Page 55 of Mine to Promise
“She’s amazing,” she gushes, and I can’t help the smile that fills my face. “She’s still in bed. She spoke with your mom last night and was informed that princesses get breakfast in bed, so…”
“Oh my God,” I reply, shaking my head.
“She is taking full advantage of it.” She laughs. “Why are you up?”
“Quick question,” I say, looking over at the stairs to see if I’m still alone. “How hard would it be to take Addison away for a week?” I whisper.
“Away for a week?” Sofia asks me, confused.
“Yeah, I want to take her and Avery to San Francisco,” I fill her in, and she gasps. From the minute she told me it was on her bucket list, I had already started to make plans in my head. But then I knew I had to make sure she could leave work.
“Does she know?” Sofia asks me.
“No, it’s a surprise,” I tell her, looking over my shoulder the whole time. I put the phone to my ear, so she doesn’t hear anything.
“She’s going to freak out,” she states, the excitement already in her voice making me smile even more.
“Yeah, so how would that work?” I ask her as I finish filling the dishwasher.
“I can check the calendar.”
“Okay, that is good.” I’m really hoping I can do this for her. “Please let me know and keep it a secret if you can.”
“Ugh,” Sofia says, “just take her.”
“What?” I ask, shocked.
“Just take her,” she repeats. “I’ll cover for her, and I know the girls would want her to go.”
“Are you sure?” I don’t even know why I bother asking her instead of just hanging up and start the planning.
“Yes,” she assures me, and I can feel the smile on her face. “You better not fuck this up, Stefano, or else.”
“Thank you,” I say to her and quickly hang up. I run up the stairs, two at a time, walking into the bedroom and still hearing the shower going.
I pull up my father’s name and press the green button. “Hey there,” he answers after half a ring.
“I don’t have a lot of time,” I rush out, sitting on the bed, watching the bathroom door. “I’m surprising Addison and Avery and taking them to San Francisco,” I tell him. “Do you think I can get a suite?”
“On it,” he says. “I’ll make the arrangements and send you the confirmation. Today, right?”
“Yeah,” I say, getting up with the nerves filling my body. “I’ve never done this before. I am going to call for a plane.” I look at the bathroom door when I hear the water shut off. “She is coming,” I say in a whisper. “Shit.”
“I’ll take care of everything. All you need to do is get her to the airport,” my father confirms with glee.
“What about clothes and stuff?” I ask him.
“Your mother will have a field day,” he mumbles, “but it’ll all be at the hotel.”
“Okay, text me the details.”
“Will do,” he says and disconnects. At the same time, I hear the handle of the door unlock and the door open.
She walks out wrapped in a white towel, her long hair piled on her head. “That shower was amazing,” she moans. “Why are you here?”
“It’s my bedroom.” I try to act cool, folding my hands over my chest. “Why?”
“What’s wrong?” She just stares at me. “Did Sofia call?” Worry fills her face. “Is everything okay?”