Page 53 of Finish Line

Next, I Facetime Mav and Dom. “Hey, guys.”

“Hi, babe,” Mav says.

“You good?” Dom asks, his voice growly with concern.

“Yep, I don’t have a lot of time.” I take a deep breath. “Cam’s birthday is coming up, and I want you to come visit.”

Mav’s face lights up. “Spring Break in Hawaii?”

My shoulders slump. “Why am I not surprised you already know where I am?”

“Don’t worry, Firefly. No one told us,” Dom says. “We recognized the furniture in your pictures.”

“Oh, how long have you known?” I wave the question away, my hand flapping in front of my face. “Actually, doesn’t matter. Do you want to come down here?”

Mav smiles big. “Hell, yeah.”

“Do you want us there, Firefly?” Dom asks, a hint of worry in his tone.

“Yes, I’m ready. I miss you so much. And there’s something else.” I exhale, the twins freezing in place, concern and worry oozing off them. “While you’re here, I want to tell you what happened in that basement.”

Dom and Mav exchange unreadable glances.

“I’m proud of you, Firefly,” Dom says, a hint of strain in his voice that I ignore.

“Thanks. I better call Luke and tell him. So, this is Operation Get Everyone’s Asses Here So We Can Celebrate The Day That is Cam, Even Though You Won’t Be Here For His Actual Birthday,” I say, seriously.

The twins pause for a minute before laughing, just like I planned. “That’s a pretty long name there, Princess,” Mav says, still chuckling.

I laugh and wave at the phone. “Can’t wait to see you. Bye.”

As soon as I hang up, I call Luke and tell him the plan as well.

With the two weeks flying by, running out to buy party supplies with Cam around has been challenging.

He went out surfing, and I had a delivery of party supplies. I call Mav to vent my frustrations.

“What’s up this time, baby?” Mav says.

“Where should I hide these party supplies?” I glance around the kitchen and living room.

“Your room.”

“No, Cam’s always in there.”

“Have her put them in the second bedroom in the bathroom closet!” Dom yells. “Cam shouldn’t go in there.”

“Did you hear that, Shelby?”

“Yes, thank you, Grizzly. I need to go. He’ll be coming up from surfing soon. Bye.” I hang up and run the supplies up the steps to where Dom suggested.

As I come back down, I receive a notice that the groceries I ordered earlier have arrive.

I’m putting a pineapple in the refrigerator as Cam comes in. “Hi, did you have fun surfing?”

“Yes.” He glances over all the bags. “Damn, Shelby. You ordered too much food.”

I have my response ready. “You eat a lot, and this is my first time ordering. Plus, my appetite is back. We’ll eat it all.”

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