“Yeah.” He looks away and out the window. I hate the fact that they’ve probably never had this, never done something like this before. Gone to a family friend’s birthday party.
“It’ll be fun. Also, my mom had Dakota put the old basketball net back up in the driveway, so if my family gets overwhelming, we can always go out and do that.”
“They didn’t have to do that for us,” he says.
“They wanted to.”
I see James look at him in the rearview, the two of them exchanging a look, a shared experience or thought I’m not privy to.
Hannah’s and Dakota’s cars are there when we arrive. I have a feeling they all arrived early on purpose. They’re all excited about this day.
When we get out, Sadie goes straight to Nash, who takes her hand, and then she pulls him with her and grabs James’s hand. My heart melts at the sight, so fucking glad the three of them have each other.
“Everyone good?” I ask.
James nods. “We’re good.”
I lead them to the house, knock, then open the door. Nineties rock is playing softly, everyone congregating in the small living room, talking. Mom decorated—because that’s how she is—with balloons and streamers and a banner that saysHappy Birthday Colton, as though I’m not now twenty-nine years old.
“Gee, Ma,” I tease. “Did you get me a cartoon cake too?”
She laughs. “I can’t help it. You’ll always be my baby.”
“You’ll always be my baby,” Dakota mocks playfully. “Did you guys forget I’m the youngest? Colton has always been your favorite.”
“I don’t have a favorite. You’rebothmy babies,” Mom says, then looks directly at James.
He shifts nervously—not only because she’s looking at him, but probably also because he’s meeting my mom with a cage on his dick.
“This is James, Nash, and Sadie,” I tell my family, then turn to my…well, I hope what will be my other family. “The tall guy is my idiot brother, Dakota, and this is Elena, his girlfriend, who can do much better.”
“Fuck off,” Kota says.
“Don’t curse in front of the kids!” Mom scolds.
“Shit. Sorry,” Dakota apologizes. “Fuck, I didn’t mean to say that.”
“You did it again!” Elena rolls her eyes.
“See what I mean?” I tell them. Sadie looks unsure, but Nash and James are clearly trying to bite back smiles.
“Sorry,” Dakota says again. “Just so you know, my brother is an idiot too, but he’s right that Elena can absolutely do better.”
“Aww,” my future sister-in-law swoons.
“I’m Christine,” my mom says. “I’m sorry about my sons.” There’s another round of laughter before Mom says toSadie, “I like your shirt. That’s really pretty.”
She blushes. “Thank you.”
“And I heard you play basketball,” she tells Nash. “We have the hoop up for you if you want to use it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Nash says, both my and James’s gazes shooting to him because what the hell was that? I didn’t knowma’amwas in his vocabulary.
“Your hair is holding up great!” Tasha gives Sadie a hug, and she lets go of James and Nash to return it.
“I did everything you said both last night and this morning. Nash helped this morning.”
Hannah smiles at them. “You guys killed it.”
