Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
ALLEY
I tip my head back and close my eyes, letting the sun warm my face. My smile is instant. There’s no holding it back. God, that feels good.
It’s one of those rare spring days in the low sixties, bright blue skies overhead and just enough of a breeze to keep it from feeling too warm. I couldn’t ask for better weather on my birthday. It’s perfect.
The mulch we spread a few days ago still lingers in the air, and our new patio furniture couldn’t be more comfortable.
Matt and Leo are to my right, deep in business talk. To my left, Jensen’s bantering with Adam, Michael, and my dad, and Cooper’s laugh carries above the buzz of conversation.
I open my eyes and scan the group, squinting against the light. I chose this seat in the sun on purpose—I’m always cold. I live for the heat. Jensen’s hand rests on my thigh from his spot at the end of the oversized chaise, his attention on the guys.
Laughter bursts out of him, mixing with Michael’s, Adam’s, and my dad’s. Then his fingers squeeze my knee, his gaze finding mine.
“You remember that, Al?” Michael calls, his voice snapping my head toward him.
I bring a hand to my forehead, shading my eyes. “What?”
“Your Subway prank?”
He and Adam both laugh.
I nod as a grin spreads wide. “Sure do. That was classic. And then you both left Jenny and me to find our own ride home. Dicks.”
Jensen turns his head from them to me. “I’m gonna need the whole story.”
“Me as well,” my dad chimes in. “What would make my responsible teenage son leave my daughter stranded?” He shoots Michael a teasing glare.
“Oh, we’re dicks?” Michael points between himself and Adam. “What about you and Jenny? We had a deal.”
“It was such a good prank. You could have at least appreciated the cleverness of it.” I turn to Jensen, already smiling at the memory. “Jenny and I were fourteen and desperate for Subway. We begged Michael and Adam to drive us and promised we’d buy them a sandwich if they did.”
Adam scoffs, chuckling under his breath.
I narrow my eyes at him, my grin only growing. “I wasn’t about to spend my hard-earned money on them. So we rolled up socks, wrapped them in Subway paper, and stuffed them in a bag while they waited in the car. It was genius—until they decided to open them right then.”
They all crack up, and I shake my head. “Didn’t really think that one through. They kicked us out of the car and made us find our own way home. So we ate on the curb and walked. Took ninety minutes.”
“Why don’t I know about this evil side of you and Michael?” Jensen asks, still chuckling.
“Oh, Michael and Adam were assholes for about two years in high school.”
“Only because you were bratty and annoying as hell,” Michael fires back.
I scowl. “I was not bratty.”
My dad arches a brow at me.
“Fine,” I huff. “I was a little bratty. But you try balancing hormones while crushing on your brother’s best friend”—my eyes flick to Adam—“only to find out he was dating your best friend’s older sister. That was torture.”
Adam bursts out laughing. “God. I could’ve shoved your face in a pile of mud and you’d still have liked me.”
I nod, lips pressed tight, fighting my grin. I turn to Jensen. “It’s true. I liked him a lot. I talked about him all the time.”
Jensen pats my knee. “Babe, this isn’t news. We all know you liked Adam.”
“Yeah, but she never talked about Adam that way she did you, Jensen,” Scarlett cuts in, grinning as she shakes her head. “God, when you two first started seeing each other? Borderline obsession.”
I roll my eyes, smothering a smile. “Okay, stop.” I glance at Jensen. “I wasn’t obsessed. I just… really liked you.”
He holds up a finger to me. “Shh, babe. I’m listening to Scarlett talk about how obsessed you were with me.” That Jensen smirk spreads wide, melting my insides as his hand squeezes my thigh. Honestly, how could I not be obsessed?
Scarlett laughs, curling into Adam, their hands laced together on his thigh.
They’ve been seeing each other since poker night.
At first it was just texting and late-night calls, then Adam flew out to New York a few months ago.
The rest is history, and I hope it works out. I’ve never seen her happier.
I swat at Jensen’s finger, then turn to Scarlett. “And look how the tables have turned. Who would’ve thought you’d be dating my childhood crush one day? And now I know things about Adam that are permanently scarred into my brain.” I flash them both a teasing grin.
“Whoa. What’s that supposed to mean?” Adam asks.
“Means they talk about your sex life, man,” Jensen says, perfectly matter-of-fact. “Ninety percent of what you tell Scarlett—you might as well tell Alley.”
My eyes land on Adam. “Don’t feel special. I know about Ryan and Leo’s sex lives too. And unfortunately, way too much about my brother’s.” I wince, gaze shifting to Stella, sitting beside Michael. Then I glance at my dad. “Sorry, Dad.”
He waves a hand, muttering something about us all being adults.
Stella taps a fork against her glass and stands, eyes sparkling as she looks around the group. The chatter fades as heads turn her way.
She lifts her glass. “Since it’s Alley’s birthday, I thought it’d be fun if we all shared a favorite memory of her.”
A mix of cheers and teasing groans ripple through the patio.
“Oh, this’ll be good.” Michael smirks.
“Careful,” Cooper chimes in. “I’ve got stories.”
“I hope they’re embarrassing,” Adam adds, grinning.
“I’ll go first,” Stella says, before telling the story of the first time she met me. Michael’s next, then my dad.
Then Adam. “Well, there’s the socks and Subway, but nothing will ever surpass that riverboat tour when she thought Art Deco was a person.” He flashes a grin, and everyone cracks up. I roll my eyes, shaking my head.
Scarlett dives into a story about me making a complete fool of myself at the bar in front of a couple hot guys.
Cooper follows, grinning. “Oh, I’ve got one.
Remember when Viv asked us to babysit for like ten minutes?
Neither of us had ever changed a diaper in our lives.
We were gagging, shit was everywhere, and just when we finally got him clean”—she throws up a hand, laughing—“little man let loose with the firehose and peed all over you.”
Everyone cracks up, Jensen included, while I groan through my laughter. “Oh my God, I’ve never moved so fast in my life. Fastest way to learn how to change a diaper? Get peed on.”
Cooper’s wiping tears from her eyes. “When Viv came home, I couldn’t even breathe I was laughing so hard. Even Isla was laughing.”
Ryan slings an arm over her chair, brows pinched, smirking. “And she says she doesn’t want kids.”
They all laugh again, but Jensen and I share a look. Mine’s mortified, because holy shit, if I can’t handle a diaper, how am I supposed to handle a baby? His is steady, almost reassuring—like he’s silently telling me, we’ll figure it out.
Ryan goes next, then Vivian—each sharing a short, funny snippet from the past few months.
Then it’s Leo’s turn. He’s quiet for a moment, and when he looks up, his expression is serious and thoughtful.
“Where do I even begin, Al?” He chuckles softly, a glint in his eye.
“I’ve got a lot of great memories with you—family dinners, game nights at mine and Michael’s apartment, where you’d flirt with our friends and try to convince them you were in college when you were still in high school. ”
Jensen side-eyes me, brow cocked, and I flash him a shameless grin.
“You’ve always filled a special place in my heart.
You’ve been like a sister to me. And maybe this isn’t my favorite memory, but it’s one that’s always stayed with me—when I picked you up from the airport after you started seeing Jensen.
All the years before, when you’d visit, you were always your happy-go-lucky self on the surface.
But deep down?” His voice dips. “You were sad. After your mum died. When you weren’t talking to your dad.
When you barely saw Michael.” He pauses, smile softening.
“But that day… when you got in my car and started talking about Jensen—you lit up. I’d never seen you so excited.
So happy. I’ll never forget it. That transition?
That’ll always be a favorite for me. And then, of course, you made fun of me for being incapable of dating. ”
He chuckles, shooting Vivian a quick wink before his gaze comes back to me. My eyes sting as I hold the tears back and mouth a quiet thank you.
He slaps Matt on the back. “You’re up, mate.”
“Well, shit, how do I follow that?” He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I don’t think I can pick just one. You’ve tripped over your own feet more times than I can count, and you always have my back when the Adams siblings gang up on me.
But honestly?” His smile softens as his gaze locks on mine—pure sincerity.
“Just knowing you and having you in my life has been one of the greatest blessings.”
He shakes his head, letting out a breath.
“You and Jensen have been so inspiring to watch as a couple. I’ve never known anyone to love as hard as you two do.
” His eyes turn glassy, and it takes me by surprise.
Matt really isn’t one to get emotional, not over this kind of thing.
And certainly not in front of people. “It’s made me realize I want more out of my own life.
That I want what you two have.” He scoffs, laughing like he can’t believe he just admitted it.
“Looks like I’ve missed that boat, though. ”
I shake my head, the dam of tears about to spill over. “No, you haven’t,” I whisper.
He glances around at the serious faces—some teary, some smiling—and shifts in his seat.
“Ah, fuck.” Then he winces when he notices my dad, like he didn’t mean to drop an f-bomb.
“Sorry to kill the mood. All that to say, I already miss you, Alley. Happy birthday.” He clears his throat and looks to Jensen. “Your turn, buddy.”