Calypso nods, thinking through a few other options. With only a month and a half to plan, a lot of things are booked out.
Jo comes over and sits on the arm of the chair Lexi is in. Their body language confirms the two have been friendly, but they aren’t as quick of friends as I expected.
“What are we talking about?” Jo asks.
“Bachelor and bachelorette parties,” Lexi says before giving her the list of conditions.
As Lexi comes to the end, Jo looks at me and a light bulb goes off when she shrugs a little, silently suggesting the obvious choice. I wait for her to make the suggestion but she tilts her chin, offering me the potential win.
“How about a yacht?” I muse.
Lexi’s head dramatically turns in my direction. “A yacht? I’m sorry, I didn’t think I needed to mention that the budget of a small business owner and high school teacher doesn’t include chartering ayacht.”
Jo snorts.
“My stepdad owns a charter company,” I say easily and smile at her surprise. Lexi’s mouth falls open and there are newfound stars in her eyes for me. “I’m sure I could get us a discount. And I wouldn’t mind helping pay for it.”
Grady invited me on the trip when we watched the game a few days ago, so I’m happy to put my share into it.
“I could kiss you.” Lexi leans forward in her seat.
“Don’t.” Calypso points, slightly sneering at her.
Lexi laughs and gives me an amused look. “This one is jealous.”
Reaching out, I cup the back of Calypso’s neck. I wink when she rolls her head in my direction. “Just how I like her.”
“I’m my dad’s baby girl,” Jo chimes in and holds her arms out like it’ssucha hardship. The little shit has always been spoiled. “Let me call him, and I canmaybeget it for free. No promises.”
Lexi turns in her seat. “I swear I’m kissing a Maddon sibling tonight.”
I know the clever, little brunette well enough to realize she’s joking. Lexi’s in a relationship, but I’ve never gotten the impression that she’d be unfaithful to someone, which Calypso has confirmed. However, I can see her girlfriend’s side and why someone would struggle to accept this part of her.
Jo laughs, amused but not lured in by Lexi’s teasing. “My last name is Bernard.”
I have our mother’s maiden name, along with the twins, Ava and Amara. Piper and Josephine have their dad’s last name.
“Stop killing my dreams,” Lexi says and shakes her head.
Selena steps onto the deck with a large salad bowl in hand, calling everyone to dinner.
The patio table only seats fifteen, but Grady and Vivi set up a picnic on the grass for his daughters and their cousins, leaving a couple extra seats. It feels cozy, and I understand why Grady and Vivi have planned their wedding here.
Lexi waits until the small talk has died down and everyone fills their plates before she says, “So,greatnews!”
Everyone turns toward her. She doesn’t shy away from the attention.
“Liam and Jo—” she waves a hand in each of our directions, “—are helping us charter a yacht for the trip.”
Excitement sparks across the table. Most of the group is here, with the exception of Lucas and Knox and their kids.
“Really?” Vivi asks, perking up.
Jo quickly explains that her dad owns a charter company and one of the hubs is in San Diego, so we have the connection.
“Let me know the weekend, and I’ll see what strings I can pull,” she says. “How many people are going?”
Lexi starts counting everyone off on her fingers. Calypso, her three siblings, Grady, Blake, her husband Adrian, Lucas, Knox, and me. “Do you think Mia would want to go?”
