Caden crawled up Roman’s back and hung onto his dad’s neck. I followed them, with Avery balancing on my shoulders, up the hill to their back deck, where everyone was gathered for lunch. A long picnic table was spread over the deck. Food had been placed in the center in a family-style setting. I handed Avery off to her dad, Liam.
Maddox handed me a beer from the red ice chest near his feet as we waited for the families to take their seats. We were the only two single people here, so we usually squeezed in wherever there was room for us. I squeezed in between Roman and Tate. Tate was leaning against her husband, James. Caden was sitting on Harper’s lap on the other side of Roman, and she hugged him while Roman cut Caden’s chicken.
“Down,” I scolded Pepper Jack as he tried to jump onto the table and make his own plate of food. Tate laughed and scratched behind his ear.
“He’s so cute,” she said. “He needs to come over to play with Sirius.”
I lifted an eyebrow to tell her I didn’t think that was a good idea. Pepper Jack looked cute but Sirius, James and Tate’s dog, was tiny. Only a few pounds and basically just a running ball of fluff. Pepper Jack would probably eat him as a snack.
“No,” James muttered quietly and shook his head.
Pepper Jack’s tail whacked against the stained wood and his body vibrated with energy, while his eyes were locked on the spoonful of macaroni in Caden’s hand.
“No,” I said to Pepper Jack, trying to mimic Dr. Conroy’s voice. Pepper Jack minded her, listened to every word she said. He didn’t always get the command on the first try, but in class he was almost…very close to…a good student. The only thing that kept him from that distinction had been a small accident with the agility equipment. Pepper Jack didn’t realize he should run over it instead of through it—with so much force that he broke it. A simple mistake, really. Once we left class, though, Pepper Jack released all the untamable energy he’d stored up on me.
I swear he smirked sometimes before disobeying.
He huffed and lay down on the deck, resting his head on his front paws, but he kept his eyes locked on the table and thumped his whip-like tail every few minutes. It was progress—I had to tell Dr. Conroy. That gorgeous woman who still refused to tell me her name or how we knew each other. At least everyone in the class also called her Dr. Conroy. Though I was pretty sure she’d asked them to so I wouldn’t find out who she was.
I would though. Of that, I was sure.
I tugged my phone from my pocket after it vibrated and smiled. I had a surprise for Caden and couldn’t wait to watch his little face light up when I brought him around to the front of the house after lunch. Roman also had his phone out, looking at the screen with a stern expression.
“Who the hell is that?” he asked under his breath. I glanced at his phone. He had his security cameras pulled up. I clapped him on the back and spoke in a low tone.
“A surprise for Caden after lunch.”
“If your gift is better than mine, I’m going to kill you,” he said under his breath. Harper distracted Caden from our conversation, but the corners of her lips were tilted up as she listened to us. She was rubbing her very pregnant belly and pressing tightly to Roman’s side. When I’d first met Roman, he’d spoken about Harper, but I didn’t meet her until years later, when they reconnected. After that first meeting, I knew she was going to turn his entire world right side up, and she did. He was a gruff bastard, but he loved his family fiercely. I felt lucky to share it with them and hoped I could find that for myself one day. Not that I’d admitted that to any of them.
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault that I’m the favorite.”
“He’s my kid,” Roman said.
“He’s my godson,” I retorted and took a slug of my beer while grinning. I’d never had much growing up, and birthdays hadn’t been celebrated in my house. My dad thought spending money on a cake was a waste when it’d be better spent on Jack, Jim, or Jose. There were a few birthdays when my mom snuck into my room with a single cupcake and one candle. She’d sing quietly, so my dad wouldn’t hear, to avoid awakening his wrath.
Caden, Lilly, Avery, Wren, Brae—and any other kids my friends who are my family have—won’t ever experience a birthday without being spoiled by me. It sucks to go to school and have friends ask what you got for your birthday. I didn’t know gifts were common until I went to school, and every year I saw the pity when I answered “nothing.” Well, until I started making shit up and joking about it.
No one questions the kid who is always laughing. No one looks too closely.
Hell, they still don’t now that I’m an adult..
As everyone finished eating, I turned to Caden and waggled my eyebrows. “Ready for a surprise, birthday boy?”
“Yes!” he shouted with his fist raised in the air. Harper swerved out of the way of his hand and shook her head.
“What’d you get him?” she asked.
“Come around front and you’ll see.”
I stood up, grabbing Caden from Harper’s arms, and walked around to the front of the house, where the rental company had left the Lamborghini convertible. It was blazing red with a cream interior. A fucking showstopper. Caden’s favorite video games all had to do with racing or making things go really fast.
“I got a car!” Caden yelled and bounced on my hip. I set him on the ground as he ran to the convertible. I was pretty sure he didn’t know this car by name, but just looking at it, anyone could tell that this baby went fast. I’d rented it for the day, and we were going to cruise on backcountry roads before taking it to a local track for a quick race around.
I laughed. “Just for the day, little man.”
“Cool!” he shouted and ran his hand over the sleek design.
Roman stood next to me and huffed. “You bastard,” he muttered.
“Is this safe?” Harper asked. Her brow was furrowed, and she was biting the edge of her lip. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Roman knocked it off and hugged her to his chest. I laughed and shook my head.
“He’ll be safe. We’re driving around then going to the track down the road. Y’all can meet us there.”
“Absolutely not.” Harper stepped out of Roman’s embrace and pointed at my chest. Her cheeks filled with color, and she stared at me angrily. “You are not racing my three-year-old son around a racetrack. His car seat won’t even fit in there. Kiernan, I love you, but not everything is fun and games. You have to think and remember that he’s still just a baby. Can you even drive on a racetrack? You’re not a race car driver.”
I gritted my teeth as my jaw locked. I never forgot how small he was or how young. I thought she knew me better than that. Anger bubbled in my chest. I understood her concern, but I would never take Caden on an adventure where he wouldn’t be safe. I licked my lips and took a deep breath.
“I’ve been trained to drive fast and handle cars in dangerous situations under fire. His car seat does fit. I checked. I bought a helmet for him, the same one race car drivers use. He will be safe. Roman can drive just as well and if you want, he can take him.”
She swallowed and switched her stare between me and the car before settling on Caden, still walking around the car brushing his hand over every surface. It had been shiny, but now his little fingerprints were all over it. It was better than sticky little prints on it.