She wipes at her eyes as Maddy and Carrie lean into her.
Every woman in the party is now swooning over Gray as I sit back and sip my drink, watching his sisters come together.
“He’s paid for everything I wanted. Everything. He might complain about it, and he’s definitely told me I have stupid taste in flowers, but even when he got pissed at me, it was never a question that he wouldn’t support me. Dad would be so proud of him.”
Lola nods. “Since Gray was nineteen, when dad died, he just stepped in, took charge, and got us all through college. We barely know how he managed it, do we?” All four sisters shake their heads in response. “But he’s never once turned his back on us,” Lola continues, her fingers tightening around Maddy’s hand, “and he’s the best brother ever.”
“You’re a lucky bitch,” Fiona says drunkenly, turning to me as they all raise their glasses.
“To Gray and Jax!” Carrie says impulsively, giggling manically to herself.
I try to shrink back in my chair, attempting to get a handle on the man I thought I knew, and the man seen through the eyes of the women who love him.
Chapter 32
Jax
The bachelorette finishes fairly early as we all pile out of the bar, most of the women staggering unsteadily as they laugh together. They’re a really good group and I feel stupid for being so worried about this.
I wave them off, thanking Lola for inviting me, as I head to the bus stop, and I’m amazed when each one of them insist on buying me a Uber home.
They don’t take no for an answer, and I end up getting an Uber back to my house for the first time ever. I feel like a queen and I’m reminded yet again of the luxuries that come with money.
I’m rummaging in my bag, trying to find my keys, when I glance up to see three dark figures approaching me along the sidewalk.
It’s not all that late, but it’s late enough to be on my guard, especially inthisneighborhood.
My fingers scrabble in the bottom of my bag, sure that I had thrown my keys in there when I left the house. The figures keep coming; the streetlight outside our building burned out months ago and still hasn’t been replaced. It’s three huge men, their faces hidden in shadow.
I’m about to run up the steps away from them when one of them speaks.
“Somebody chasin’ you, Jax? Geez.”
I turn, letting out a breath when I see that it’s Seb, Ben, and Scott. They’re all walking with thick coats on and hoods over their heads, and anyone approaching them could be forgiven for assuming they’re a gang of thugs.
“Could you look more terrifying?” I snap back, stepping back down to ground level as Scott pushes his hood back. “Where have you all been together anyway?”
Seb is holding something behind his back, as is Ben, and I clench my teeth, walking over to them and holding out my hand.
“What the fuck have you got there? Give it to me. I swear to god.”
“Jax, can we just go inside?” Scott says urgently, and I glare at him.
“Not a fucking chance.”
“Jax,” Ben mutters, his eyes darting to the top of the street and back. “Would you chill?”
I stay motionless, my hand outstretched as all three of my brothers exchange a glance.
Finally, Seb steps to the side, looks wearily at Scott, and brings his hand around from behind his back.
He’s holding a bunch of flowers.
I stare at them as Ben shows me four cupcakes in a plastic box and holds them out.
“Way to fuck up your birthday surprise, bonehead,” Scott grumbles, and I look around at them all in amazement.
“What the hell?” I ask. “You never do stuff like this.”
