Then she got serious. “But you gotta share the party with my baby brother or sister because we’re gonna finds out which one we gotta get. It’s a double trouble party.”
“That sounds like a fine plan to me…as long as we know who’s really the most important one here, of course. I mean, we know who that is, right?”
I squeezed them both again, bouncing them as I did.
They cracked up.
My spirit soared.
“I even got you a present, Uncle!” Gage curled his arms around my neck as I carried them deeper into my apartment.
“No way.”
His sweet eyes rounded. “Yes, way.”
“I can’t even wait to see.”
“Well, you gots to,” Juni piped in. “Party isn’t until six-thirty.”
Laughing, I set them onto their feet.
I moved for Eden, picked her up, and flung her around. “Looking gorgeous today, as ever. Tell me you’ve gotten sick of his grumpy-ass, and you’ve finally seen what’s right in front of you.”
Trent grunted.
I cracked up.
I only did it because Trent was the most possessive bastard I’d ever met.
That shit was hysterical.
Like I’d ever touch his wife.
Maybe I understood it then, though, or maybe subconsciously I had all along, since I was stealing a peek at Aster who still hovered on the outskirts, so damned gorgeous as she shifted on her feet like she felt out of place, like she didn’t belong, when I’d never seen any one person look so right.
And I knew I’d claw a fucker’s eyes out, too.
I should have then.
More than anything, I was sure I was going to have to do it now.
Still, I tried to ignore her and went to Gretchen and tossed a kiss to her temple, then I brushed my fingertip down Kate’s plump, pink cheek. The little, black-eyed girl was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
She made this gurgling sound and wrapped her tiny hand around my finger, and I swore I was done for again.
Then I looked up at Aster.
She had backed away. Her arms held over her chest like a cross. Like she couldn’t handle it. Like she was terrified of it.
Still, when her agate gaze tangled with mine, she mouthed,Happy birthday, Logan.
Her pain, her love, her regrets ran along the tether that pulled between us.
Sparks of light.
A prodding of purpose.
A pressure that compelled us in the direction we’d been destined for.