by JA Low
It’s been pandemonium this morning opening the presents. There is paper and ribbon strewed all over the place. Toys scattered over the floor with all the dads trying to locate batteries for the gifts, or scissors to get into the packaging. The most delicious smells are coming from the kitchen as the mothers prepare their family’s favorite meals. My palms are beginning to sweat; I rub them on my dress pants. I wasn’t expecting to be this nervous, but as I look around the room, which is filled with our nearest and dearest, it hits me. What happens if Stacey’s says no? Maybe I’ve read the signs wrong. I know we both agreed that we weren’t interested in getting married or having kids but the more I hang around with this group of pussy whipped fools, the more I want in on their club. Maybe not having kids, because Easton puked up a mouth full of milk all over me this morning. I thought I was on the set of The Exorcist. He’s lucky I didn’t join him in his barf-fest because that shit was gross. He’s still cute though. Stacey is having an animated discussion with Isla and her sister, Naomi. I’m curious as to what it is about so I move closer.
“Don’t put too much pressure on Oscar.” I hear Stacey say my name. What is she talking about putting pressure on me?
“What? No!” Isla raises her voice.
“No what?” I ask the group as Finn joins me.
“Nothing.” Stacey shakes her head with a worried look on her face.
“Would you mind terribly if Hunter stayed with you for a year, on a gap year?” Isla asks me. That is not at all what I thought they were talking about.
“Please, you don’t have to answer that,” Stacey tells me, looking slightly panicked.
“I told Naomi that he could intern for us all.” Stacey is shaking her head and shooting daggers at my sister.
“I can rent somewhere with him. You don’t have to house him,” Stacey adds quickly. What in the ever loving fuck? Is she being serious?
“Excuse me?” I raise my voice. “Are you telling me you’re moving out?”
“I...just...he’s my nephew and I’m responsible for him. You shouldn’t be.” After everything we spoke about last night and after everything I have done, she still doesn’t seem secure in us.
“Are you telling me that you’re not my responsibility?” I ask Stacey. “I love you, Stacey Ferguson. If that means I have to look after a teenager for a year, then that’s what I am going to do.” Stacey is slightly speechless. Did she seriously think that I didn’t mean what I said last night? “I told you when you moved in. This was it, Stace. It’s you and me together no matter what.” Stacey’s eyes glisten. I need to fix this. I need her to realize that when I said together forever no matter what, I meant it. I stand up and clear my throat. “Can I get everyone into the lounge room please?” I startle them all with my tone. Stacey is looking at me concerned. No one is sure what is going on. I stand by the fire place. “I have an announcement,” I tell the room. “Hunter, it’s been brought to my attention that you don’t know what you want to do now that you’ve finished school.” Hunter stares at me, looking a little scared. “Well then, would you like to have a gap year with myself and your aunt?” Hunter’s bright green eyes widen in surprise.
“Are you serious?” He looks at me in disbelief. “Mum, Dad?” He looks over at them; Naomi has tears in her eyes as she nods her head. “You mean I stay with Aunt Stacey, in LA?” Hunter clarifies.
“This is so not fair,” Amelia or Mia as everyone calls her, his fifteen-year-old sister, shouts with a pout. “Why can’t I stay too?”
“When you’re finished high school, you can come and stay with us as well,” I tell her. The teenager’s pout disappears and she smiles widely.
“Cool.” Her cheeks turn a bright pink.
“So what do you say?” I ask Hunter again.
“Yes. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much.” He rushes up and gives me a hug then hugs Stacey.
“There is one more thing,” I fall to my knee in front of Stacey. Gasps echo through the room. I pull the black velvet box from my pocket. “The moment I met you, Stacey, I knew you were different. I fought my feelings for you until I couldn’t anymore. I was scared to take the leap, but I would be more scared of living my life without you.” Stacey tears up, her hands are shaking. I can hear sniffles all around me. “Will you marry me, Stacey?” My hands are shaking as I place the yellow diamond ring on her finger. Never in my life have I ever been so nervous. This coming from a man who plays in front of hundreds of thousands of people as a rock star and never getting nervous.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” She bounces up and down. Once the ring is secure on her finger, and thankfully it fits, I pick her up in my arms and kiss her, Hollywood style, which makes the room erupts with hollering, applause and congratulations.
“The last Dirty Texas man has fallen,” Derrick hollers, making the room laugh.
“I can’t believe you just proposed.” Stacey stares at me.
“You’re stuck with me babe. Thought you needed a reminder of that.”
“I love you, Oscar Eriksen, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” Moments later we are pulled apart by well wishes.
“You can’t stop looking at it, can you?” I sit down beside Stacey who is staring at her ring again.
“Oscar, this is beautiful. A yellow diamond.”
“It’s rare. Just like you.” She leans over and kisses me. I like this bubble we are currently in.
“I never thought you wanted to get married.”
“We can have a long engagement.” This makes her chuckle.
“I like the sound of that.” Stacey snuggles into my side, looking at the open fire. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
“We’re both pretty lucky.” She looks down at the ring again.
“Are you sure about taking Hunter in?”
“Of course. If he has no idea what he wants to do, why not? I mean, between us all he has access to some of the best businesses in the world. What a great place to learn.”
“You’re right.”
“Of course I am. But I do want to ask you something. We’re you seriously thinking about moving out?” Stacey looks up at me.
“I just didn’t want to put pressure on us. You shouldn’t have to be responsible for Hunter.”
“I know I don’t. But I do, for you. I tell you that all the time.”
“Guess I’m a slow learner.”
I nuzzle her neck. “I hope you get it now. We are in this together. I don’t want separate lives anymore. I want you and me as one.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. I get it.” She giggles as my teeth find her neck. “I won’t ever doubt you ever again.”
New Year’s Eve
Olivia and Axel missed Christmas due to it being the first one just after Olivia’s father dying, so they agreed to spend Christmas in Europe and New Year’s with all of us. Axel was pretty shocked that he missed my proposal but the boys showed him the recording that someone took. We’ve all retired to the games room to play pool, smoke some cigars and drink some whiskey. Axel just announced his news too. He’s going to be a father to twins.
“Welcome to the Dad Club.” Evan smiles, slapping Axel on the back.
“I’m kind of still in shock, it wasn’t planned.”
“Never usually is,” Finn adds.
“Now we just need the Viking to spread his seed and the Dirty
Texas family will be complete.” Derrick makes me choke on my drink.
“Dude, I just proposed. Babies are a long way off.” Derrick rolls his eyes.
“That’s what they all say. And now look at them all.” Derrick points to the rest of the guys. “We have a menagerie of kids. It won’t be long until you are bitten by the kids bug. I see you with Easton.” Derrick raises his eyebrow at me. There’s a big difference between being an awesome fun uncle and being a dad.
“Take your time, man, there’s no hurry. Enjoy just Stacey and Oscar time,” Finn states with a sad tone to his voice.
“Did you miss t
hat with Issy?”
“Yeah, I did and I wish we had it.” Guilt hits me like an arrow through the heart that I kept them apart for so long. Now that I actually see them together, I see it. I get it. He really does love her. “I wouldn’t swap what we have for anything though. Being a father is the best thing in the world, but it is also the most draining.”
“Stop it guys. I am already clucky. Listening to you hot men talk about babies is making my ovaries pop,” Derrick groans.
“You don’t have ovaries.” Christian points out.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not clucky. I envy you all. I wish I could find someone to have a baby with, makes it hard when the person I want doesn’t have the right reproductive organs.”
“Hello modern medicine man.” Christian throws his arm around Derrick’s shoulders. “You pick an egg or a surrogate and you have a baby. Heaps of single women do it, why can’t you?” Derrick’s eyes widen as if he’s never considered this before.
“Yeah, sure! Like a gay single man is going to be able to have a baby. They are going to shut the door right in my face.” Derrick’s shoulders sink. We are all used to Derrick’s harebrained schemes, but seeing him physically upset over this is new.
“Money. You have lots of money, Derrick. You are in a great position to be able to do this,” Evan tells him.
“But I am so busy at work.”
“No one is saying you have to do it now, you have time. But why not look into it as a Plan B,” Evan presses.
“You never know what the new year might bring. The love of your life could be just around the corner,” Christian encourages him.
“You’re right, Christian. I need to stop being a ho and start looking for Mr. Right.” This makes me chuckle.
“I heard my name.” Hudson, Finn’s older brother, walks in at that moment surprising us all. Finn rushes up and gives his brother a hug. He’s been in the Middle East working with the troops. He’s a photojournalist who specializes in war-torn areas. Every time he goes away Finn worries about him and even more so since Jackson’s accident. Jackson used to be in the military until he was medically discharged due to an IED attack. Thankfully he is better but it was a lot of therapy, both physically and mentally, to get him back to the man he is today. “I see being a dad has made you soft,” Hudson chuckles.
“Fuck you. I’m just glad you’re safe, that’s all, asshole.” Finn punches his brother. They always had a rivalry between each other. Derrick rushes up to Hudson and gives him a very enthusiastic hug and a bit of a bum squeeze for good measure.
“Now, where’s my nephew? I’m dying to see him.” Finn and Hudson disappear to introduce the newest uncle to his nephew.
25
Stacey
This group know how to throw epic bachelor and bachelorette parties. From Sienna’s epic beach party, Vanessa’s in Monaco and Olivia’s in Paris, but Isla’s has just kind of topped them all or maybe just for Oscar and I it seems pretty epic. Nate has invited us all to check out the new Paradise Club Resort in the Caribbean. Olivia has been raving about it as she got to see it during its soft launch, so I am dying to check it out.
“Welcome to the most epic last hurrah ever!” Derrick yells throughout the Dirty Texas jet, a bottle of champagne in his hand. As always he is the first to get the party started.
By the time we land everyone is in good spirits, our cheeks are flushed, our steps are a little wobbly. We take the transfer from the airport to the wharf where Nate and Camryn are waiting to transport us to the resort.
“Welcome to paradise my Dirty Texas family.” Nate and Camryn greet us on the wharf.
“I have waters for everyone.” Camryn hands over the bottles. After all the drinks we had on the plane, I think most of us are going to need it, especially in this heat. It’s so nice and warm here in the Caribbean; the smell of the salt air, the warm tropical breezes, the swaying of the palm trees. I am so looking forward to this trip and lots of naked dips in the ocean with my man, making love under the stars, plus trying out pretty much everything and everyone that is on offer at the resort.
“If you would like to come aboard we will take you across to the resort.” Nate gives us his megawatt smile, his white teeth shining against his suntanned skin. He looks like he's stepped off an ad for luxury yachts, selling ordinary men his billionaire playboy lifestyle. “I will be taking you to your own private area of the resort which is reserved for VIPs, and is blocked off to ordinary guests. It’s near my villa, an area I built for my friends to come and stay at the resort,” he tells us. We take a seat on the boat and the captain starts to move slowly away from the wharf, nothing but crystal clear water surrounds us. Once we are safe from the other boats the captain opens up the engines and we hurtle toward the resort. “It’s not far to the island,” Nate reassures us. Dolphins jump beside the boat as we speed the turquoise sea. Just over the horizon, the closer we get the more the island comes into focus. On one side of the island it looks like bungalows are jutting out into the ocean.
“I stayed there.” Olivia points out to us. “It’s beautiful.” Nate smiles, looking very proud of Olivia’s statement.
“There is a fantastic bar at the end of the pier also.” Camryn points out.
“This place is beautiful,” Oscar says into my ear. The wind whips my hair around.
“I can’t wait. The place looks like paradise.”
“I’m going to ravage you like a wild beast as soon as we get there,” Oscar warns. A shiver races through my body.
We finally arrive. The boat slows down and the crew tie up the ropes to secure it to the wharf. There’s a fleet of golf carts waiting for us to take us to our villas.
“Your luggage will be at your rooms,” Nate advises. “Thought I might take you on a tour first. Is that okay?”
We all nod enthusiastically as we hop into our own carts. Nate gives us cordless headphones so we can hear him explain about the resort.
“We are now in the private area not accessible by guests.” Nate points out as we drive through the lush rainforest. “My villa is over to the right and your villas will be on the left. They all have direct access to the beach, but don’t worry they are all far enough away you won’t see your friends skinny dipping in the ocean, unless you want to that is,” he chuckles through our headphone. Oscar and I know we are up for it, don’t think any of our friends would be so keen. Nate points out the gate that takes us into the guest area, the golf carts drive along the dirt paths. The sounds of the rainforest are all you can hear, exotic birds calling to their mates. It looks like any other luxury resort; you would have no idea it’s a sex resort. We continue on the path past the rainforest villas until we get to an area that is more open. Nate points out this is where the open showers are for people who want to get cleaned up from the beach. I look over at Oscar who gives me a naughty wink; he knows that those open showers have my name written all over it. We look up at the glass cubes and we spot our first encounter. A man has a woman pressed up against the glass and is fucking her.
“I think I’m going to enjoy this place.” Oscar eyes the couple hungrily.
“I wonder if the others are freaking out yet, I bet Sienna is.”
“Evan wouldn’t allow anyone to watch Sienna. I bet they stay in their villa the whole time.”
“Olivia is slightly bummed that she’s pregnant and that her and Axel can’t go crazy,” I tell Oscar.
“Don’t worry, little one. There will be plenty of people to play with. I promise you.” I snuggle into Oscar’s chest. I’m a lucky woman.
We continue traveling and Nate points out a waterfall with a hidden grotto that you can visit. Oscar and I mentally tick that one on our list. There are pools where people are sunbathing naked. Apparently clothing is optional everywhere in the resort except the restaurants and bars. Nate also points out the mini Paradise Club to us. Everything looks like a luxury resort except there are a lot of naked people around. Our kind of place. I don’t know if Oscar and I will want t
o leave, this truly is paradise for us. Nate continues his tour telling us about room service which is twenty-four seven and that they cater not just for food and drink but you can order pretty much any sexual desire you require from them. Oscar and I smile at each other. Sexual room service, I think we are going to have to try everything on that menu. Nate points out areas that are dedicated to kinks and fetishes which have their own areas. He reminds us that everyone on the island has signed NDAs. He does this to reassure the group that if we want to go crazy we can and no one will know unless our friends stumble upon us. Eventually we make it back around to the private area of the resort.
“So, what did you think?” Nate asks as we get out of the golf carts.
“I’m going to have the best time ever.” Derrick jumps up and down.
“We have dinner planned for tonight at Nate’s villa for around eight thirty, until then your time is your own. Oh, and each one of your villas has its own dedicated butler,” Camryn tells us.
“What you do with that butler is up to you.” Nate smirks. Derrick pretty much starts sprinting to his villa.
“Have fun guys. See you at dinner.” Camryn waves us away.
“Oh and your colored wrist bands are in your rooms, don’t forget to wear them,” Nate reminds us. The group nervously says goodbye to each other, but Oscar and I can’t wait to get paradise started.
