#Fam: A Ten Years Later Novella (Hashtag #9)

Chapter 7

7

Rimmel

The plane went wheels down on an airstrip that frankly could have passed for a bowling alley.

This cannot be safe.

Romeo’s warm voice filled my ear, followed instantly by the rush of tingles down the back of my neck caused by the brush of his lips. “Even after all these years, you still hate flying.”

“Don’t you make fun of me, Roman Anderson,” I said even as I squeezed my eyes shut. The plane jostled and bounced on its wheels, and the grip I had on his hand intensified.

“I know I just retired, but I’d still like to retain the use of my hand,” he mused.

Gasping and eyes flying open, I stared down at his fingers that were red from how hard I was squeezing them. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, lifting his hand to kiss the backs of his fingers.

“I don’t think that’s good enough, smalls. You better kiss them again.”

He was a lying liar, but I kissed his fingers again anyway. “This plane is practically a tin can,” I whispered.

“Smells kinda like tuna.”

I spun around to see Braeden’s face—well, part of it—squished between the seats as he tried to join the conversation. He looked so stupid that I laughed out loud and lifted Romeo’s hand to smash it against my lips and muffle the sound.

“Chicken of the sea,” Braeden said again, his lips flapping between the narrow space.

Romeo laughed.

“Braeden, honestly,” Ivy said, but she was laughing too.

His face disappeared back into his row. “Say it ain’t so, Blondie. It’s fishy as hell in here.”

“Shhh,” I scolded, worrying he might hurt the pilot’s feelings.

“We’re going to a tropical island. The fish smell is free,” Ivy whispered.

“For what I paid, we should be getting caviar and champagne for free, not stank,” he muttered.

This time, I leaned over and buried my face in Romeo’s arm to muffle the laugh I could not hold in. I swear, my BBFL got even more ridiculous with age.

Romeo’s shoulders shook with laughter, but he glanced over the seat into the row behind us. “I told you I?—”

“I will toss you out of this plane, Anderson.” Braeden cut him off. “You better get your man, sis. He’s trying to ruin my present.”

I patted Romeo’s arm. “Now, Romeo. Let your brother spend obscene amounts of money on you.”

He snorted.

“A guy tries to do something nice,” B mumbled, and Ivy consoled him.

The plane put on the brakes, and my body was thrust forward. Romeo put his arm in front of my chest to hold me in the seat while the plane finally came to a stop. The second we were still, I pushed his arm and looked across the aisle to where Blue and Jax were sitting.

They seemed to not notice the rough landing and were already staring out the window in fascination. Leaning around a bit more, I looked to the row behind them where London and Asher sat side by side. Seeing me, Ash gave me a thumbs-up and a smile.

A few moments later, we were escorted off the plane and onto the tarmac where several white limousines waited. Farther down the runway, another plane just like ours touched down. I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding the second it smoothed out and taxied forward.

“Safe and sound,” Romeo rumbled in my ear.

I glanced up at him and smiled.

“What about the others?” I wondered. Our immediate family was here, but everyone else was still en route.

“Another plane will be here soon, and then the others are coming in a little later,” Braeden said. “We should all be here by tonight.”

“I had no idea you were so organized, Braeden. I’m impressed.” I teased him. He’d been planning this “retirement party” for Romeo for years now. It practically became his hobby while recovering from his complete ACL tear. Almost the entire time he planned, he refused to tell any of us anything about it and was sneaky and secretive. When he finally revealed the big surprise, I was, well, surprised. It was way fancier and more involved than I expected.

Braeden sauntered over, slinging his arm around my shoulders. “Let your big brother teach you the way,” he said. “I am the king of gift-giving. This here is the best gift Rome’s ever got.”

“What about the four kids I gave him?” I always counted Evie even if she was in heaven with her grandmother.

Braeden scoffed. “He had to work for those too. Plus, he pays for them. This is all free,” he said, spreading his arm to gesture to everything.

“Yes, that ride in the tuna can was super fun. Thanks,” I deadpanned.

He glanced at me and winked. “Just wait ‘til you see what you have to ride in next.”

I blanched. “I hope you mean that limo over there.”

“After that.”

My stomach sank. “Braeden…”

As if he could sense my nerves, Romeo appeared, pulling me away from Braeden and into his arms. “What’s the matter, baby?”

“Now, sis, you know I’d never bring you somewhere unsafe,” B said, trying to calm me down, but the damage was already done.

Romeo was frowning when I glanced up. “I thought we were here.”

His brows drew down. “We are,” he said, glancing at B for confirmation. “Right?”

“About that…” Braeden hedged.

“Braeden,” Ivy warned, popping a hand on her hip. Her high blond ponytail was a little rumpled from all the traveling we’d done today. Which, frankly, was so much.

The only reason I’d agreed to all of this was for Romeo. For our entire family.

Even if I clearly didn’t know what this was.

“Mom! Are those limos for us?” Nova called, the wind blowing her long brown hair across her face. At fifteen, she was as tall as me now. She was also so beautiful with her long, shiny brown hair, blue eyes, and wide, high cheekbones.

“Ask your father,” Ivy said, and we all turned to look at Braeden.

“I feel attacked.”

“Dad?” Nova questioned.

“Of course it’s for you, Critter.” Yep. He still called her that. Poor girl. “Can’t be having my girls ride in anything less than they deserve.”

“Uncle Romeo!” A voice blew in with the wind. “We’re here!”

Our attention turned to the rest of the family heading over from the second plane. Andi waved enthusiastically from Trent’s back with Drew and Travis at their side. Romeo’s parents, Anthony and Valerie, were right behind them along with Braeden’s mom and stepfather, Caroline and John.

She patted her dad’s shoulder, and Trent bent down so she could hop off and run at Romeo.

He caught her and lifted her into his arms. “How was the plane ride, Peanut?”

“Bouncy,” she said. “I think Grandma Valerie is sick.”

“Moms, you need a barf bag?” Braeden called, going to Valerie’s side.

She did look a little green.

“I raised you better than that,” Caroline admonished him.

“Pardon,” Braeden corrected. “How are you feeling, moms?”

Valerie gave him a wilted smile. “Please just tell me we’re here.”

Once again, all eyes turned to Braeden.

“So, ah, we have one more ride after this,” he said, sheepish.

“What kind of ride?” I asked warily.

He blanched. “Well, it’s an island resort,” he hedged.

Drew laughed. “Should have warned some people.”

“I was trying to keep as much a surprise as I could,” he reasoned.

“Braeden James, tell us everything right now,” Ivy demanded.

“I rented out an entire private island resort.”

“An entire resort?” Romeo seemed speechless.

“My brother only retires from an epic fifteen-year career as a pro football player once in his life,” B told him. “You had to dig deep these last couple years to get there. I couldn’t just bake a cake.”

“What’s wrong with baking a cake?” I asked. That’s exactly what I’d done when he came home. I had balloons and streamers too.

He blanched. “Nothing, sis. We like your cake. This is brother stuff.”

I rolled my eyes, and Romeo wrapped his arms around me from behind. “I loved your streamers and cake, baby.”

“Well, it’s no private island,” I muttered. Who even thinks to rent out an entire resort?

Of course, Romeo sponsored and paid for an entire parade in the Knights’s hometown for Braeden when he retired. Built him a giant float with a throne on it that B sat in the entire time. It was ridiculous and made national news.

Must be that brother stuff Braeden was going on about.

“Do the Maldives even have resorts that can be exclusively rented?” Valerie asked, looking less peaked.

When B said a vacation to the Maldives, we were all picturing fruity cocktails and beach chairs… not insane flight time and a private island.

Braeden spread his arms. “We’re here, aren’t we?”

“Get to the seaplanes,” Drew said, glee in his eyes.

I gulped. “Seaplanes?”

“Like I said, our resort is its own exclusive island. There are twenty-six houses, some over-the-water bungalows and some right on the beach. There’s a full staff, clubhouse, and a swim-up bar. Actually, there’s a lot of pools. We have all access to snorkeling and non-motorized water equipment.”

Drew made a disappointed sound.

“Slow your roll, Mask,” Braeden told him. “We have some designated times for wave runners and speed boats.”

Drew and Travis high-fived. Speed demons, the both of them.

“We have the entire island to ourselves?” Ivy asked.

Braeden nodded. “Yep. No paparazzi and a staff that signed NDAs. We need the room anyway. There’s thirty-six of us total.”

Romeo made a shocked sound. “Thirty-six?”

Braeden nodded. “Arrow, Hopper, Joey and Lorhaven, and their kids aren’t the only ones coming.” He grinned. “Liam Mattison and his entire fam is en route too.”

My jaw dropped. “Bellamy and Sabrina are coming too?”

“Yep. Daniel, Meredith, and their daughter too.”

“We get to see everyone!” I exclaimed.

He beamed. “An entire week with our entire family in a tropical paradise.”

Ivy threw her arms around Braeden. “This is incredible! Worth every penny!”

He hugged her tight and grinned over her shoulder. “Makes the seaplane ride worth it, right?”

“What’s a seaplane?” Andi asked.

“A plane that takes off and lands in water,” Trent explained. “Instead of the wheels like what’s on those planes”—he pointed to the ones we just exited—“a seaplane has pontoons on the bottom to make it float.”

Andi pursed her lips. “So it’s a flying boat?”

“My girl is a genius,” Drew mused.

“Aren’t seaplanes small?” Caroline asked.

“They seat five.” Braeden confirmed.

Five? This made the tuna can look like a good time.

“How are we all gonna fit?” London asked.

“We have more than one, sweetheart. And we’ll all just take turns until we’re all on the island,” Braeden explained.

“Cool! Can we go first?” Jax asked, gesturing between him and Blue and Asher.

I leaned into Romeo.

“Adults will be riding with all the kids,” he declared.

“The limos are going to take us all to the lounge while immigration sorts our passports, and then we can leave five at a time on the seaplanes.”

“I think I might need that barf bag after all,” Valerie whispered to Anthony.

I nodded in agreement.

“C’mon, fam! This is for the end of an era and the beginning of a new one!” Braeden declared.

“We’re down,” Drew said, and Trent nodded.

“My brothers.” Braeden approved.

“Of course, son. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.” Anthony agreed.

“You went all out, B. I’ll never quit you,” Romeo said, stepping away from me to hug him.

When they were done, Braeden looked between Ivy and me.

“Of course we’re in,” I said. “We’ve already been traveling for twenty hours. What’s a few minutes more in a seaplane?”

“How long is the ride, Braeden?” Ivy asked.

“Less than twenty minutes.”

The kids started bouncing all over the place, all with more energy than I would ever possess again, and we were directed to the limos where we were escorted to a very nice lounge with air-conditioning and glasses of champagne.

I drained mine and reached for another. I was getting on a seaplane.