It was after seven, so I didn’t expect anyone to be still at the party that I knew Aideen and Kane were holding for Jax. I received my invite in my postbox in the lobby a week ago. I quickly put the bag down outside the door, rang the doorbell, then turned and briskly walked down the hallway, back towards the stairwell. I knew ringing the doorbell was a mistake the second I realised just how far away the stairwell was from the apartment. I heard noise from behind, then, “Alannah, wait!”
I froze and turned around in time to see Kane bend down and pick up the gift bag. When he looked at me, he smiled tentatively and said, “Come in and see the birthday boy. He misses you.”
I scowled. “Usin’ that baby against me is low, even for you.”
Kane shrugged. “I never said I was going to play fair.”
I didn’t move.
“Come in and see Jax,” Kane urged. “You don’t have to look or talk to anyone else.”
I hesitated, but the need to see Jax beat out the option to run away.
“Five minutes, then I’m leavin’.”
Kane smiled as I walked toward him, then stepped back as I entered the apartment that was like mine, just way bigger.
“Living room.” He gestured with his hand. “He’s in there.”
And so was everyone else, I found out the second I entered the room and found all eyes were on me. The first person I locked eyes on was Damien, and my knees nearly buckled when I saw the state of him. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin a little pale, and though he looked put together, he was anything but.
I dropped my eyes, and looked at no one else, until squeal and screech sounded. I smiled when the kids realised I was in the room. I silently took Georgie from her mother because she was screaming in delight for me to do so, and I did the same with Jax because he was having a nervous breakdown that I held his cousin and not him. I kissed Locke who was in his uncle JJ’s arms and grinning at me like the little stud he was.
I sat on the floor with the kids and kept my focus completely on them. I could see Christmas decorations around the room, and it was a reminder that I hadn't even unpacked mine. After everything that happened, it just didn't feel like Christmas.
“Birthday boy,” I cooed to Jax as I tickled his sides. “You’re one today!”
He screamed, and everyone chuckled at his response.
When he kissed my face repeatedly, Dante said, “He takes after me. Definitely.”
I looked up at him and said, “Shut up, you.”
He grinned like a fool but did as ordered. Kane hunkered down next to me and placed my gift bag in front of Jax. Instantly, he tore into the bag, and it made me laugh for what felt like the first time in forever. I carefully took the portrait from him when he studied it closely and handed it to Kane.
“It’s just somethin’ I did,” I mumbled. “It’s nothin’, really.”
“Me arse it’s nothin’,” Gavin said from across the room. “It looks exactly like Jax. You’re so bloody good at drawin’, Lana.”
“He’s right, Alannah,” Kane said. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
I shrugged and looked back at the kids as everyone fawned over Jax’s portrait while he focused on the toys I got and ignored the clothes, while Georgie discreetly took his sweets, making me grin.
“You’re so pretty,” I told her and tugged at the pink tutu she wore. “The prettiest girl in all the world.”
She smiled at me, and the tooth that had cut through her gums a few months ago was longer now and had another two for company. I sighed, leaned in and kissed her, then Jax, before I climbed back to my feet.
“I have to go,” I said to no one. “I’ve a lot of work to do.”
That was a lie. I had completed the entire month’s worth of projects in the past two weeks because they distracted me from my life.
“Hey, wait a second,” Gavin said, crossing the room. “Look at me.”
I did and frowned. “What?”
“Are you okay?” he asked, leaning in, squinting his eyes at me. “Are you stoned?”
“I wish.” I snorted. “I just haven’t been sleepin’ very good, that’s all.”
“Are you sick?” he questioned. “You look like you’ve lost weight since I saw you last.”
I had, twenty pounds to be exact. A broken heart took away my appetite.
“I have, but I’m fine.”
Gavin stared down at me until I rolled my eyes.
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want to know what’s goin’ on,” Gavin countered. “Aideen said you had a fallin’ out with everyone, and I want to know why. I hate when people keep secrets.”
I laughed. “You’re the last person to talk about secrets.”