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Bash gave me a wink. "We can handle it."
"Miles," I groaned. "I trusted you to rein him in." I'd given him the warning when we first talked about the birthday party.
Miles met my gaze, determination in his and I sighed dramatically. I'd officially been outnumbered on this one.
"We'll make it up to you later," he offered before scooping Theo up into his arms. Honestly I was impressed that he managed to gracefully move like that in here. "Come on, buddy, we have another surprise."
"Better than a bounce house?" His voice was so full of wonder.
Theo was an expressive kid before. But when it was just the two of us and a few sitters to watch him while I worked my ass off, I was too tired to fully appreciate those moments. Now I embraced them with my entire heart and soul, committing them to memory because I already knew how fast he was growing up.
When I lagged behind, Dean fell back, linking his arm with mine.
"We put a lot of thought into this, I don't think it's too much," he promised, brushing a kiss over my knuckles, breathing in before bringing it to his neck and nuzzling in, marking me without a second thought. They were all so free with their touches and I was becoming addicted to the feel of their hands on me.
In more ways than one.
All of my sappy thoughts fell away as Theo let out a gleeful shout. My jaw dropped as I took in the treehouse they'd somehow built this morning while I was busy.
"How, what?" I gasped.
"We measured the tree and sent it in. The company makes prefab ones, so we had them drop it by during the heat, and Beatty kept it hidden until we could compile it this morning. It was quick work with the four of us while Miles told us what to do."
"There's one in our backyard too," Miles admitted as he stepped closer, listening in with a worried expression now. I'd made a playful big deal about it all and now I had him second guessing. "We wanted to make sure he had one at both of his homes."
My heart thumped in my chest, the bond strengthening as I realized they had gone out of their way to see my dilemma, realize just how much this place and Grandma meant to me, and wove it into their plans. They weren't just attentive, they were insanely thoughtful.
I stepped out of Dean's hold and brushed a kiss over Miles' lips.
"How could I be upset by something this amazing? Plus, it's one gift, right?"
"Technically four. Two houses, two tire swings."
"That was my personal touch," Cole said, sharing a look with me. "Remember the one out at the park when we were kids?"
My grin matched his. It was a memory that I could never forget.
The fireflies were blinking around us as the crickets chirped. The night breeze blew through the park. The only light here was from the street light down the way, but the moon gave off plenty of light. Cole's smile was bright and hopeful as he pushed me. My laughter filled the air, hair blowing behind me as I tipped back and enjoyed the ride.
"Someday I'll buy us one for our own house," Cole said. The confidence in it had my chest warming.
"You want to keep me around that long?"
He stopped the swing, steadying me when the jolt nearly sent me tumbling. His face was inches from my own, and his eyes burned with a fiery determination. I was breathless as I blinked up at him.
"You're mine, Summer. I'll always want you in my life."
Even if we had a few... major bumps along the way, now I knew he meant that. We were apart but neither of us had ever moved on or let go of what we had. Now he'd given me another promise, that he would never let me go again. I blinked away the tears building in my eyes and he leaned in, kissing me hard this time.
"You're still mine, Summer."
We shared a smile before standing side by side and watching the rest of our pack love on our boy. Until a gasp rang out and my eyes widened.
"You invited them?" I squealed, fucking ducking behind him. "Cole, they're going to kill me."
He laughed. "My parents thought you hung the moon and now that you've made them grandparents? It's even worse."
"Summer, get your cute ass over here!"
