“Fuck you. It was Flynn’s idea, ‘cause he’s tied up at the new club, and apparently it’s ‘not cool’ to forget the birthday of two of your siblings at once,” Ben says, bopping Scott on the head as he pushes past me.
I glance at my twin brother. Technically, it isn’t our birthday until tomorrow, but I’m touched that they all went out and bought me gifts. Usually, the only person who remembers is Scott, and as it’s his birthday too, that’s hardly impressive.
As we walk into the living room, I find them all opening the cupcakes without me.
“Hey! Save one for me,” I protest, going into the kitchen and grabbing paper towels. When I come back, Ben has lit a candle on two of the cupcakes and holds one up to me with a lopsided grin.
“Happy birthday, bitch!” he says happily, and I snort, coming to sit beside Seb, kneeling on the floor as I hand out the paper towels.
Scott and I blow out our respective candles as we all dig into a cupcake each and sit in contented silence. I still can’t believe they’ve done this, and my heart is full as I lean against Seb and he puts his arm around my shoulder.
“So… who’s this new guy you’re seein’?” Ben asks, and Scott nudges him hard with his elbow. “What? We all know there’s someone.”
I frown at them all. “Excuse me?”
“It’s pretty obvious, Jax. You’re gone, like all day, and you came downstairs in designer duds. What’s goin’ on, you got a hot old millionaire you’re screwing or somethin’?” Ben presses.
“Gross, Ben.”
“But youaredating someone.”
He grins, cake stuck between his teeth, and I roll my eyes. “You’re an asshole.”
“Give us a name, or I’m giving the rest of your cupcake to Scott,” Seb says. “Is he treating you well, because otherwise I’ll kick his ass.”
“He’s not doing anything?—”
“Aha! So thereissomeone. You owe me twenty bucks,” Scott says to Ben, and I glare at him as he cowers back. “Just a joke, Jax, I swear.”
“Name,” Seb insists.
“Ugh. You’re infuriating, all of you. It’s Gray.”
They all make high-pitched cooing noises, and I throw my blown-out candle at Scott’s head.
“So who is he?” Scott asks, but I mime a zip over my lips.
“I’m not telling you anything else. Since when do you care who I’m dating, anyway?”
“As long as it isn’t Parker again,” Seb says as Ben groans.
“Oh my god, that guy was so stupid. He thought Africa was in Russia.”
“Okay, okay,” I say, laughing as they finish up their cupcakes. My phone, which I placed on the coffee table, lights up with a call. Thankfully, I haven’t put Gray’s full name into my phone, just “G”.
There’s another long chorus of high-pitched whistling from my brothers, so I batter Seb over the head with a cushion until he shuts up, grab my phone, and stomp upstairs.
But I can’t fight the smile as I head into my bedroom. It was sweet of them to buy me a cake, even if itwasFlynn’s idea.
“Hi,” I say as I swipe the call.
“How was it?” Gray’s voice echoes as if he’s in a tunnel, and I frown.
“Are you in the car?”
“The bath.”
“The huge jacuzzi?” I ask enviously.
