“Mom invited him,” she tells me, rolling her eyes.

“Oh…well, that’s nice.”

“Yeah…nice,” Ashlyn grumbles under her breath then looks around. “I’m going to start getting things set up.” Then she looks at Dillon, saying, “Why don’t you fill the balloons? You seem to have a thing for helium.”

Watching him, his eyes change as he looks at her muttering, “Sure, babe,” before dropping his gaze to Hope and asking, “Do you want to help me fill the balloons?”

“Are you Aunty Ashwyn’s boyfwiend?” Hope asks, tilting her head to the side and studying him.

“Hope,” I say, watching Dillon smile, showing off two dimples.

“We’re just friends,” he tells Hope as Ashlyn snorts, folding her arms across her chest.

“Um…I think we’re going to need to get another cake,” I throw in, trying to break the awkwardness that has seeped into the moment. “I burnt the one I made.”

“I’ll go pick one up from the store,” July says, taking Ashlyn’s hand and pulling her out of the living room.

“Thanks,” I call to her back, hearing her say something to Ashlyn about “Being nice.”

“Are you weally not her boyfwiend?” Hope asks, and I can’t help it; I cover my face and laugh.

*

“He’s here,” I say, turning off the light, which causes the roomful of people to instantly go silent. Walking to the front door, I meet Jax as soon as he comes inside then take his hand without saying anything and start to lead him, chuckling, down the hall behind me toward the living room, where everyone is gathered.

“Did my mom come pick up Hope?” he asks, spinning me suddenly and pushing me up against the wall. Before I can answer him, his mouth comes down on mine, silencing anything I was going to say and making me forget we have a roomful of people waiting for us.

“Surprise!” The loud roar sounds through the house, and he pulls away just enough to see my face.

“Surprise,” I whisper, watching his face go soft then laugh when Hope runs to us, yelling, “Happy Birthday, Daddy Ax,” before throwing herself against us.

Picking her up, he smiles then wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he tells her, kissing her forehead.

“Happy Birthday, honey,” Lilly says, coming over and kissing his cheek.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Happy Birthday,” Cash says, patting his son’s back.

“Thanks, Dad. Thank you all. This is definitely surprising.” He laughs, leaning over and pressing a kiss to my hairline, making all the stress of the day worth it.

“I’m ready for my real gift now,” Jax says, coming into his room and closing the door halfway before taking off his shirt. The party was a hit and everyone had a good time. I even caught Dillon and Ashlyn laughing together a few times, which was unexpected, since there seemed to be some major tension between them. Jax even insisted on eating a piece of the cake Hope and I made him, which was sweet, considering he could have ended up in the hospital.

“I already gave you your gift,” I say with a laugh as he pushes me back into the bed and pulls my shirt off over my head.

“I love that gift, baby, but the one I really want is right here,” he says, shoving his hand down the front of my shorts, in between my legs, making me gasp.

“You can have that one too,” I moan into his mouth before giving him exactly what he wants, though I’m pretty sure I was the one who got the best gift of all.

Waking up, I roll over and see Jax is gone then lift my head and look at the clock. It’s after eight-thirty, and I don’t have to be at work until eleven today.

Hearing giggling coming from down the hall, I slip out of bed and make my way quietly to Hope’s door, where I find her wearing her pajamas, and Jax shirtless, wearing sweats, sitting at the small table his mom had gotten for her. Leaning against the door, I watch Jax take a drink of his coffee, while Hope places a piece of toast on a small plastic plate in front of him.

“Thank you, princess,” he tells her, picking up the piece of toast, taking a bite, and smiling when Hope giggles.

Lifting her glass of orange juice, she takes a sip then looks at her doll that is pulled up next to the table in her stroller. “Would you like some milk?” She asks placing a plastic bottle in the dolls lap, making Jax laugh.

Last night, after Jax made love to me, he told me he loved that Hope called him Daddy, and I know if my brother had a say in the kind of man Hope would consider her father, Jax would be that guy. Feeling tears burn the back of my eyes, I move quietly across the hall to the bathroom and get into the shower, letting the water wash away my happy tears.

*

“Kim, are you okay?” I ask, knocking on the bathroom door, when I hear her getting sick.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” she calls back, and I hear the toilet flush and the water turn on. I know exactly what is going on, because I heard the same thing when Bonnie was pregnant with Hope. And everyday I have worked with Kim in the last week, she has gotten sick.

“Kim,” I whisper when she walks out of the bathroom, holding a paper towel to her mouth. Handing her a bottle of water, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “What’s going on?”

“It’s not what you think,” she says, shaking her head and turning to face me with tears in her eyes.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she says, pulling me into the bathroom and shutting the door behind us, and then she lowers her gaze to the floor, shaking her head.

“What’s going on?” I ask gently after a long moment.

“Two years ago, I started to get sick, and I found out my kidneys were in the beginning stages of shutting down.”

“Kim,” I whisper, grabbing onto her hand.

“That was also when I found out I was adopted and that I have a twin sister. My sister is obviously a match, but every time things get tough, she takes off.”

“Oh, my God,” I whisper, covering my mouth, not understanding how her twin could possibly leave Kim to face this alone, not when she needs her.

“I’m trying to get her to come back here. This is where my doctors are, but if she refuses, I may have to leave and follow her again.”

“I’m going to talk to Jax,” I tell her, knowing Jax will help track her sister down.

“No, I know Sage works with him, and I don’t want him to know what’s going on. I don’t want anyone to know. My parents were approached by my sister a few weeks back, and she told them if they gave her the money she’s asking for, she would come back and help me.”

“She wants money?” I hiss.

“She had a hard life. Her mom—my biological mom—is a mess” she defends.

“I had a hard life, Kim, but family is family. You don’t do that to family.”

“I need her,” she whispers in pain.

“I know she’s your sister, but seriously, she’s a bitch.”

“When I get better, it won’t matter anymore,” she says, and I hope she’s right. I hope her sister steps up before it’s too late.

“I’m here for you, whatever you need, even a kidney,” I tell her honestly, watching her give me a sad smile.

“Just don’t tell anyone. I’m working this out on my own.”

“You don’t have to be alone,” I tell her softly, pulling off a piece of paper towel and handing it to her when tears start falling from her eyes.

“I have my parents,” she whispers before opening the door and leaving me in the bathroom trying to think of a way to tell Jax without actually telling him, but come up with nothing.

Chapter 11

Jax

Watching Ellie as she moans and her head presses back into the pillow I lick, and circle her clit again.

“You’re so goddamn sweet, Ellie. I swear I want to eat you for every meal,” I growl against her core, feeling her tighten around my fingers.

“I…I don’t think that’s very nutritious. Not for every meal, anyways,” she mumbles, and I can tell by her tone she’s serious.