“I’m sure. I figured Hope and I could make him one.”
“He’ll love that,” she says as her face goes soft.
“I hope so,” I mutter. This whole family thing is still kind of new to me, but this is what I have always wanted, and this is what I want Hope’s memories to be filled with.
“Have you talked to July today?” she asks, changing the subject and leaning back against the counter.
“We talked this morning,” I say, wondering if she knows about us confirming that the picture was of the guy who had gotten away.
“She told me that you guys identified the other assailant.”
“We did,” I say quietly, looking toward the hall in case Hope comes back down.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m glad we know who he is and that there is now a chance of him getting caught,” I say then drop my voice. “But it doesn’t feel real anymore. It feels like something I made up in my mind, like it never really happened.”
“I think that’s because you know you’re safe.”
“Maybe, but I worry I’ve let my guard down too much, that this is all to easy.”
“Maybe it’s your turn for easy,” she returns as I hear Hope’s feet on the hardwood floor and watch her run past the kitchen doorway. Then I hear the sound of her being followed by little paws a moment later, letting me know she let the puppies out of their pen in the living room.
“You got a puppy?” Ashlyn asks, and I fight back my smile.
“Your brother got Hope two puppies,” I mutter, holding up two fingers as Hope runs into the kitchen, followed by Chocolate Chip and Pancake.
“Wook at my puppies, Aunty Ashwyn!” Hope cries excitedly, and I notice she put her tutu on over her pajama bottoms.
“Oh, my God,” Ashlyn whispers, looking at me.
“I know.” I shake my head, watching her bend down to pick them up. “Careful, we need to take them out again. Last night that one peed on Jax,” I say, pointing to Chocolate Chip, who barks at me.
“No.” She laughs.
“Yes.” I nod, going to the backdoor, opening it for her, and following her down to the grass, where we watch as both puppies run around and play until finally handling their business. When we get back inside, I tell Hope what we’re going to be doing today, while Ashlyn goes to her car, coming back a few minutes later with her hands full of bags and a promise to be back at three.
Shutting the door behind her when she leaves, I turn to look at Hope and ask, “Are you ready to bake?”
“Yes!” She yells making me smile.
Looking down at the phone in my hand, I angrily type out the words: We are never having babies, to Jax before pressing send.
I don’t care if I’m being irrational. Taking care of Hope and two puppies has put things into prospective for me today. I’m completely exhausted, the house is messier than before I cleaned it this morning, and Jax’s birthday cake—which is sitting on the counter in the kitchen—is burnt and completely lopsided. I want to cry and sleep for a week, but I still have to attempt to decorate then cook for and host his surprise birthday party.
Feeling my phone vibrate in my hand, I look down and fight back the smile I feel creeping onto my face as I read his message: Babies are easier than puppies.
Hell no, they aren’t, I text back, pressing send as I walk into the living room, where I find Hope asleep in the crate with both puppies curled around her. Snapping a picture, I send it to him, saying: Okay, this is definitely cute, before taking a seat on the couch, needing to rest for a minute.
Blinking my eyes open when I hear Hope say, “She’s sleeping,” I come face-to-face with Ashlyn, July, and some guy I have never seen before.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, sitting up and looking around.
“I used my key and found you all asleep,” Ashlyn says as the guy picks up Pancake from the floor when she jumps up on his leg.
“Oh, what time is it?”
“Just after three. If you want to sleep, we can handle everything,” she offers gently, studying me.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell her, standing up from the couch and giving July a hug when she comes to my side.
“That’s Doctor Hottie,” July mutters into my ear before letting me go. She’s not wrong; the guy is good-looking. He’s tall with dirty blond hair that’s tied back away from his face in a man-bun, with a strong jaw covered in stubble, and green eyes that stand out against his tan skin.
“I’m Dillon,” he says, turning to look at me.
“Uh…nice to meet you,” I reply, looking at Ashlyn and wondering how he ended up here.
“Mom invited him,” she tells me, rolling her eyes.
“Oh…well, that’s nice.”
“Yeah…nice,” Ashlyn grumbles under her breath then looks around. “I’m going to start getting things set up.” Then she looks at Dillon, saying, “Why don’t you fill the balloons? You seem to have a thing for helium.”
Watching him, his eyes change as he looks at her muttering, “Sure, babe,” before dropping his gaze to Hope and asking, “Do you want to help me fill the balloons?”
“Are you Aunty Ashwyn’s boyfwiend?” Hope asks, tilting her head to the side and studying him.
“Hope,” I say, watching Dillon smile, showing off two dimples.
“We’re just friends,” he tells Hope as Ashlyn snorts, folding her arms across her chest.
“Um…I think we’re going to need to get another cake,” I throw in, trying to break the awkwardness that has seeped into the moment. “I burnt the one I made.”
“I’ll go pick one up from the store,” July says, taking Ashlyn’s hand and pulling her out of the living room.
“Thanks,” I call to her back, hearing her say something to Ashlyn about “Being nice.”
“Are you weally not her boyfwiend?” Hope asks, and I can’t help it; I cover my face and laugh.
*
“He’s here,” I say, turning off the light, which causes the roomful of people to instantly go silent. Walking to the front door, I meet Jax as soon as he comes inside then take his hand without saying anything and start to lead him, chuckling, down the hall behind me toward the living room, where everyone is gathered.
“Did my mom come pick up Hope?” he asks, spinning me suddenly and pushing me up against the wall. Before I can answer him, his mouth comes down on mine, silencing anything I was going to say and making me forget we have a roomful of people waiting for us.
“Surprise!” The loud roar sounds through the house, and he pulls away just enough to see my face.
“Surprise,” I whisper, watching his face go soft then laugh when Hope runs to us, yelling, “Happy Birthday, Daddy Ax,” before throwing herself against us.
Picking her up, he smiles then wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he tells her, kissing her forehead.
“Happy Birthday, honey,” Lilly says, coming over and kissing his cheek.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Happy Birthday,” Cash says, patting his son’s back.
“Thanks, Dad. Thank you all. This is definitely surprising.” He laughs, leaning over and pressing a kiss to my hairline, making all the stress of the day worth it.
“I’m ready for my real gift now,” Jax says, coming into his room and closing the door halfway before taking off his shirt. The party was a hit and everyone had a good time. I even caught Dillon and Ashlyn laughing together a few times, which was unexpected, since there seemed to be some major tension between them. Jax even insisted on eating a piece of the cake Hope and I made him, which was sweet, considering he could have ended up in the hospital.
“I already gave you your gift,” I say with a laugh as he pushes me back into the bed and pulls my shirt off over my head.