Reservations

Reluctantly Levi typed, “That slipped past me. I’m sorry to already bail on our arrangement, but I can’t tonight.”

“Why?” How could he read irritation in the one-word response he got back?

Before he had a chance to respond, the phone started ringing. Thane’s number appeared. Of course. The guy absolutely did not like not getting his way. Levi answered. Foregoing any greeting, Thane blurted, “You agreed on three nights. I wanted seven. So, why’re you already backing out?”

Levi laughed at the annoyance lacing each of Thane’s words. He’d totally guessed his reaction correctly. “I’m gone so much at night that I hang out with my brothers on the weekend. Luke’s struggled a lot lately, and he’s just getting back to himself. I shouldn’t just leave…”

Thane cut him off in mid-sentence. “Bring them with you.”

That surprised him into silence. He took a lengthy pause before speaking honestly. “I’m not sure two nights in a row is a good idea. They already gave me a hard time this morning. They got the idea we’re a one-night—”

Thane cut him off again, this time with humor in his voice. “Are you always this difficult or just with me? Bring them. Come hang out at the resort. They can swim, have dinner, watch movies. I think there’s a movie theater here. You guys could even spend the night. I have two rooms in this suite.”

“A sleepover’s more than a date,” Levi said.

“Come over now and quit overthinking things. I’ve got nothing going on. My luggage and office equipment are MIA. So, that means I’ve got nothing but time today,” Thane said.

Levi didn’t respond. Instead, he looked over his shoulder toward the kitchen as the guys had come through the kitchen door. They were sweaty messes, and Logan already had his nose buried in the screen of his phone. He dropped down in the chair next to Levi, not caring about the amount of dust and grass clippings that he had on his dirty body. Luke on the other hand dropped to the floor, stretching his long body out. Manual labor wasn’t either of their thing.

“Say yes,” Thane pleaded.

The boys didn’t get out of the house like that and most certainly had never seen anything as nice as Escape Coronado. If nothing else, they could swim for hours or maybe go to the ocean. They lived in San Diego and rarely went to the beach.

“Thane’s invited us to go to the resort today and spend the night. We could swim and eat there. He says there’s a movie theater. I think I heard it goes all night. And he has an extra room to sleep in so we can stay if it gets too late,” Levi said. Logan didn’t look up from his always moving thumbs on his cell phone. It was Luke who jackknifed up, sitting straight, showing real interest.

“I’ll go.”

“You mean you’d allow us to do something other than our Saturday chores. Oh no, the world might fall apart,” Logan deadpanned, still not looking at him.

“We’re finished. All we have left to do is go to the grocery store. We can do that tomorrow before my shift. What’d you say? He’s waiting,” Levi said and pointed to the phone stuck to his ear.

“Let’s go, Logan. The new Marvel’s out,” Luke said excitedly.

“Yeah, I’ll go. Alison has to go to dinner with her brother’s girlfriend’s parents,” Logan said, sounding somewhat discontent.

Levi didn’t hesitate. “They’re in.” His leg started bouncing, his anticipation growing. His emotions ran deep where Thane was concerned, deeper and more meaningful than he wanted anyone to know. “We’re doing laundry and just finished with the yard work.”

“Sounds like a titillating time you’re having. Bring swimsuits and a change of clothes. We can have dinner downstairs or in the room, whatever you want. There’s enough to do that they’ll stay busy all night and never get bored.”

“I’ll text when we’re on our way,” Levi said and ended the call. He sat there a minute. The happiness that had dimmed after his brothers’ comments this morning was back in full force. When he finally looked up, both boys were staring at him.

“Is it serious?” Logan asked.

“No, probably not, but we all need some fun, right?” Levi answered somewhat honestly. Luke shoved off the floor, grabbing a couple of stacks of clothes off the coffee table before heading toward his room.

“We could go to the beach too. We haven’t been to the beach since we took Dad. For the future, I’m totally in for anytime he wants us there.” Luke disappeared behind the door.

“Put your clothes away. I’m going to shower,” he told Logan and grabbed his stack of clean clothes before heading back to his room. He fought against all those warm feelings coursing through him. It didn’t do any good. He was over the moon for Thane.