“Did he invite you on that third date?” Bloom nudges my elbow, then slides a margarita glass over to me.
“Yes and no,” I grumble.
“Trouble in paradise, sister?” I ignore Robin…until Autumn slides onto the floor beside him.
These two are going to be an issue, I can already tell. I don’t think there is actually any kind of love interest between them, just pure mischief, and that is even more terrifying.
Paris sits in the corner, watching the entire exchange with a pair of large white sunglasses resting on her button nose. She looks like Audrey Hepburn without the camera on her. In reality, she’s probably just trying to hide the dark circles under her eyes or trying to avoid us all together.
Darn it, I hate speculating. It makes me crazy. I blame my brother.
“Yeah, Wren, what’s the holdup?” Autumn chimes in from the floor. I dare to glance down at the two of them.
I regret looking. Autumn pours a shot of tequila in Robin’s mouth, then shoves in a lemon, which he promptly spits out and looks at her like she’s crazy. “Limes, you need limes.”
“We use lemons here, Southern boy.” Autumn shoves the lemon back in his mouth.
“I can’t look at you two,” I grumble and turn toward Bloom and Paris to avoid my insane brother.
“I’m sure he will plan that date.” Bloom reaches out, laying a comforting palm on my arm.
“Thanks.” Though that isn’t what I wanted to talk about tonight. I sip my margarita, heavy on the tequila, and tap the table to get Paris’ attention.
“I know.” She tips her sunglasses down to stare at me with red-rimmed eyes.
I instantly feel like a terrible person. “Paris.”
“Don’t.” She points a finger at me before grabbing the pitcher of drinks and pulling out a foot long straw. “I prepared for this. Though the Adonis was a surprise.” She jerks her head at my brother.
Ew.
Autumn and Robin climb up from the floor, sensing the seriousness of the moment. Robin grabs an extra chair and flips it around, sitting beside me.
“Adonis, at your service,” Robin says, then nods his head like a Southern gentleman, though his accent is almost nonexistent.
“All right.” Paris sniffles a little before tossing her sunglasses on the table. “Kayden’s birthday is Thursday.” She sips the pitcher of margarita through her foot long straw before wiping her eyes with her pink sleeves.
“Paris, you don’t owe any of us an explanation.” Bloom reaches across the table, gathering one of her hands in her own and rubbing comforting circles across her knuckles.
“No, I mean yes.” Paris growls at herself. “Let me start over.” She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and her brown hair spilling from her bun. “If Wren can do it, so can I.”
Robin nudges me gently, but I don’t look over. I know what his facial expression will be—pride. In some way, I know he willbe proud of me for opening up to someone other than him or a therapist that I saw only once.
“Kayden deserves a birthday, and this will be his fifth birthday that I didn’t celebrate.” She blows out a breath. “I couldn’t. I just couldn’t celebrate a day that hurt me so much. But I’ve only harmed Kayden in the process, and that—” Tears fall freely from her eyes, and she takes a moment to sip her pitcher, just letting those salty tears flow down her face.
Autumn twitches in her chair, tilting her head up toward the ceiling as she struggles for composure. For all her gruff exterior, Autumn cares deeply for her friends, and I suspect she loves far greater than any of us gave her credit for.
“Wren, I want you to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want the town to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want Kayden to have cake, and I want him to pin the tail on the turkey. I want these things for him. It just felt wrong to celebrate a birth that should have been a celebration between us.” Paris rubs her chest as she swallows over and over.
“Kayden never suffered, sweetheart.” Bloom reaches out to her friend once more. “He has you, and you’ve been an incredible mama to his sweet little face all this time. You may not have celebrated his birthday on the day, but you always made up for it in your own way.”
“I distinctly remember taking him to that water park for his half birthday last year.” Autumn looks at her friend, her eyes spilling over with tears.
“Even the weekend of,” Kenzie says as she sits down on the other end of the table. She’s fashionably late, as always, but she squeezes Paris to her side. All that matters is that she is here.
“I know, but Thanksgiving is on his birthday this year. Is there still a chance to celebrate it?” Paris dries her eyes. “I know everyone is busy getting ready for Wonderland, but can we spare a few days for Kayden?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Bloom smiles, already tapping away on her phone. “Consider it done.”
