Chapter Eleven

Caleb

Today the Lakewood gymnastics team would be traveling to Washington. I still had a few things I had to take care of before I joined them. Lauren, my secretary, had already arranged a car to take me to the airport. I would be taking my family's private Jet, which meant I would get there well before Ruby and Jen.

I rang the hotel in advance to make dinner reservations for them, then requested that a bouquet of Ruby’s favorite peach roses was sent to her room. There was nothing weird about my intentions. When the lady asked, I told her to say they were from Grant Enterprises. It was a gesture of support for Ruby being such a great captain. Hopefully, it would boost her confidence enough for her to relax and enjoy the experience. I knew how much she loved gymnastics.

The pack was anxious about me leaving them. I was going to be gone for a week. That meant Aaron, my beta and second in command would be left in charge of things. 

“Aaron, I told you, it’ll just be for a week. So, if Angela does give birth between now and then, I’ll be on the next flight home,” I said, reassuring my best friend who was fretting about stepping into my shoes.

His mate, our mutual school friend, Angela, was due to have their second baby in the next few weeks.

He ran a hand through his already messed up hair. I noticed it had started to recede since they had their first child, April. She kept them on their toes. He was always complaining about never getting enough sleep or alone time since she was born.My argument was that he achieved getting Angie pregnant again, so he had found the spare time to do that.

“Alright, man, you better be. You have no idea what she’s like when she’s pregnant. She’s insatiable ... I'm telling you. Nothing I do is right. I swear, she turns into a different person,” Aaron complained.

“Really? That doesn't sound like the same Angie I know. I think the lack of sleep is causing you to exaggerate. Angie is so laid back, she’d fall over.” I gave him a doubtful look. I’d known her since she was a kid. She was too much of a nice person, and she doted on Aaron.

“You didn't see her last night. I was sitting on the toilet, taking a dump, and she needed to pee. She practically smashed through the door like the guy out of the freaking Shining.” He immotated the action of weilding his fist through the air as if he was holding an imaginary ax.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Now I know you’re making it up.”

Aaron pointed a finger at me, seeming slightly unhinged and sleep-deprived. “Laugh all you want, but just you wait until it’s your turn. I’ll be there in the front row, eating popcorn.”

“You do that, man.” I leaned back in my chair as I called his bluff, and snatched up the telephone receiver as it rang.

My secretary, Lauren, spoke on the other end of the line. I observed Aaron cramming a handful of mint imperials into his mouth, then grab another handful from the bowl on my desk. He smiled a toothy smile, showing me the contents of the smashed up mints inside his mouth.

I inhaled through my nose, concentrating hard not to laugh. I can’t believe they let this guy breed and take responsibility of the offspring. My composure slipped, causing me to chortle down the phone as if I'd gone nuts.

“Hello?” I closed my eyes to block out Aaron, who was now doing a sarcastic drum-roll on his belly.

“Yes, I’ll be down in just a second. Ask my driver to pull the car around to the back of the building. Thanks, Lauren.”

“Are you sure there’s no room for one more?” Aaron muttered with disappointment.

“Aaron, you’ll survive. Just try not to let the pack go to crap while I’m gone. If you need some support, call my dad. He’ll stop by to help you out. I assume he’ll be glad to get a few hours away from my mom because, by the sound of his last voicemail, the man’s bored out of his brains.”

He curled his fingers around his chin as he considered my offer. “Ooo, do I spend time with Mr. Grant senior, or pregnantzilla? Gee, let me think.”

I shook my head at him in amusement, chuckling as he stomped around the desk to my now vacant chair, half-assed.

He made himself comfortable and tried to spark a reaction from me by putting his feet up next to my computer keyboard.

“I’m exiting the building now, Aaron. I’m placing my trust in you,” I warned, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t let me down.”

***

Ruby

Mom and I made it on time for our flight. She didn’t mind that Sarah and I sat together because she was more than happy to sit next to Thor ... I mean, Aiden.

I kept throwing her cheesy smirks now and then, and she eye-signaled me to stop it.

“Your mom’s boyfriend is cute,” Sarah whispered, subtly. “He looks just like ...”

“Yeah, I know,” I replied with a grin, cutting her off before she could finish.

Mia and Tegan unclipped their seat belts as soon as the sign lit up green, indicating that it was now safe to move around.

“Psst ... Ruby. Your mom’s friend looks just like ...” Tegan whispered as she peered over the headrest.

“We know!” Sarah and I both whisper-shouted simultaneously.

“Anyway, I’m not sure if he is her boyfriend yet. I haven’t even seen them kiss,” I mentioned, craning my neck around to spy on them.

“I dare you to ask him if he’s checked his hammer into hand luggage,” Mia giggled.

“Shut up, he’ll hear you,” I mouthed.

I turned around in a fluster and locked eyes with Aiden. He flashed a kind smile and my cheeks flushed with heat. I hoped he hadn’t heard what we were laughing about. That would be so embarrassing.