Sophie
I glanced at everyone with concern. The whole thing of going glamping sounded like so much fun, but Nathan has to start his new school in just a few days, and I still have so much work to do myself. There was much work to be done at my new office, and I needed to buy so many things for my studio. Though I do want to spend time with Logan, that sounds so tempting. And this whole trip could help Nathan bond with him. God, I'm debating this so much.
"Come on, Sophie. This could be fun for the three of you. Nathan needs to get to know his dad, and you...." Riley smiles mischievously looking between Logan and me. "You two need time to rekindle as well. I know work is important, but, that's the good thing about owning your own business my darling." she says winking and smiling at Logan, "you get to work on your own schedule, on your own time. Don't you agree?" I sighed, Nathan kept pouting his little face as he sat on the couch looking at us.
"Mom, please? You had already said yes," he says getting up and running to Logan's arms. "I want to go with dad, please?" I hate when he does this. His little pouty face with those big green puppy eyes always gets him away with everything. I sigh as I cross my hands over my chest, "I suppose I can't deny father and son bonding time, right?" "YES!" they both say in unison. Logan and Nathan's fist bump each other and Logan kisses him on his forehead.
"Ok, all set. Just confirmed two more tents for Lexie and the boys, and I already talked to Lexie, they're thrilled to go. Now get to packing baby girl, everyone should be here soon so we can go." Troy says as he tucks away his phone in his back pocket.
Logan drove me to my house to pack while Troy waited back at his house for everyone else to arrive. And, yes, I was now glad I was going, because in fact...Roxie was going along as well. I sure as hell am not giving her any chance to try and flirt with Logan, and I knew she was most likely going to be disappointed to see me show up in Logan's car with my luggage to go along with them.
I tried to hurry to fold my clothes and Nathan's, stuffing them into our luggage, and grabbed essential things I knew he and I would need. Logan was downstairs playing with Nathan. Ashley sat at my bed looking at my album of photos I had of our road trip that Nathan and I did on our way back home.
"No.freaking.way....you went to all these places with him? On your own? Man, Nathan is such a lucky kid. Just six years old and he already got to see the Joshua trees, Yosemite park, the grand canyon, ...you took him to Vegas? Oh, man." she grunted as she kept seeing all of our pictures. "These photos are awesome, Soph," she says making me smile.
"Thanks, Ash. So...tell me, how is college going for you? Planning on staying home after graduation?" I ask making her smile.
Ashley and my brother Aaron had tried dating each other for a while, but, it didn't work out. But, since then they have become good friends. "Of course, Aaron and I have been talking about starting a small business here in town. Logan wants me to go all out and make it into this huge place and all extravagant and shit." She says rolling her eyes.
"But?" I ask making her sigh. "Don't get me wrong Sophie. My brother is awesome with multi-tasking different investments and working on big projects; but not me. Aaron and I are thinking of a small business, equal partners, and just....keeping it in this small town, it's what I want. To be here in this town and meet someone, settle down, I see what you and Logan had, Sophie. Everyone saw how good he changed when you two were together, and even after you were gone and he was off in New York, he still thrived because he knew you'd come back one day. I want that Sophie, I think every girl wants a guy who would fall hard for us like my brother is with you." my heart felt so warm hearing her words.
I made my way down with my luggage, and Ashley helped me carry down Nathan's as we made our way down the stairs. Logan and Nathan were screaming their heads off excitedly as they played go-kart Mario in my living room. Ashley and I rolled our eyes laughing, "Boys! Some things never change." I said making Ashley laugh. "Let's go, ladies, momma needs a vacation," Lexie says as she makes her way out of the house, followed by Johnny, carrying her bags. Ethan was already outside waiting for us, he leaned back on his car with his leg crossed over the other, with his shades on and tapping away on his phone.
Logan loaded the car, the whole time glancing over towards me and then towards Ethan. I thought it was a little cute that he was jealous of him, though I only saw Ethan as my older brother and nothing else. We made our way back to the house. Everyone was already there waiting for us outside, including, of course, Roxie who was laughing and talking with Steven. Her face lit up as she saw Logan's car pull in but soon faded as she saw me sitting in the driver's seat. I waved at everyone as I got out, and greeted everyone.
We loaded our stuff in Logan's SUV, I sat in front with him, while Ashley and Nathan sat in the back. Logan grabbed my hand and squeezed it lightly, making me smile. "Ready?" he asked, winking at me. "Ready," I respond and glance towards the back. Ashley and Nathan, we're in the back. Ashley had brought her iPad along and had Nathan drawing on one of her apps.
We made our way out there, driving for a little over an hour. My mouth was tasked open at the sight. It was beautiful out here. The whole place was surrounded by mountain trees, but it served to give the place a better feel.
There were tents set up close to the lake, some closer to the trees, and others were in more secluded areas. A bit after we got there, Logan took off to speak to someone in the office. He said he needed to take care of a few things and make adjustments to the packet they had purchased, so I didn't question him.
"Hey, baby girl. We're going to lounge by the lake while everything gets settled down in our tents, come on, grab a bathing suit." Troy asked as I continued to admire the place. It was so beautiful out here. Nathan was super excited, but he didn't want to part away from Logan, so he had tagged along with him. I went and changed into my bathing suit, wearing a two-piece in black, placing my hair up in a messy bun. I decided to sit on one of the lounge chairs while I waited for Nathan and Logan to come back.
I must have dozed off for a bit, I was startled when Nathan came and jumped right on top of me. "Boo!" he yells making me scream in shock. Both Logan and him laughing. "Baby, you scared me," I say, hugging him and sitting back on the chair. "Guess what? Logan has a big surprise for you," he says, giggling. "Oh," I reply. I glance over at Logan who's giving him signs to not say anything. Nathan giggles and I wink at him. He leans over to my ear and whispers, " I can't tell you. But you're going to love it." he says and jumps off me. He and Logan had already gone to change into swimwear.
"I'm going to play on aunt Ashley's iPad. Bye mommy," he says running off towards Ashley who is working on her iPad but soon logs off and hands it to him, sitting him between her legs. Logan leans down and kisses me. "Hey, gorgeous, you missed me," he says as I wrap my arms around him. "You have no idea," I reply, kissing him.
He startles me, picking me up bridal style and running towards the lake, and jumping into the water with me in his arms.
It was really exciting...I mean the water was cold as hell, but it was so much fun. We played around in the water as if we were teenagers.
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(third-person POV)
Meanwhile, Nathan sits on the lounge chair, coloring a picture of the American flag in one of Ashley's drawing apps. Rosie sees him drawing and since she is interested in Logan, she knows she has to also be on his son's good side. "Hey, Nathan, what are you up to buddy?" she says leaning close to him. "I'm drawing the American flag," he responds smiling at her. She looks over and sees Sophie and Logan having fun in the water but soon get out and walk towards them, grabbing their towels to dry off.
"Nathan, how old are you?" "Six," he responds quickly and returns to his drawing. Rosie knows she's not giving up and decides to show off her teaching skills.
"Nathan, do you know when is independence day? And why do we celebrate it?" she asks making him turn to look at her, squinting an eye. He then looks at Sophie who winks an eye at him. "Yes, it's the fourth of July, and we celebrate it because that's the day the declaration of Independence was signed."
"That's right. It was signed by our 56 founding fathers on July 4, 1776." He furrows his eyebrows, pouting his lips. "That's not true. Only John Hancock signed the declaration on the fourth of July, all the other 55 men signed it days after," he says making her face red. "Did you know that independence day wasn't even a holiday until years after? And, George Washington was a spy for the British before he came to America," he adds making her feel awkward.
"Well, aren't you a smarty pants?" she says messing up his hair with her hand and getting up on her feet, faking a smile. "Yeah, that's my boy. He gets that from me you know?" Logan says picking him up and placing him on his shoulders.
"Let's go swim, my little smarty pants."
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