“Sounds good.”
Those two likely are making a dent in that whiskey, but my brothers are doing a lot more than that too. A favor to me. I’ll owe them big, but it’s worth it.
Because October thirty first isn’t just Halloween.
It’s my wife’s birthday. A birthday her family spent years ignoring.
Her new family is going to do things differently for her.
I wished Lila a happy birthday this morning so she didn’t think I’d forgotten it, but other than that, I’ve been playing it cool.
When the parade is over, we split off from Walker and his ladies while I take Lila in my truck. I can tell she doesn’t suspect anything as we drive up to Rosemont.
Most of the lights are off inside—good. Other than the usual Halloween decorations Dad puts up every year, she has no reason to suspect there’s anything else going on. We had everyone park at Tanner’s place and carpool over here, so there’s nothing to give it away.
I keep a hand on the small of her back as I walk her through the front door. Inside, there’s darkness. Silence.
And then I flip the lights on.
“Surprise!!!”
The huge chorus greets us. It’s my whole family except for Josie, along with Lila’s coworkers and friends who I reached out to privately. Rose-gold and glitter balloons fill everyavailable corner. Amid the spread of food, there’s Lila’s favorite pink champagne cake from Loretta’s Bakery. When we got married, I didn’t know that one was her favorite.
I do now.
While Lucky wanders around greeting everyone, Lila fields the hugs and greetings directed to her one by one. And when everyone has dispersed to start partying, she turns to me, eyes wide. “Did you plan this?”
An almost-smile pulls at the corner of my mouth. “You’re my Halloween baby.”
She throws her arms around me then, and my own wrap around her instantly.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” I murmur.
When we pull back, her eyes are shiny with tears. “You’re the best.”
I wish. I’m a clueless husband fumbling my way through a marriage with a woman I can’t stop thinking about, can’t stop wanting to take care of, can’t imagine leaving in June. A woman who I’ve made my wife but pledged to stay friends-only with because…
Because I’m a fucking idiot, apparently.
There are good reasons for it, I know, but every day that level-headed judgment we made together, to keep things free of complications, feels like it’s getting harder and harder.
All I say is, “I’m just Ken.”
Chapter 28
Kenergy
SLADE
Apair of hands land on my shoulders. One side gently, the other side with bone-crushing force.
Only someone in my family would know to be careful with me that way, mindful of the shoulder injury.
I turn and Tanner grins back at me.
“Look. At. You,” he declares. “That’s some motherfucking Kenergy right there, my brother.”
He’s dressed as a vampire. He sweeps his cape behind his shoulder and bows to Lila. “Only a queen could get Slade Rhodes to wear that. Happy birthday, sis.”
