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“Please, you couldn’t have a wedding without me, asshole,” I fire back.
Gabe stands, clasping him on the shoulder. “Of course, D.”
I’m damn glad the conversation is no longer on me. I’ll volunteer to talk wedding flowers instead of dealing with another interrogation. I don’t know why they’re so worried. Her and I are doing just fine—I think.
* * *
On my way out of work, I send Lilah a quick text hoping to get her input on something I’ve been contemplating.
Jax: Hey, does Lexi have birthday plans? I’m thinking of throwing her a surprise birthday party next week. You think she’d be into it?
She made me a good ass lunch yesterday, the least I could do is throw her a party, and I can throw them like no one’s business. I guess it runs in the family. I got my mother’s party planning gene or some shit.
Lilah: You think that’s a good idea? I mean you’re not her boyfriend or anything so…
Jax: Holy hell, not you too.
Lilah: She’s my friend. You hurt her, you die.
Jax: You know you’re probably the one I’m most scared of.
Lilah: Good. You should be. I may be small, but I pack a mean punch.
Jax: Don’t worry, I believe you. You’d probably poison me in my sleep.
Lilah: Hurt her and find out.
Lilah: Oh, and if you really want to throw Lexi a party then yeah, she’d love it. Her favorite colors are gold and lilac. She hates yellow and green. Make things sparkly and you’ll be her favorite person. Next to me.
Jax: Thanks. I mean that.
Jax: And Lilah, I’d never hurt her. Not on purpose.
Lilah: And what happens when you break her heart without even trying?
Her words punch me in my gut. And I look up to the night sky, praying like hell that the only one left shattered is me.
CHAPTER13
LEXI
Sitting on my balcony,holding a cup of iced coffee in my hand, I stare ahead at the horizon. The sun illuminates the tall skyscrapers ahead, bathing them in its twinkling glow. The people below scramble about like ants, heading to places unknown. I take a sip of my drink as my mother’s voice comes through the phone again.
“I’m sorry we’re missing your birthday dinner tonight,” she says. “I know you wanted us to come, but your father and I couldn’t take off work. The market is hot right now and there was no one to cover our open houses this weekend.”
“It’s fine. I get it, Mom. And hot, really? How old are you?”
“I may be old on the outside but on the inside I’m still twenty-one,” she declares proudly with a peal of laughter.
“Oh, Mother.” I snicker, shaking my head. Between us two, I often forget who the mom is. Not to say she wasn’t a good one, she was, but she has always been young at heart.
Though my parents had rules, they gave us freedom to make our own mistakes without controlling our every move. My two younger sisters and I loved it growing up. We’ve been to more parties than I could count and have come home in the middle of the night without our parents batting an eye. We were responsible though, so maybe that had something to do with it too.
“You should try having some fun! You’re a young girl. You have to go and take your life by the balls while you still can. Get under a gorgeous man, or over him, whatever your preference.”
“Mom! Oh my God! Who says that to their kid?”
“Me. I say that.” She breaks into heartfelt laughter. “I’m only saying, since that idiot ex of yours you’ve been alone, moping around, and quite frankly that sounds miserable. I mean look at me and your father, we’re like bunnies.”
