Page 90 of Never Stop

“Did you want to go to Hawaii?” I was starting to regret my decision on the honeymoon destination.

She shrugged again. “A beach would be nice.”

I sighed. “Well, it’s not Hawaii either. How about you not worry about it and find out when we check in for our flight?”

“You and your secrets,” she muttered.

“They’re all good ones.” I smiled.

“I know. I just want to know already.”

I looked at the time on my phone. “You’ll find out in five hours. But first, I need to get through breakfast.”

She turned and looked out the window at the passing city. The quicker we got there, the faster it would be over and my girl could get some answers.

The cab pulled up to the front of The Carlyle, and a doorman opened Brooke’s side of the taxi. She climbed out as I paid the driver. I stepped out of the taxi and looked for my wife, finding her under the eave of the pristine hotel talking to Bailee.

When I stepped up to the girls, my new sister in law asked, “So, how many of the toys did you use last night?”

I chuckled. “That’s none of your business, little sis.”

“Oh, little sis?”

“Well, we are family now.”

Bailee smiled. “This is true. So I think the plan should be that you do all the talking during breakfast.”

I laughed and nudged my head toward the door. “Not sure that’s going to work.”

Bailee huffed, and I grabbed my wife’s hand as we started walking. The doorman held the door for us, and I whispered into Brooke’s ear, “Relax. Everything will be fine. And if it’s not, I’ll take you to McDonald’s.”

She snorted. “That does sound much better than the hell we’re about to walk in on.”

We stepped into the lobby, the black marble floor shining beneath our feet. Bailee looked around and then started to walk in a direction I assumed was the restaurant. We followed.

“By the way,” Bailee said, turning to us as she walked backward, “Jimmy and Jane are bringing your bags to the airport after this.”

Brooke turned her head to look at me. “We’re going straight to the airport? What about Chey?”

“They’re bringing her. It’s all part of the plan.” I smiled, trying to put her at ease.

We followed Bailee into the restaurant. Round tables sat throughout covered with crisp white table cloths. An extravagant giant floral arrangement with roses and other shit sat in the middle of the room. Brooke’s hand tightened in mine. I turned and saw her mother with her hand raised in the air to indicate where they were sitting.

When we got to the table, the girls hugged her as Stanley shook my hand. I tightened my grip a little, signaling that I wasn’t to be fucked with. Brooke was my wife, and Bailee was my family as well. I didn’t care if this woman gave birth to them.

“Easton, it’s nice to see you again.” Beverly kissed my cheek, and I gave a tight smile. You could cut the tension with a knife. It was rolling off my wife and Bailee so thick that I could only image what was going through their heads.

“It was a lovely wedding,” Beverly stated as we sat.

“Cut the shit, Mom. What do you want?” Brooke asked.

“Don’t talk to your—”

I cut Stanley off, pointing my finger at him as I spoke. “No. We are not to step in unless we have to.”

Brooke reached up and tugged my arm down. “All right. So tension is high. We’ve both been hurt by her our entire life, Stan. We promise to hash it out in a respectable manner given we’re in this fancy place.” Bailee gave him a tight smile and then turned her attention back to her mother. “I’m sureyoucan understand why we’re acting this way?”

Brooke placed her hands back into her lap, and I reached over and placed my hand on her knee. I knew she knew I was there, but I wanted her tofeelthat I was there. She wasn’t in this alone anymore.