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“Yeah, good luck with that, bud.”

“Don’t you miss it, man? All the random pussy?”

I laugh, "Not even a little bit. I'll admit I thought I
might, but Brooke is all I need.”

He shakes his head at me like I'm insane, "Whatever, more for
me. Just for the record, Brooke is good people not to mention she’s fuckin cool
as hell.” He laughs and looks toward the open door where we hear her voice
issuing orders inside. “That first day she came, did you ever it picture
something like this?”

“Nope, but hell if I could have or would change it.”

With that he and I go back inside to herd everyone and Toby to the
vehicles.  After we’re all buckled in I turn back to Gabby, “You sure you’ve
got all of Toby’s food and treats?”

She looks right in my eye, nods her head once and says, “Yes,
let’s go.”

I reverse with Luke right behind me with Cassie and Michael riding
with him.  We get to the entrance to our neighborhood, “Wait, Toby’s toys.  We
have to go back for his toys, Dylan.” I heave a sigh, make a U-turn, and drive
the five damn blocks to get Toby’s toys. Once again I pull away from the house
and try to get this vacation underway because I’m not really sure right now
when a vacation actually starts. Is it when you wake up or when you leave town?
Three blocks later my phone rings. I hit the hands-free and answer, “What now?”

“Cassie forgot something, but won’t say what it is, only that it’s
private.”

“Ask her if it’s important.”

Cassie’s voice comes over the phone next, “Dylan, we have to go
back. It
very necessary
if you know what I mean.”

No, I don’t know, nor do I want to know, I think.

“Cass….” I begin.

“Okay, let me put it this way. You won’t be very happy with me if
I don’t go back and get this other bag that’s been in my room for the last
week.” Somehow that whole sentence came out all in one whole breath. Amazing
actually if you think about it.

Then it hits me, o
h yeah, The. Bag.

“Alright, turn around and let her run in and get it.  Double check
the doors and alarms and catch up to us on the road.”

Brooke is giggling the whole time, which apparently becomes
infectious if the laughing from the back seat is anything to go by. Turns out
we make decent time getting there. Four hours later we arrive at the cabin, and
it’s still before noon.  Not bad.  A lot different than the last few years when
I could just hop in my car or truck and leave.

Brooke is the first one out once I get the truck stopped.  She
heads straight for the front door like a kid who doesn’t have the
responsibility of helping haul shit in. “Hey, you.” I can’t help but smile as
she takes everything just like she did the first time she was here.  She turns
back to me with her sexy little “I have a secret” smile, and I know she
remembers our little rendezvous.
Goddamn, I love the woman.

Luke pulls up beside me, and all of us pitch in to get everything
unloaded.  All of us are ready to pick up the ski boat I rented for the week,
which I’m thinking of just buying for future trips. For now the kids are
reclaiming rooms. They didn’t get to come last year because of the wreck.

Luke and I head to the boat dealer’s, and we are not disappointed
in what we picked.  As soon as we see it we’re immediately talking about a new
paint job.  It has room for nine with two 250-horsepower Mercury motors on the
back. Two kids on Christmas morning who just got the toy they wanted and can’t
wait to play.  After making sure all the toys, I ordered and life jackets are
inside we make quick work on hooking her up so we can get the rest of the
family.

Brooke miraculously has sandwiches and drinks packed ready to put
in the mini-fridge built under the driver’s seat of the boat.  She’s even
managed to make sure everyone is dressed in swimsuits. In the master bedroom,
she has a pair of my board shorts laying on the bed, and God love the woman,
she’s even unpacked my bag and put everything way.

Everyone is anxious to get out on the water.  Luke, of course, is
the first one up. After he’s in the water I push him the wakeboard, then clip
the tow rope to the high tow bar installed just for wakeboarding. The show off
finds his groove easily and goes right into spins and jumps, and I have to
admit he’s damn good. I tow him until he signals he’s ready to come in. Before
I can ask who’s next Brooke is already jumping over and asking for the skis.

Anxious much?

“You sure about this, babe? You said it'd been a few years.”

“Shut up and drive, Monroe.”

Okay then.

Damn the woman pops right up and wastes no time swinging side to
side behind the boat. The Gabby and Michael cheer her on and clap whenever she
jumps wakes or swings wide right and left.  When I told her about renting the
boat she was excited to get back on skis.  Apparently this is something she and
Alex did with Adam and some other friends during high school. Another time,
that knowledge would make me jealous. But I’ve gotten to know Shriller over the
last few months, and he’s pretty a solid guy. I’m also totally secure in my
relationship with Brooke.

Finally,
she signals and drops in
the water.  After circling back and helping her on board, Luke and I rig up the
tube for Cassie to ride with Gabby.  Every time I circle them back to hit their
wake the squeal loud enough that I’m pretty sure they hear it on the other side
of the lake.  I finally call a halt, because neither one looks like they’re
ready to come in.  Michael is going to be next up, and he’s decided he wants to
ski.  It’ll be his first time, so I’m going to find a cover with calmer water
and out of the traffic of other boats.

Once the girls are back on board, Brooke breaks out sandwiches and
bottles of water and Gatorade.  I scarf two sandwiches while steering the boat
around.  Everyone picks out their favorite lake houses, most of which makes
ours look like a small cottage. Luke and I also decide that before we leave,
we’re buying jet skis, because damn, they’re way too cool, and I think they’d
be perfect for even the kids to play on outside our place.

Finally,
I spot the perfect cove
big enough to pull a skier.  The water is flat here, and Michael shouldn’t have
any problems.  “You ready for this, little bro?”

I can tell he’s pulling out all the stops to show how brave he is
right now. I grab the skis and fit his foot, then just before he jumps over;
Brooke stops him, “Glasses, honey.” He hands them back to her and disappears.

Luke throws the rope over while we drift. When he’s ready, I float
the first ski to him and then the second when he motions for it.  I start the
motor and drift forward. Brooke and Luke lean over the back of the boat calling
out instructions for him.  “Keep your skis straight out in front.” “Pull the
rope like you’re the one dragging the boat.” “Just lean back like you’re trying
to lie down.”

“Okay, got it.  I’m ready, Dylan.”

“You got this, bro,” I call. I throttle forward feeding the rope
through his hands until he gets a good hold on the handle. “Ready?”

“He said, yes, Dylan,” Luke calls.

Okay, Michael, you got this.

I push the throttle forward while keeping my eyes on my brother.
“Oh, my God, he’s up.  He’s up.”  Brooke yells.

I smile big with pride.

Luke yells encouragement at Michael while I pull him around the
cove until his arms tire.  I circle back slowly to pick him up while Luke leans
over and grabs his skis.  Excitement from his accomplishment written is written
all over Michael’s face. Cassie and Gabby are squealing their congratulations.
I help him up the ladder. “First try, not bad.”

“Okay, Dylan it’s your turn,” Luke calls.  He walks to the
driver’s seat.

“I’m pulling him,” Brooke says.

“No way, I’m pulling him.”

“You drive?” I have to ask.  She somehow failed to mention she can
pull a skier.

She looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind, “Please, if it weren't
for my driving Adam would never have learned trick skiing.  None of our friends
had my touch on the throttle.”

Luke studies her for a second, “Holy shit.  And are sure you don’t
have a sister? It wouldn’t be weird at all if you did and I dated her would it?”

That gets him a second pop upside the back of his damn head from
me and an eye roll from Brooke.

“Okay, okay, we’ll both pull him.  You get him up, and I’ll take
over once we hit the big water, deal?” Luke surrenders.  “What’s your trick
today?”

I look over at him and answer with a shit-eating grin, “Wakeboard.
I’m fixing to school you, little brother.”

I grab the board and jump over.  Wakeboarding is something that
Jackson and I did during the summers on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Luke hooks
the rope back to the high tow bar used for wakeboarding while Brooke pushes me
the board.  Adrenaline is zipping through me.

I love this shit.

After the workout on the water, my arms are spaghetti.  Once I’m
in, I tell Luke to take us on home and to make the ride worth it.  My boy
doesn’t disappoint.  He stays to his right heading north toward our part of the
lake and taking advantage of the small wakes to make sure the girls get a nice,
bumpy thrill ride.  Brooke and I are sitting all the way against the back
holding hands watching my squealing sisters as they bounce up and down in the
front of the boat.  Michael is sitting in the seat across from Luke with his
hands straight up like he’s on some giant rollercoaster. When I look at Luke
sitting up on his knees with his baseball hat turned backward I notice how much
he looks like a man. When I look over at Brooke she watching me watch my
family.

“I know,” she nods and smiles.

She gets it without me having to say it.  I’ve missed so much time
with them, and it’s time that I’m never going to get back. But that doesn’t
mean that from this moment in time I can’t be there for them from now on.  Be
the man they need me to be.  Make sure this family stays just like this, secure
and loved. I lift Brooke’s arm and kiss the inside of her wrist, “I love you.”

By the time we get the boat docked, we’re all wiped out.  We make
final plans to start a fire in the fire pit and simply roast some hotdogs. 
Cassie and Gabby help Brooke with paper plates, condiments, and bringing the
food out while Luke and Michael help me get the fire ready and drag out
loungers and chairs.  The rest of the evening is lazy from the long day of
activity. Eventually, exhaustion settles, and we drift to our beds.

The plan for today is to go into town so the girls can shop. 
While they do that, Luke and I are going to buy jet skis. In the end, I
purchase four and a trailer. After we enjoy them this week, the plan is to take
them home and let Luke customize them
and
the trailer.

Finally,
we head back to the main
street to meet the girls and grab lunch before hitting our little slice of
beach on the lake.  The girls are also begging for a boat ride, but we guys are
jonesing to get on the jet skis.  Over a meal of burgers, it’s decided that
Brooke will take the girls, but I had to promise her that tomorrow she gets to
ride the jet skis with us.  Sunday the plan is for a lazy time on the water.
Monday is Brooke’s birthday, and I need to send a text to Jax and Alex as well
as find a time to talk with my brothers and sisters about Brooke’s surprise.

My newest purchases are fucking phenomenal.  We jet around for a
couple of hours before Brooke returns from her boat ride with the girls.  After
which we lounge on the beach.  Brooke is the first to go in because she’s
planning to cook dinner tonight.  Cassie follows not soon after to help set the
table.

“This has been good, Dylan,” Luke says.

“It has. And we’ll do it again.  Maybe fall break we can come down
depending on your football schedule.”

“Yeah, we’ll see.  Coach will probably have us practicing even
though schools out, especially if it looks like we’re going to the playoffs
again.”

“By the way, Alex will be here tomorrow, but Jax isn’t coming
until Monday morning with Brooke’s present.  Everyone knows not to breathe a
word.  As far as she knows Jax isn’t coming, just Alex.”

“Do I still get to put the blindfold on and lead her?”

I look over at Gabby, “Absolutely, Gab. You have the most
important job.”

“Shit, man.  I can’t wait to see the look on her face.  We’ll need
a video for that one.  And by the way, you’re going to be spending the rest of
this year figuring out how to trump this one.  You may have played all your
cards the first fucking year. You’re in trouble, bro.”

“Don’t worry about me.  I can take care of my woman this year and
the next twenty years.”

Michael regards me curiously, “Are you going to marry her?”

I freeze at his question. I have no idea how to answer him because
I haven’t thought of marrying Brooke.  I’ve never considered marriage at all in
my future. 
Shit.
Brooke will expect marriage.  I know she wants kids.
Her dream is to have a big family.  And that’s another thing I’ve never
considered in my future.  Kids.  Do I even want to have children?  I’ve already
got years tied up, especially with Gabby being so young. Maybe this is
something that I need to talk to Brooke about because I don’t even know if I
can promise those things. First and foremost, I wonder if me being me would
eventually fuck everything up, and she leave.  But hell, what if I don’t give
those things to her, and she leaves anyway?