I step out onto the back porch, away from the noise, and answer. "Hey."
"Hey." His voice is clear, steady. "Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday."
"Thanks." I lean against the railing, looking out at the darkening woods behind the cabin. "How are you?"
"Good. Really good. Eighteen months clean today."
"Ben, that's amazing. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks." There's a pause. "How's the baby?"
My hand goes to my stomach automatically. "Good. Growing. Making me nauseous and tired, but good."
"My brothers taking care of you?"
"They're being ridiculous about it, but yeah. They're good." I smile. "Really good."
"Good. That's... that's good." Another pause. "I'm glad you're happy, Sharon. You deserve it."
"You deserve to be happy too."
"Working on it." He sounds like he means it. "I should let you get back to your party. Just wanted to call."
"I'm glad you did. Thanks, Ben."
After we hang up, I stand there for a moment, breathing in the cold October air, thinking about how strange life is. A year ago, I was planning Ben's wedding, having panic attacks in venue bathrooms, convinced my life was over. Now I'm pregnant with his brothers' baby, living in a cabin in the woods, happier than I've ever been.
Thank you, universe. For the breakdown that led to the breakthrough.
"There you are." Cassian steps out onto the porch, sliding an arm around my waist. He's wearing a dark blue button-down that makes his eyes look impossibly bright, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he looks unfairly good. "Everything okay?"
"Perfect. Ben called to wish me happy birthday."
"Yeah?" He pulls me closer, his hand settling on my stomach like it always does now. "That's good. He doing okay?"
"Eighteen months clean."
"Damn. Good for him." Cassian kisses the top of my head. "You ready to come back inside? Jett's about two seconds from organizing party games, and I think we need to stop him before he pulls out charades or something equally horrifying."
"God, yes. Stop him immediately."
He laughs, steering me back toward the door. "Come on, birthday girl. Let's save your party from my brother's terrible ideas."
The next hour is a blur of conversation and laughter. I'm passed from person to person, hugged and congratulated and fussed over. Jessica commandeers the kitchen, organizing the food with military precision. Savannah corners me on the couch, asking detailed questions about my pregnancy symptoms that make me both grateful and slightly uncomfortable.
Pine finds me eventually, pulling me away from a conversation about nursery themes that's getting way too intense. He guides me through the crowd to a quieter corner, his hand warm on the small of my back.
"You okay?" he asks. "You look overwhelmed."
"I am overwhelmed. In a good way, but still." I lean into him, letting him take some of my weight. "Thank you for this. All of this."
"It's your birthday. You deserve to be celebrated."
"I was thinking more like, thank you for the past six months. For everything. For saving me from the worst decision of my life."
He raises an eyebrow. "Planning Ben's wedding?"
"Marrying Ben in the first place." I shake my head. "If I'd actually married him, I never would have met you guys. Never would have had this."
