34
“G et naked,” Charlie orders gleefully.
“Assholes,” Davis growls.
I smother a smile as Davis swallows his bourbon, then stands and takes off his jeans.
Fallon raises an eyebrow and looks at me. “Briefs, huh?”
Davis sits back beside me with a long-suffering sigh. “Why’s everyone picking on me?”
Ford grins. “Because we get to harass your bossy ass for once.”
I lean into him. “And you keep taking my turn.”
“You’re pregnant,” he grunts. “No one but me sees you naked.”
I smile. I’ll never get tired of his possessive mouth.
“We’re too old to be playing this,” Davis grumbles, wrapping an arm around me to kiss my temple.
“You mean, you’re too boring,” Charlie drawls.
Ruby giggles, sweet and stunning as the birthday girl. “Davis is like the responsible dad of the friend group,” she amends kindly.
I laugh. “Then consider me the tired mom.”
The lodge doors are thrown open, Chris Stapleton plays over the speakers, and we all sit at the long lodge table, playing a chaotic game called Truth, Dare, Drink, Underwear that Wyatt invented one summer.
Charlie’s down to his boots and boxers.
Ruby wears my apron over her underwear, and a long white ribbon in her hair.
Fallon’s in her bra and boy shorts.
The birthday party has descended into madness. The cake still needs to be cut. Keena circles the table, a frenetic pace that has me dizzy. Unwrapped presents and wrapping paper cover the floor.
“Your turn,” Ford says, looking at his twin.
“Truth,” Davis grunts.
“Same question as before. One last chance.” Ford’s eyes narrow. “You don’t answer, you’re naked as the day you were born. Did you or did you not kiss Lucy Vale in fifth grade after I professed my love to her on the schoolhouse steps?”
Davis goes still, but his gaze is on his brother. His strong jaw is dusted in scruff, the firm set of his mouth gives nothing away. I love this side of him. Relaxed, enjoying his brothers, having fun.
“Kissed her and enjoyed it too.”
“Fucker,” Ford swears.
Davis tilts his head back and laughs. A deep and joyous boom that has the room erupting into howls.
I look around the room and smile.
This is my home. Family and found.
This is the start of everything I have ever wanted.
I suck in a gasp as Squish does a tumble that could get him to the Olympics.
“Everything okay?” Fallon asks.
“He’s definitely your nephew,” I tell Fallon, rubbing a hand over my belly. “Wild.”
Davis places a hand over mine. Brown eyes pinned on my belly, he says, “Son, you have to take it easy on your mama.”
The entire room stills. My breath catches. The pump of my heart is so loud I’m sure everyone can hear it.
Because everyone heard Davis’s words.
Son .
The thought has hot tears filling my eyes.
Ruby stares at us and squeaks, her hands wiping fast at her face.
Keena whines and paces the room. She stops by my side, tries to put her paws on my lap, only to get shooed away by Davis.
“Is she okay?” Ruby asks.
“She’s been doing this all day,” I say, using the table as leverage to stand. Instantly, Davis is beside me.
“Sit down, baby.” A broad hand claims my hip while the other slides over the curve of my ass. “You’ve been on your feet all day.”
I rub my stomach. “I need to walk. My back’s killing me.” I scan the room, unable to resist the urge to move. “You need a drink, Ford?”
“Nah. Not drinking.” He lifts his glass of sweet tea to me. “Me and you are in it together for a couple of weeks.”
I smile at him, but I don’t miss the look that passes between him and Davis. The proud nod Davis gives his twin.
Davis glances at Wyatt, who sits sullenly in a chair with his arms crossed. He’s barely said a word since the party started. “Your turn.”
“Don’t want to play.”
His words are stiff—short.
Fallon’s eyes flick to him.
“Cake then,” Charlie says, his gaze on Ruby’s face.
Davis and I get the cake, safely sequestered in the kitchen. We collect plates, forks, and candles and move the party into the living room. Everyone curls up on the spacious dark leather couches. Champagne glasses are filled and Davis brings a bottle of sparkling grape juice for me.
Ruby stands and watches in delight as I stick elegant gold candles on top of the three-tier cake. I watch Charlie grin, his blue eyes fixed on her panty-clad butt showing behind the apron.
Ford, leaning back against the wall, sucks on a hard candy. “Standing around naked, cutting cake. Who’d have thought?”
Fallon shrugs. “Done weirder.”
Ford snorts.
“This must have taken so much work, Dakota,” Ruby breathes. She dips low, inspecting every inch of the cake. A frosted confection of dreamy goodness. Nothing better than a homemade birthday cake glittering with candles. It’s the incredible power of pastry. Bringing joy, bringing people together.
Straightening up, Ruby dabs at the corner of her eye. “I really appreciate it.”
I smile and give her a hug. “Of course. I loved doing it.”
We sing. We pour champagne and lift the glasses high in the air.
“Speech, speech, speech,” Fallon chants. She nudges Charlie with her boot. “C’mon, big guy, get those words out.”
Charlie stands, a sudden softness settling over his face. Ruby, wide-eyed, gazes up at her husband. The muscles in Charlie’s jaw work. All his attention is on her. “Sunflower, you’re the brightest thing in my life. Happy birthday to the reason I’m breathing. I love you, baby.”
And then he kisses her. We all watch as Ruby all but collapses into his massive chest.
Ford smirks. Fallon claps.
“Charlie,” Ruby gasps when he pulls back.
“I think it’s time to cut the cake,” I announce. I slice thick slabs of carrot cake and Davis hands them out. I glance over my shoulder at him and grin. “How domesticated are you, Hotshot?”
He leans in and whispers, “Take me back in the kitchen and I’ll show you.” My stomach flips at the ragged husk in his voice. Demanding. Devouring.
Cake cut, everyone relaxes on the couches, plates on their laps.
All of this is a perfect rope-the-moon kind of day.
Keena whines and nudges her nose at the back of my legs, nearly propelling me forward. Davis makes a quick grab and holds me steady.
“Dog’s trying to kill you,” Fallon quips as I settle back into our little circle.
Davis shakes his head and grabs Keena’s collar, pulling her away from me. “Keena. What the hell’s gotten into you?”
“Most attention she’s ever shown me.” I laugh. Keena retreats to the corner and watches us with dark eyes. With my fork, I break off a piece of cake and lift it up. “Look,” I tell Davis. “The crumb’s perfect.”
“Actually, hold up.” Wyatt’s lazy southern drawl rings out. He’s sitting in a rocking chair, arms crossed, long legs kicked out. “I got somethin’ for the game.”
I freeze, the piece of cake perched precariously on the tines of my fork halfway to my mouth.
“Fallon’s turn,” Wyatt says, and all eyes swivel to her. “Truth, dare, drink, underwear.”
My gaze slides to my sister, who’s gone still like an animal caught in the headlights. I wonder if she’ll back down, take an out. I pray she does.
“Dare,” Fallon says icily.
Wyatt makes a buzzer sound with his lips. “Try again.”
Nostrils flaring, Fallon tips her chin. “Fine. Truth.”
Nobody moves. It’s like one of those ASMR videos. The only sound is cutlery clanking awkwardly.
“Your new trainer,” Wyatt begins, and my stomach tumbles. Davis tenses beside me. “Who is it?”
Fallon and Wyatt stare at each other. A kind of manic energy radiates between them.
“Let’s just eat the fucking cake,” Charlie growls.
For a brief second, Fallon’s panicked eyes meet mine. But she swallows and says, “Pappy Starr.”
A soft muttered shit from Davis at that.
Wyatt blanches. “Bullshit. He doesn’t—”
“Rep girls,” Fallon interjects with an eye roll. “And yes, we know all about your chauvinistic male standards, so please spare us the theatrics.”
Ford’s frowning. His long fingers run over his jaw in quiet contemplation. “He doesn’t work with barrel riders, cowgirl.”
“I know it.” Fallon steels her spine. “I’m training with Pappy to ride in the Pbr.”
Silence. One second. Two.
Wyatt rockets to his feet. The veins in his neck charged with anger. “The fuck you are.”
“That’s funny.” She scoffs, her eyes grinding him to dust. “I mean, I can’t think of anything you have a say in less than my life.”
“You don’t support this, do you?” Wyatt demands, wheeling to me, to Davis, to the room. He rips a hand through his hair, grips the back of his neck.
Charlie’s pale, trading a concerned look with Ford, who stares at Wyatt.
No one likes it, but it’s Fallon’s choice. No one can talk her out of it except herself.
“It’s her decision,” I say, and Fallon flashes me a grateful glance. I back my sister. Always.
“Wyatt, sit the fuck down,” Davis orders in his scary Marine voice.
But he doesn’t.
I watch Fallon flinch as Wyatt thunders toward her. Which is strange because my sister doesn’t flinch. Not when a horse runs at her full throttle. Not when she falls off the back of a bull.
It’s not fear.
It’s something…dangerous. Powerful.
Something else .
Oh no.
Oh shit.
God, it’s so painful I can’t look away.
Wyatt sticks a finger in her face. “You ain’t got no damn business ridin’ bulls,” he snarls.
Fallon’s nostrils flare. She grips her fork like she’s about to stab Wyatt in the leg. “It’s not your problem.”
“You’re wrong. It is my problem. And when you die, it’s going to be everyone else’s problem because of your selfish, stupid antics.”
I eye them with worry as I stand and move to the cake to cover it with a damp towel, not wanting it to dry out. Then I throw Davis a pleading glance. Say something. Anything.
Keena nudges my knee.
“Wyatt, this isn’t your party to ruin,” Davis says, standing to move Keena away from me. Or at least he tries. Keena darts away from him with a whine. Davis growls at his dog, then turns his attention to our siblings. “You’re making Ruby cry, so cut the shit.”
Ruby sits there, a huge slab of cake on her lap, her eyes wide and wet. Charlie looks pissed, reaching out to take Ruby’s hand in his.
Fallon shoots off the couch. “I’ll save you the trouble, Davis. I’ll go.”
“Oh no,” Ruby says, her small hands going to her mouth.
“Oh, for the love of Christ,” Ford groans, burying his face in his hands. “Would you two just—”
Two shots cut the tense air.
Glass shatters.
Ruby screams.
Davis roars my name.
Two paws land on my back, the force pushing me to the ground. Twisting onto my side, I shove against the furry powerhouse that is Keena, but she won’t let me loose. I look up and realize Wyatt has tackled Fallon and pinned her beneath the coffee table. “What’s happening?” I gasp.
Fallon shakes her head over and over. “I don’t fucking know.”
Davis’s voice booms across the room, hitting us all with force. “Everyone, stay on the fucking ground.”
Another shot rings out. Somewhere across the room, Charlie swears.
Keena whimpers, her nails skittering across the hardwood floor as she flattens me down like a pancake.
“Keena,” I gasp and wrap my arm around her neck. The dog lies on top of me, her wet nose in my neck. She’s trembling, her warm body like a calming blanket. I squeeze my eyes shut and hang on to her for dear life.
My heart is in my throat. I can barely breathe, barely think, except for one singular, terrifying thought.
Aiden’s here.