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“Thanks, Mom.” I gave her a big hug and lifted her feet off the ground.
“I can’t believe my baby is twenty-five.” She stepped back, one hand on her heart and her eyes bright with tears.
“Happy birthday, son.” Glenn came up behind Mom, and I gave him a big hug as well.
“What are you doing here? Did you come back early?” I asked.
The last I’d heard, my parents and little siblings had gone to visit Glenn’s family and weren’t supposed to be back for a few days.
Mom grinned. “Of course. We couldn’t miss your big day.”
“Thanks. That means a lot,” I said thickly.
“I’ll go make sure the kids haven’t destroyed the kitchen.” Glenn kissed Mom on the cheek and slipped away.
She patted my arm. “I’ll let you say hi to everyone. But I need a family photo before we leave. It’s been too long since all my kids were together.”
“You got it.”
She went to stand with Kai’s mom and younger sister.
“Happy birthday.” Eli barreled into me, nearly knocking me off my feet.
“Thanks.” I hugged my brother tight. “I can’t believe you came all this way just for my birthday.”
He and West still lived in California. I hadn’t seen either of them since Caleb and I had gone to visit at Christmas.
“Of course we did. This is a big year.” West grinned and gave me a quick hug when Eli had untangled himself from me. “I remember when I turned twenty-five. It’s one of those milestones that hits different. Really starts to kick in that you’re getting old.”
“You’re only five months older than me,” I pointed out.
“Maybe so”—West smirked—“but wisdom comes with age.”
“Then Kai must be a damn sage,” Alex said as he and Kai came up to us.
“Watch it, brat.” Kai shot Alex a stern look, which was ruined by his big grin and the heat evident in his eyes. “You’re going to pay for that later.”
“Why do you think I said it?” he asked, looking both completely innocent and totally not.
Kai flicked his gaze to my little sister, then looked over his shoulder at where his mom and younger sister stood chatting with my mom. “Keep testing me and see what happens later.”
“Counting on it.” Alex licked his bottom lip, his eyes on Kai’s mouth.
“How about we go get some cupcakes?” Caleb asked Lyla.
She nodded.
“Thanks,” I mouthed.
He winked and carried my little sister toward the kitchen.
“Happy birthday.” Kai yanked me into a tight hug.
“Thanks, old man.”
“Do I need to spank you too?” He thumped me on the back extra hard.
“Sorry, not my thing.” I batted my eyelashes at him.
