed her shoulder when he had her undressed before she entered the bathroom. Cruz exited a minute later while Paetyn was removing his shirt.
“Come out here,” Cruz requested, stepping onto the patio behind the bedroom. Paetyn joined him, sliding the door closed. “Her lease is up this month,” Cruz said. “I know we’ve never done this, but…” he trailed off.
“We’re on the same page,” Paetyn responded. “We’ll ask her when we get back.”
They stayed with each other a couple of times a week already. Asking her to move in with them had crossed his mind a few times, but he hadn’t wanted to rush her or Cruz if he wasn’t ready for them to take that step. This would be the first time they’d asked someone to move in with them in any of their relationships. It hadn’t felt like a step they needed or wanted to take in the past.
Now, it was something Paetyn knew he wanted. They both wanted it, if Cruz bringing it up was any indication. The decision was ultimately hers, and they wouldn’t push if she decided she wasn’t ready. The intention would be out there for when she was.
They would enjoy the rest of their vacation and bring the topic to her after returning home.
36
Erin walked out of the class, bag swung over her shoulder. It was after eight o’clock, and she wanted to grab food, take a bubble bath, and watch a movie. Her boyfriends were both busy that evening. There was an event at one of Paetyn’s restaurants, and Cruz was meeting with a client out of town and wouldn’t be back until the morning. She would be left to her own devices for the first time on a Friday evening.
As she was getting into her car, her phone rang. She pulled it out and answered the video call.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hey,” Chayse responded.
