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I avoid his knowing gaze.
"You want my advice on the whole Kyra dilemma?" he asks.
"Not really," I say.
"Too bad," he says. "You really like her? Don't mess this up."
"That isn't advice," I scoff, sipping my Screwdriver.
I low-key mocked Greyson when he ordered us drinks at noon, but this is coming in handy. God knows I need something to take the edge off.
"Don't be afraid to try to make it work with her," he's saying now. "And be honest with her."
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"I just know that last time - "
"We're not talking about last time."
"Did you even tell her about it?"
I down the whole drink, glaring at him over the rim. "What difference does that make?"
Greyson sips his own drink. "You tell me."
I don't like where this conversation is taking us.
"About Disney World," I say. "You got any preferences?"
"I know Harley was wanting to check out Epcot, but not really, no," Greyson says. "You?"
"I'm game for whatever Kyra and Madison want to do."
"Madison," Greyson says thoughtfully. "So, that's her daughter?"
"Yep."
"What's she like?"
"She's cool. Funny. Cute."
"The father?"
"Not in the picture. Kyra won't tell me anything about him."
"Maybe he was a rebound," Greyson suggests. "Since the kid is what, nine?"
"Yeah."
I bite at the remainder of cantaloupe I left. "How are things with you and Harley?"
"Being a dad is tricky," Greyson says. "But Harley's great. No complaints here."
He stretches, smiling like a damn fool.
Although it suits him - married life. He almost makes it look appealing, settling down, having a kid. Almost.
"Yeah, yeah, you're the poster boy for marital bliss," I tell him, "but I should get going. I have some ladies to visit. I can pay on my way out."
"Fair enough," Greyson says, rising. "But I can get the bill this time. Just - Landon?"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
I give him a quick back-patting hug. "Thanks, old man. See you at the airport."
"See you - don't be late."
"That was one time - and that was Nolan's fault."
"Yeah, yeah."
**
It turns out that Kyra and Madison are out, so I end up going back to my place to pack.
The next few days pass in a quick blur. Before I know it, I'm in a cab pulled up to their place, with a duffel bag of my stuff at my feet.
"Hello, stranger," Kyra says, after she's loaded her and Maddy's luggage into the trunk.
She's wearing a loose teal shirt that's slightly sheer - sheer enough to get me excited.
Although I put that thought away - for now.
"Hey there," Maddy says.
"You're looking Florida ready," I say, pointing to her hat with Minnie Mouse ears.
She giggles. "Where's yours?"
I pat my duffel bag. "Mine's a special hat, though."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah - it's indestructible."
"No way." Her eyes slit with delighted suspicion.
"Yeah way," I tell her, "Even if an elephant eats it, it comes out whole."
"Liar!" she declares with a delighted giggle.
"Madison," Kyra scolds, although she's frowning at me. "What's up with you?"
"It's true," I say, unzipping my pack and handing the army green hat, top side down, to Madison. Then I show her the webpage describing the story of how it has been eaten by an elephant and come out fully intact - three different times. "Take a look."
A minute or so of intent reading, and she lets out a delighted peal of laughter. "I can't believe it. That's insane."
"That's the Tilley hat for you. It's an adventurer's hat."
Maddy brightens even more. "Does that mean we're going to go on adventures?"
"Oh, definitely. Didn't your mom tell you? There's three parks we're going to go to, and they're huge. They've got rides, animals, restaurants."
"We can go to restaurants at home," Maddy says, clearly unimpressed.
"Can you see elephants at home?" I shoot back.
All smiles again. "The same elephants that ate the hat?"
"Not sure. Want to ask them with me?"
Madison and Kyra just laugh and laugh. I'm smiling myself. I never had a ride to the airport as much fun as this.
Before I know it, we're there. I managed to ensure that Kyra and Maddy were on the same flight as me, so we go through security together.
Once we're out, I buy us all some fried plantains and we sit down to wait. Madison has a book - some Harry Potter. Kyra has her own book - something by Kate Morton.
"It any good?" I ask her.
"It is," she admits, "but I can't really concentrate. I'm too excited."
"Dying to see the elephants too?" I tease.
"No, just excited to see how much fun Maddy's going to have." Hell, she's beaming. Damn do I love making my girl happy - not that she is my girl. Not yet, at least. "And a spa day won't hurt."
I smile. "Ah, so you did check out that email I sent last night."
"Sorry." Apologetic smile. "I got it in the middle of a packing frenzy. Madison was convinced she needed to bring just about every pair of shorts she has. Which yes, is over fourteen."
