“Just for a minute so that you can look outside,” he tells her as she gets on her knees, looking out the window.
“Where are we going?” I ask Stefano, who looks over at me with a smirk.
“It’s a surprise,” he repeats, earning him a glare which makes him laugh. “Last one, I promise.”
“I don’t know, but something about that statement makes me not believe you,” I accuse him. The attendant comes over to hand us water before coming back with a huge fruit plate. “Who is going to explain to her that this isn’t the way travel is done?” I point at Avery, who is looking out the window while she eats strawberries. “No one travels like this.”
He rolls his lips when I ask, “How often have you been on a regular airplane?”
He rolls his eyes. “Plenty of times.”
“Name five,” I demand, holding up my hand and he ignores me and turns to talk to Avery.
“Do you want to go watch a movie on the couch?” He points over to the other side, where a couch seats five people. Avery nods her head and he gets up from his seat before reaching over and picking her up.
I watch the two of them sitting on the couch as they watch a movie Avery chose. He will do anything she says. I wonder when she’ll use it to her advantage for real. I sit in the chair, looking around, wondering how I got here. I get up from my chair and walk over to the couch. I’m going to sit on the other side of Avery when he moves over so I can sit next to him.
Avery is now lying down on the other side with her feet in his lap. “Hi,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders. “How’re you doing?”
“I’d be doing a whole lot better if I knew where we were going.” I look over at him.
“You’re beautiful when you get that look on your face,” he tells me, kissing my lips softly.
“What look?” I ask him, settling next to him.
“The look where you are going to kill me but still like me,” he teases, and this time I can’t help but throw my head back and burst out laughing.
“You aren’t going to tell me?” I prod him, and he shakes his head.
“You are always the one in charge. Let someone else take care of you for once.” His voice is soft as he raises his hand to touch my face. “Be the queen for the week.”
“A week?” I whisper-shout. “I can’t be away for a week.”
“I spoke with Sofia—” he starts, and my eyes get big.
“You did what?” I shake my head, ready to jump out of my seat.
“I called Sofia.” I close my eyes tight while my stomach rises. “I asked her if I could take you away for the week.”
I get up and walk over to my purse. Taking out my phone, I see missed messages from them.
Sofia:
Addison is out this week.
Shelby:
Is she sick?
Sofia:
Nope, her baby daddy is surprising her with a trip.
Clarabella:
Shut the front door!
Presley:
She’s going to have to get so down and dirty.
Sofia:
I think they got down and dirty last night.
Shelby:
On the nondate. Bahahaha
Clarabella: She rode that pony like a rodeo queen.
I shake my head.
I am not out this week. I might be out for a couple of days.
Sofia:
I approved it and we are changing the locks if you come back.
I am not taking the week off.
Shelby:
You haven’t taken a vacation since you started.
I put my head back, closing my eyes. I haven’t, that is true, but I tend to save my vacation days for the days when Avery gets sick.
I took a week off last year.
Clarabella:
Because Avery was sick and then you got whatever she had.
Still took the week off.
Presley:
I agree, you aren’t allowed back at the office this week. Enjoy the D.
Presley:
I mean vacation.
Shelby:
Yes, send all the pictures.
Clarabella:
Not all the pictures. I don’t need to be waking up to a dick picture.
Presley:
Yes, let’s not forget when you sent us an ass picture.
Clarabella:
It was a blurry shot and the kids took it.
Shelby:
I swear I saw ball sack.
Clarabella:
You did not.
Sofia:
Do not send me that picture to confirm or deny.
Presley:
Also, first thing we do when you get back is have a recap of that nondate.
Clarabella:
Yes, we should discuss how that co-parent meeting went.
Our co-parenting meeting went great, thanks.