Page 484 of Seasons of Love
There was plenty of food and drink available, live music from a local band, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Tonight was family night. Everyone attending either worked here at the resort or was a contractor or worker that helped us with the renovations.
I saw Hailey and Pete at one of the tables and went to greet them.
“You look radiant, Momma,” I said, bending down to give her a hug.
“Ugh, I’m the size of a house, and apparently, I’m still due to grow more. How much space does this kid need, anyway?”
She grumbled, but I knew it was all for show because she was dying to meet her baby. We still didn’t know if it was a boy or girl. They’d decided to wait until the baby was born to find out.
“Hey, have you seen your boss?” I asked.
“You mean…your boyfriend? I still can’t believe you scored not one but two of the cutest gay men on the island,” she said.
I shrugged. “It’s my charm.”
“Among other things,” Griff said under his breath.
I was still amazed by how people on the island didn’t care that Mal, Griff, and I were together.
It could have something to do with Griff baking endlessly to feed all the workers at the resort with all kinds of muffins and brownies. Or maybe it was because, like a true family, we supported each other. People that lived on the island were our key workers. The resort and the island were codependent. It was a line we’d used many times when recruiting people to work with us.
John had placed a complaint with the mayor’s office, accusing us of poaching his workers, malpractice, and even carrying work without a license.
All those accusations were disproved very easily, so eventually, he’d given up.
It was upsetting to see how that had affected my dad. After losing his sister, then his wife, now he’d lost one of his oldest friends.
But as he’d stated, he’d gained two son-in-laws and another additional son in Zak, who’d moved into the house at Dad’s request.
It had made sense because we all spent so much time together working and socializing that he’d have wasted money renting out his own place.
I suspected there were other intentions there too.
Zak and Gabe had become close, even though Gabe had left for Berkeley shortly after my birthday party and had only returned a few days ago.
“Hey, mind if I steal my men away?”
I turned around when I heard Mal’s voice. As if by design, both Griff and I took our place on either side of Mal, who was conveniently tall enough to hold us both under his arms.
“Aww, you guys are too adorable,” Hailey said, gushing. “I like the new look, boss. It’s a lot less…grumpy.”
We all laughed.
“I don’t have time for that, Hailey. I’m too tired to be grumpy.”
“You won’t sleep that much tonight either,” Griff said under his breath, but this time, a little too loud, so everyone heard him over the music.
He blushed an adorable shade of pink, and if we weren’t in public, I’d have kissed him until he was full-on red.
“Come on,” Mal said. “I have something to show you.”
We followed him out of the dining hall.
“Where are we going?” Griff asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
