Free Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) by Nicole Rickman Page B

Lexi laughed.
    “Can you clue me in on lover boy and whatever that was he was just doing?” LJ was so confused.
    Aimee sat in the chair so she could pull her grey UGGS over her jeans as she told LJ all about lover boy.
    When they made it to the SUV, Lexi and Colin had claimed the back seat so Aimee sat up front with LJ. He opened her door for her. A roar of laughter came from Lexi in the back seat just as Aimee clipped her seatbelt on.
    “What?" Aimee turned her head and ask.
    “I just got a text from Aiden. It seems poor Ava’s plane has been delayed. It will be late tonight or early morning before they make it to the lodge.”
    Colin did a pretend gasp. “Her dad made her fly commercial. I bet she is so mad. I got a text from Josiah; he says he is staying in Ancaster, his band has booked some gigs.”
    “Well, that just leaves Sophia, I guess her and her man will be there tomorrow as well, unless...” Lexi said.
    “Actually.” Aimee bit her lower lip. “Her interview went awesome. When she arrived at the school, she discovered they are holding several free workshops. The woman who interviewed her told her about them. So, she is spending the next ten days at the Neahovia Culinary School.”
    “That really sounds like an awesome opportunity for her.” LJ added.
    “It is.” Her phone beeped signaling at text. She read it and typed a short response.
    “More bad news?” Colin asked in a concerned voice.
    “No. It was from my dad, wanting to let me know he hopes we have fun and to let him know when we make it to the lodge.” Aimee sighed as she put her phone down.
    LJ was entering the road that lead out of town. “It must be hard to be so far away from your family.”
    “At times. But, except for last year, I have always went to boarding school since my mom…” Aimee looked at her hands. In all the conversations she had with LJ over the past four months, she had not told him about her mom.
    “Are you ok?” He looked genuinely concerned.
    Aimee nodded as she fought the tears.   Not now, she was not going to cry on vacation.  “My mom was killed in a car accident when I was ten.”
    LJ took her hand. “I’m so sorry; I had no idea.”
    “It’s ok. A lot of people don’t know. It’s kind of poor conversation starter.”
    LJ put his hand back on the wheel. “So, are you an only child?”
    “Not now. My dad remarried when I was twelve. He and Deandre have three kids. Maddie is five and the twins, Grant and Carter, just turned one.”
    “Wow! Your dad like started all over.”
    Aimee laughed. “Yeah, he did. Lucky for him, I was born when he was twenty three. Your turn, tell me about your family.”
    “Ok, we are a close family. My mom and dad are high school sweethearts. You met my sister; but, I have four more siblings. You met my dad; but, he really isn’t as bad as he made himself look at the dinner. My mom works in design; she actually designs all of our businesses.”
    “Wow. I don’t think your dad liked me much.”
    “Are you crazy? He loved your spunk; he went on about it for days, my mom said.”
    “My spunk. Ok. Hey, Lexi, I am spunky.”
    “We know, Spunky, keep it down.”
    “Seriously, he was impressed with you. Honestly, other than my mom, I have never known him to be so impressed with someone.”
    “Hey. Stop trying to turn on the charm and turn the heat up, I am cold.” Colin yelled.
    “Pipe down, lover boy.” LJ laughed as he adjusted the heat for the back.
    “Uh, Dude, that sounds horrible coming from you.”
    “Yeah, I realized that as soon as I spoke the words.”
    Aimee turned and looked at Colin. “Next time, try using the controls above your head.”
    Colin looked up. “Ok. But then I can’t interrupt LJ.”
    Aimee turned to LJ. “So, is your family from Normark?”
    “My parents live in Concord, about forty-five minutes outside of Ancaster. My grandfather owns the Normark resorts.”
    “So, you must see your family a lot?”
    “Every Sunday.”
    “I