Page 30 of All in December
“Yeah, I think so.”
“I was thinking maybe we should go back up to the mountains. We could do a day trip, or if you’d like to do overnight, I can find a place for us. Emma and Benji would come too, and we can see how they all get along once Emma’s in the mix.”
“I’d love that,” he says happily. “Sam would too.”
I smile, already pulling up the vacation rental site on my laptop.
“Good. I want to see you again, Cay.”
“Me too,” he murmurs. And I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I’ll text you the details once I find a place,” I say. “And… I’d really love to wake up wrapped around you again, but I’d also like to do more.”
“You have no idea how much I want that,” he says, letting out a soft laugh.
“Mmm, don’t distract me now.” I laugh. “I’ll text you soon. Bye, Cay,” I say before hanging up.
I click through cabin after cabin, but it doesn’t take long to find the perfect one. It has two bedrooms—one with bunkbeds for the kids and one with a queen bed for us. The floor plan shows the rooms on opposite sides of the cabin, split by a cozy living room and a small kitchen. It’s perfect.
I send him the link with a quick message.
Think this one has our names on it.
His response comes fast.
Caleb:
Looks great to me. Can’t wait!
There’s only one more thing I need to do before booking it. While I’m not required to tell Tess what I’m doing with the kids, we always give each other a quick heads-up when we’re taking the kids somewhere overnight. I pull up her contact and hit the call button.
“Hey,” she says, picking up on the second ring. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I confirm. “I wanted to let you know, I’m planning to take Emma and Benji up to the mountains again this weekend. Just found a cabin for Saturday night.”
She hums knowingly. “And does this cabin happen to include a father and son duo I’ve heard about recently?”
I laugh, not even trying to hide it. “Yeah, it does.”
“Well, as long as you send me the address, I think it sounds great.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know.” She pauses. “And hey, I’m happy for you, Nash, really.”
I glance over at the rental listing still glowing on my laptop screen, and a warmth settles in my chest. “Thanks,” I say. “Me too.”
As soon as I set the phone down, I book the cabin and the confirmation email pings in my inbox. I take a screenshot of it and send it to Caleb with the address.
This cabin should have plenty of space for all of us—and just the right amount of privacy for the things I’m aching to explore with Caleb.
I’m mildly worried about how fast we’re moving—especially since we’re involving the kids, but two of them were there when we met, and for all they know, we’re simply planning the trip the boys have been asking for. Besides, I don’t plan to tell them anything until we allow ourselves to fully explore our feelings.
Besides, I have a damn good sense of who I am at this point and what I want, and it’s him. I’m not willing to risk missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime feeling, especially when he seems so all in too.
“Dad?” Emma’s voice calls from down the hall. “Benji just spilled his cereal all over the counter.”
I sigh, already standing, and shaking my head.
