“Yes, you can open it.” I beam at her and take Shane’s hand again. Honestly, I just want her to open it now because I have a feeling that we won’t be spending the whole evening here.
“YAY!” She scurries away toward the kitchen, and we follow behind.
I let my eyes wander over everyone gathered around in the living room as we pass by. I spot Lance and Amanda, holding my nephews, Mira is carrying one of the Burkley twins while Johanne, Clay’s mother, has the other in her arms, and John, Silas’s father, is playing kiddy hockey with Dante and Gracie.
When we finally make it to the kitchen, we’re greeted by the entire gang except for Silas and Greyson. Clay groans, dropping his head, but I try to ignore the sting of his reaction as he sees us.
Morgan quickly slaps him in the chest. “Be nice,” she warns him.
He lifts his head and gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry. I have nothing wrong with you two being here. I’m happy you are, truly. I just don’t want to have to break up any more fights.”
“That won’t be necessary today. I think we’re all capable of acting like adults for the occasion,” Shane says, pulling my back into his chest and pressing his hand to my belly protectively.
“Where’s…?” I’m too afraid to say his name just in case it makes him show up instantly.
Cecilia’s the next one to give me that same smile and I hate it. I don’t want them looking at me like I’m a wounded puppy. “He’s in the backyard with Silas. Something about wanting to make some changes to have a bit of green space back there.”
I nod as Emma rips through the wrapping paper to her gift. “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” she gushes once she sees the logo on the box. But it isn’t until she lifts the lid upwards that she screams, loud enough to pierce our ears and cause a few babies to cry. “OH MY GOD!!!”
She doesn’t even bother to look at the jewelry, just picks up the card and begins to fan her face with it. “I don’t know how you made this happen, but I love you more than anyone else here. Sorry guys, but Aubrey and Shane have officially topped all your gifts.” She rips me out of Shane’s arms and squeezes me in hers, thanking us a million times.
“But you haven’t even opened our gifts yet.” Ronnie frowns at her.
“I don’t care. Nothing can beat being added to the Andromeda Jewels client list!”
“Bunny! What’s going on!? Are you okay!?” Greyson comes rushing in, probably from hearing Emma’s scream. He straightens instantly when he sees us. “What the hell are they doing here?” he growls out.
Emma releases me and faces him with a scowl while Shane wraps his arm around me once more. “I invited them. It’s my birthday party and they deserve to be here.”
“We talked about this, Emma,” he says through his gritted teeth.
“Yes, we did, and I told you that you didn’t get to decide who I invite.” She folds her arms over her chest.
“Emma…” he warns her.
“Oh, don’t you ‘Emma’me. I’m tired of your childish behavior, Greyson. Put your freaking attitude aside for one day and let me have the birthday I want!” she snaps back at him and it only seems to fuel his anger.
“No, I won’t put my ‘attitude’away. This is my fucking house, and I don’t want them here! So, get them to leave before I kick them out myself.”
“Greyson, you’re being ridiculous,” Cecilia steps in.
He quickly whips his finger in her face. “You, don’t fucking start.”
Silas pushes his wife behind his back, stepping up in my brother’s face. His voice dips to an icy-cold level filled with fury that has the hairs along my arms rise in effect. “Speak to my wife like that again and see what happens to you.”
“Yeah? What are you going to do about it?” My brother levels him with his own anger.
Soon, everyone is jumping in, trying to settle the two. But it only develops into more arguments, more threats, more shouts. I watch as the grandparents in the living room quickly collect the kids and bring them down the hall, likely to the toy room and away from the chaos taking place here.
My heart begins to pound, my vision blurring slowly as I try to shake it off, but the lightheadedness only worsens with the sudden movement. I take deep breaths, trying to settle everything happening in my body and head as I get dizzier by the second.
The shouts echo in my ears and my hand tightens over Shane’s. “Stop…” I whisper with my eyes closed. “Just… stop,” I say a little louder, but no one’s paying attention to me, except for Shane.
“Angel?” he asks, but my mind is too jumbled to focus on him right now.
I take another deep breath, the world feeling like it’s spinning around me with no stop in sight.I need it to stop. I need it to stop.
“EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!” I yell as loud as I can. My insides are shaking vigorously as I pant for air.
