Page 42 of Power Play

I spun in time to see Chloe setting down her bag on a lounge chair with her baby, Callan, in her other arm. I pulled myself out of the water and went to see him.

“Hello, sweet boy!” She held him out for me to take, and I didn’t hesitate. I’d only gotten to see him from a distance at the game.

He didn’t flinch at my wet hands and instantly gave me a gummy smile. He was wearing the tiniest pair of swim trunks I’d ever seen with a matching shirt. She put on a hat with a full brim, and I nearly burst.

“You are the cutest guy in the whole world!” I took him to the pool steps and sat on the first one so he could dip his little toes into the water.

Chloe joined me, looking way too good in a bathing suit for having just had a baby. “So what evil were you guys discussing?”

Sydney laughed. “Nothing evil. I was just saying how I’d hoped the Mexico trip you guys took was an annual thing, but I haven’t heard anyone mention anything this year.”

“That was the only time we did a group trip like that, actually,” Chloe said. “It was all Colin’s idea, I think.”

“Then I think we should make it a tradition,” Sydney countered.

Chloe looked down at Callan. “I’m sure Reese’s parents would love to come spend some time with their grandbaby.”

Sydney scrunched her nose. “Would Madi and Erik be able to go?”

Chloe shrugged. “Depends on when we go, and if she ends up bottle-feeding or not. She’s more likely to go if we plan it for the end of the summer.”

“We should plan something.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up. “My favorite words.”

I laughed at their exchange, trying to suppress the green monster within.

“It would be the perfect farewell to Noah and Colby.” Chloe paused. “What if they got married there?”

Sydney’s eyes widened. “Don’t they already have everything planned and booked?”

“No.” Chloe sighed. “Colby said they haven’t had enough time to even think about it.”

“We should call her and have her come over.” Sydney was already standing and hurried to her phone. Within a minute she hung up and resumed her spot in the pool. “She’s coming but I didn’t say anything. We need to figure out how to sell this.”

“You mean, convince the least fussy bride ever to let us plan a destination wedding for her? I think she would be more than happy with that.”

“That would definitely get everyone on board with going,” I mentioned as if I had a say in any of this.

Chloe nodded. “You’re right. And if people only wanted to stay for a couple of days, they could. Or they make it into a vacation with us.”

In the fifteen minutes it took for Colby to arrive, they had a plan in place.

“Hey!” Colby walked out to the pool and quickly tossed her dress aside before slipping into the water. “Oh, this is perfect.”

Chloe beamed. “You know what would be even more perfect?”

I chuckled at her oh-so-subtle transition.

“What? A pool boy that brings us drinks?” Colby asked.

“Exactly!” Sydney shouted and then held up the boys’ water bottles. “Except some of us already have that service.”

Colby laughed but seemed a bit confused. “Are you saying you’re going to hire someone, Chloe?”

“No, that would be ridiculous.” Chloe waved her off. “We have a much better idea.”

“Oh really?” Colby looked at me, and I just smiled.