“Of course, honey.”
“He’s here for a few days. He told us he and Gemma want to take us away for the weekend. There’s this hotel with a waterpark inside it. Can we go?”
Mia blinked. Of course he’d want to spend more than an evening with them. He’d driven all the way from Wichita, after all.
“Let me talk to your dad later. You’ll miss football practice if you’re not here on Saturday.”
“I know, but I really want to go. Noah says the waterpark is amazing. There’s this giant bucket that empties water all over everybody.”
She glanced at Cam. He was watching them with interest, a tic popping on his jaw.
“I’m pretty sure you can go,” Mia told him. “I just need to hash out some details with your dad, okay?”
“Okay!” Josh grinned widely. “Thank you, Mom.” He ran back down the steps, to the front bench, where Niall and his girlfriend had taken a seat. Josh sat beside his dad, talking rapidly to him. Niall turned his head and looked up at where Mia was sitting.
She took a breath and raised her hand to wave at him. Niall blinked and waved back.
There, that wasn’t so bad. Maybe he’d actually stick around long enough to spend some time with his kids.
“So you’re free all weekend,” Cam murmured. “That’s interesting.”
“It is?”
“Yeah, it is. Forget about the naked rehab, let’s go away somewhere.”
“Away?” Mia blinked. “Where?”
“Somewhere that definitely doesn’t have a giant bucket that dumps water over everybody,” he told her, his face serious. “Though I can’t promise you won’t get wet.”
“Why do I think this is a bad idea?” she murmured, shaking her head.
“It’s the best idea.” His eyes softened. “Two whole days together. Naked.” He gave her a crooked grin. “If you prefer, you can stay at my place, though if your car’s parked in my driveway overnight people will definitely talk.”
“What if I don’t come at all?”
“Not an option. I promise I’ll always make you come.”
She laughed softly. “You’re a goof, you know that?”
“I’m a goof for you.”
Her heart did a little leap. “Shut up and go coach the team.”
Cam looked over his shoulder, as though he’d forgotten all about the football game. “Shit, yeah, I should go.”
“I hope you weren’t this uncommitted when you played pro,” she said with a grin.
“Luckily for the Bobcats, I didn’t know you then.” He stood, his strong body towering above her. “I’ll send you our travel details tomorrow.”
Our travel details. A fizz of excitement shot through her.
Forty-eight hours alone with Cam Hartson. She wasn’t sure either of them would survive it.
“Okay, you two need to go pack for your weekend. Your father’s picking you up right after school.” Mia took their empty plates. “Josh, I’ve laid out all your clothes on your bed. You just need to put them in your duffle bag and add any toys or books you want to take.”
“Have you packed for me, too?” Michael asked with a grin.
“Nope. I don’t dare rifle through your closet. I’m scared something might bite me.” She carried the plates to the sink, rinsing them.
“Where is it you’re going again?” Sam asked the boys. It was one of his rare evenings off. Which was good, because she hadn’t told him yet that she wasn’t going to be around this weekend either. She’d tell him once Michael and Josh were upstairs.
Sliding the plates into the dishwasher, she bit down a smile as she thought about Cam’s message.
Our flight is at ten on Friday night. We’re going somewhere warm. Bring a bikini and sunscreen. C xx
So you’re not telling me where we’re going? You realize I’ll find out as soon as we check in at the airport, right? M xx
Yeah, I know that. But I like to keep you guessing. C xx
You haven’t told me to bring my passport, so it has to be in the US. And there aren’t that many places where I could wear a bikini right now. Is it Miami? M xx
Nope. C
Savannah? M
Still no. C
You’re driving me crazy, you know that? M
That’s what I’m here for. Now leave me alone. I’m trying to get my body beach ready. C xx
“Mom?” Josh asked, crouching down beside her in front of the dishwasher.
“Yes, sweetie?”
“If I take my Nintendo Switch do you think it’ll get wet?”
“Not if you don’t take it into the waterpark.”
“But the whole hotel is a waterpark, right?” He frowned. “Doesn’t that mean the bedrooms are, too?”
She bit down a grin. “No, honey, the bedrooms will be dry. You don’t sleep in the waterpark itself. The hotel is just attached to it.”
“Oh.” Josh’s face fell. “I didn’t know that.”
“It’s okay. I’d have thought the same.” She ruffled his hair. “Are you looking forward to going?”
“Yeah, I think so. Michael seems excited. And Dad says we’ll have fun.”
“You definitely will. It’ll do you good to spend time with your dad.”
“And Gemma, too,” Josh added. “She seems nice.”
“That’s good. Now go pack, okay? You need to get a good night’s sleep. You won’t get to the hotel until late tomorrow, and the weekend will be full of fun. So get all the rest you can.”
“Okay.” Josh nodded. There was still something on his mind. She could see it from the way his brows were crunched together. “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Will you be lonely without us?”
Her throat tightened. “No, my darling. I’ll miss you, but I’ll be fine. I just want you to have a good time.”
“We could ask Dad if you can come?” he said hopefully. “You like waterparks, don’t you?”
“You’re very sweet.” She kissed the top of his head. “But I think you’ll have a lot of fun without me there. Maybe we can go another time.”
“Sure. Okay. I love you, Mom.” He threw his arms around her neck, hugging her tight.
“I love you too, bud. So much.”
It was almost ten by the time the house was quiet and the boys had gone to bed. Half the evening had been taken up with Josh trying to find
