Chapter 24

Kelsey closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat rest. She was in the middle seat, but she didn't care because Isabella was sitting right next to her, their legs pressed together. Her thoughts drifted back to last night. They had danced at Peaches with the rest of the spring break revelers then returned to the resort for dinner.

The group continued the party outside their rooms at the pool. Kelsey and Isabella took their regular evening walk on the beach, this time joined by Dana and Mia. After they returned to the party Kelsey and Isabella explained they had a work issue to take care of and went into Isabella's room. They had their last-night dance, as they had begun to call it, after all.

Kelsey remembered holding Isabella in her arms as they swayed to the music. She couldn't wait until their trip next month.

"You have a very pleased look on your face," Isabella whispered. "What are you thinking about?"

Kelsey opened her eyes and gazed over at Isabella. "Your eyes are a beautiful sparkling blue right now," she said quietly.

Isabella smiled, but raised her eyebrows in question.

"I was thinking about our dance last night," Kelsey replied softly. She reached over and touched her little finger to Isabella's where it rested on her thigh. "Have you noticed how perfectly our bodies fit together when we dance?"

She was rewarded with a big smile from Isabella. "I have noticed," she whispered.

Kelsey straightened up and turned to her. "I was surprised at how receptive Carmen was to our idea of rejuvenation next month."

"I think she knows we need a little break," Isabella said. "I'm glad it's only three weeks until our next trip, but…" She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "What are we going to do for those three weeks?"

"We're going to talk and text about everything we're going to do next month," Kelsey said with a sexy smile.

"God, help me." Isabella sighed. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Yes, you do," Kelsey whispered.

Dana leaned towards them from where she sat on Kelsey's other side. "What are you whispering about?" she asked in a faux whisper.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Isabella said. "Nosy."

Dana had a shocked look on her face, making Isabella and Kelsey chuckle. "We're not talking about anything special," Kelsey said. "Just the trip."

"When do we get to hang out again, Isabella?" Dana asked.

"Not next month," Isabella said. "Your mom and I need to relax."

"Oh, it must be so hard going to the Virgin Islands every month," Dana said sarcastically.

"You'd be surprised," Kelsey said.

"Yeah, I didn't see you planning any of the videos or pictures to get the best views or writing any of the copy for the blog or other posts," Isabella said.

Dana shrugged. "I admit, there's a lot more to this than I thought," she said. "Thank you again for having us for spring break."

"You're welcome. Don't forget we have the family vacation this summer," Isabella said.

"I can't wait to actually meet Wyatt and Gus. It'll be fun showing them around. Is Mia coming back for that?" Dana asked.

Isabella raised her brows. "I don't know," she replied. "We can ask."

Dana nodded and smiled.

"What about Tanner?"

"Sure," Dana said. "It'd be nice to see him again, too."

Isabella winked at Kelsey as Dana looked away.

The flight attendants came around to prepare for landing and it wasn't long until they were on the ground. Once they made it through the walkway and into the airport they stopped.

"Is this where we say our goodbyes?" Emma said with a pout.

"Nope," Isabella said. "I always walk your mom to her next flight."

Dana and Emma led the group through the airport to their gate. Kelsey and Isabella followed at the rear, arm and arm, just like always.

"Hey, perfect timing, we're about to board," Emma said.

"It usually works out that way," Kelsey said.

Isabella held out her arms. "Okay, I need hugs."

Lily and Grace each hugged her and thanked her once again for the trip.

It was Emma's turn and she quietly said, "I'm sad to leave you. This was so much fun."

Isabella pulled away and smiled at her. "You'll see me again before you know it."

Dana grabbed Isabella and hugged her tightly. "Now we know why our mom talks about you so often. You're our friend now."

"Aw, I am your friend," Isabella said. "This wasn't just a job to us. It was a girls trip."

The gate attendant called their group and the girls got in line to board.

"Mom, aren't you coming?" Emma asked.

"Yes. You go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."

Emma furrowed her brows and shrugged. "Okay. Is this another one of the things you two do every trip? Like walking on the beach?"

"Yep," Isabella said. "Kelsey will take a pic of you all when you're in your seats on the plane."

"And I'll call when we get home tonight," Kelsey added quietly.

"That's so cute," Lily said, smiling at them.

Kelsey and Isabella watched them wheel their bags down the walkway then they stepped over towards the wall.

"I'm going to miss you even more this time," Isabella said, putting her arms around Kelsey's neck.

"Why more?"

"Because I know you feel this, too, and we have so much to look forward to," she replied.

Kelsey leaned down and kissed Isabella softly then pulled her into a tight hug. "I'll miss you, Bella. More than you know."

Isabella leaned her head back and kissed Kelsey firmly. "Are you ready for all the questions when you get on the plane?"

"Did you notice them watching us?"

"Mm hmm, they kept stealing glances our way. They know we're more than friends," Isabella said.

"I'll be fine," Kelsey said. She kissed Isabella one more time and groaned as she pulled her lips away. "It's so hard to leave you."

"You'd better go before one of them gets off the plane and comes looking for you." Isabella chuckled.

"Wait," Kelsey said, reaching for her phone. "One more pic of us."

She held her arm out and wrapped the other one around Isabella. "Ready?"

Just before she hit the button she put her lips to Isabella's cheek.

"Let me see!" Isabella exclaimed. She took Kelsey's phone and smiled at the photo. "I'm sending this to myself right now."

Kelsey chuckled.

"I have another idea," Isabella said. She held Kelsey's phone out and grinned at her. "Kiss me."

"What?"

"Come on. We don't have much time."

Kelsey pressed her lips to Isabella's and heard her push the button to take the photo.

They looked at the picture and saw that Isabella had captured them in a sweet kiss.

"Okay, when we're missing each other, which will be all the time," Isabella said as she sent the picture to her phone, "we can look at this and feel each other's lips."

Kelsey giggled and smiled at Isabella. She couldn't help but think they were acting like a couple of kids, but she didn't care.

"See you next month," Isabella said, pecking Kelsey's lips one more time.

"See you next month," Kelsey replied.

She walked over, showed her boarding pass to the attendant, and turned to smile at Isabella one more time before she disappeared down the walkway.

Kelsey sighed and couldn't believe how happy her heart felt. There was a hint of sadness leaving Isabella, but she knew next month it would just be the two of them. They'd told Carmen to put them in one bungalow, explaining that they were together most of the time anyway.

"I thought you were going to miss our flight," Dana said, taking Kelsey's bag and putting it in the overhead bin.

Kelsey looked up and down the aisle as several people were still finding their seats. "Right," she said sarcastically.

"Okay, Mom," Emma said, patting the middle seat. "You're sitting between me and Dana. We need to talk."

Kelsey raised her eyebrows at both her daughters and sat down. "Hold it. Picture first," she said, taking out her phone. She handed it to Emma. The three of them leaned in with Lily and Grace waving from their seats across the aisle.

"Smile at Bella," Kelsey said, grinning at the phone. She sent the pic to Isabella and said: Miss you already. Kelsey quickly put her phone away before either of the girls decided to grab it and snoop.

Once they were in the air Dana turned to Kelsey. "So do you do the same things every time you go on one of these trips?"

"Some things. We take a walk on the beach, go to Peaches and do a little dancing?—"

"Let's talk about dancing," Emma said, narrowing her gaze.

Kelsey wanted to laugh, but held it in. This should be fun, she thought.

"It isn't strange dancing with Isabella?"

Kelsey scoffed. "Did we look strange? We've been dancing together since we met."

Dana gasped. "I knew it! What's really going on, Mom?"

Kelsey raised her brows and looked from one daughter to the other. "Excuse me?"

Emma huffed. "Why aren't you and Isabella together? You're perfect for each other!"

Kelsey smiled.

"Sorry, Mom. What Emma is trying to say is that we can see how the two of you look at each other. What's holding you back?" Dana asked softly.

"Duh, Isabella isn't gay, right?" Emma exclaimed.

"That doesn't matter," Dana replied.

Kelsey felt like she was watching a tennis match as each of her daughters fired off comments.

"Mom," Emma said, taking a deep breath. "Isabella is into you and I know you're into her."

"Am I?"

"Yes," Dana said. "You may not have dated much, but I know when you care for someone and you love Isabella."

"Whoa! Slow down," Kelsey said.

"Why?" Dana asked. "It's obvious. You're both in love with each other."

Was it obvious? They were friends and laughed a lot. But with each day and each trip they got closer and closer. Did she love Isabella? There was so much to consider.

"Come on, Mom. What's really going on?" Emma asked softly.

Kelsey sighed. "Isabella and I became friends instantly," she began. "We were at the resort alone, both feeling a bit sad about that and had dinner together the first night we met. We didn't know we were both working for the resort."

"You didn't?" Dana asked.

Kelsey shook her head. "Not that first night. The next day, the idea for the monthly trips was brought up and it took off. Carmen wanted us to do it instead of a paid influencer because she thought it would be more believable."

Kelsey paused to take a breath and smiled at Dana and Emma. "Isabella and I have grown closer and closer. We've talked about our families, our hopes, lots of things," she said, beginning to squirm in her seat. She didn't want to share their private moments with anyone. Those were hers and Isabella's to cherish.

"Talk?" Emma said, raising her eyebrows. "You've been dancing, too. What else?"

Kelsey glared at them. "That's not your business. But I will tell you this," she said a bit testily. "We tried to find a moment alone during this trip because we'd just realized our feelings for each other, but couldn't get away from the two of you to have a conversation!"

"Oh," Emma said with an apologetic wince.

"Why didn't you just say so?" Dana said defensively.

Kelsey's eyes widened then she laughed. "Really! What would you have done?"

"Uh…"

"You wouldn't have given us a moment's peace. You would have been asking questions or teasing us the entire time."

"Guilty," Emma said, raising her hand.

"Mom, we want you to be happy," Dana said. "Isabella told me you hadn't found the right woman, but you would."

Kelsey smiled. "She did?"

"Yeah, I think you've found her," Dana said with a smile.

"OMG, Dana!" Emma exclaimed. "We're going to have another mommy!"

Kelsey thought her eyes would pop out of her head.

Dana and Emma burst out laughing. "We're kidding," Emma said, trying to catch her breath.

"Oh, you two are so funny," Kelsey said with a smirk. She reached for their hands, gave them a squeeze and smiled.