Page 91 of Just Between Us

My heart races as I look at the white frosted cake with Joyeaux Anniversaire! printed out in chocolate. For a brief moment, I’m confused until it hits me that my birthday is tomorrow, and I’ll be twenty-five. With everything going on, I had pretty much forgotten about it.

I look between them, warmth spreading through me. It’s like I’ve been plunged into a dream I never want to wake up from. “H-how did you know?”

“Jenna,” Levi says, grinning triumphantly. “Were you not going to tell us it’s your birthday?”

I shake my head, that warmth inside mixing with an emotion I don’t really understand. It feels like something I shouldn’t feel but something I desperately want. “Oh, I didn’t want you to…”

“Make a big deal out of it?” Levi finishes.

I wince. “Yeah.”

Next to me, Cole pulls out a blue velvet square box and holds it out for me to take. “Well, you’re a big deal to us, Kai. You’re as much of a part of this as we are, and I hope you know that. If not, this can be a reminder.”

I reach for the velvet box gingerly, my hands shaking slightly. I open it to find a silver bracelet etched with white diamonds sitting on top of a white cushion. My eyes fall on Cole and Levi’s wrists. They are the same matching bracelets they never take off.

“Happy birthday, Kai,” Levi says. “As Cole said, you’re a part of us and I know we’re still figuring this out, but this is just reassurance that we’re in it together.”

My eyes mist over, tears welling in my eyes, but I quickly blink them away.“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper, looking down at the bracelet. “Thank you. For everything. This weekend, the bracelet, just...”

As much as I don’t believe all those things Kenny used to say to me, for once, I feel like I belong with someone like I’m a part of them.

Yet, despite all the happiness that swirls through me, a thick lump suddenly lodges in my throat, fear sinking its claws into me. It’s that strange feeling you get when something good happens, that maybe things are too good and soon, something will happen to snatch it all away.

I swallow down any of those thoughts and focus my attention back on both of them, mustering my brightest smile. I hope they believe it. “I’m just happy I get to be here with you both,” I whisper.

But Kenny’s message still sits on my phone.

I know he’s somewhere out there and the creeping feeling that he’ll show up soon keeps the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I took nine years of his life, and I know he’s determined to make me pay for it.

I wake up to light streaming into the bedroom. I reach out, but the bed is empty and already cold. I feel myself panic for a second but quickly remember I’m in Monaco with my boyfriends. No one pinch me. I lift my left arm and the diamond bracelet gleams in the sun that spills through the tall windows that look out to the sea.

“You’re awake,” Levi says walking into the room.

He’s shirtless, dressed in only his boxers. I watch him as he rounds the bed and slides in next to me before kissing my lips. “Good morning. Happy birthday, baby”

I beam, warmth spreading through me. I’m twenty-five and this is definitely the best birthday I’ve ever had.“Thank you,” I say. “Where’s Cole?”

“On a call with Daniel,” Levi says.

I nod, sitting up and looking at Levi. His hair sticks up in different directions and like this, he looks ten times more adorable than usual.

“What?” he tilts his head.

I grin, shaking my head. “You know you’re ridiculously adorable, right?”

He furrows his brow. “I don’t think anyone has ever used adorable to describe me.”

“What do they usually use?”

Levi shrugs. “Oh, you know, hot, sexy, stunning…”

I hear myself giggle. I’m so in love with him it hurts, “Agreed with all of those too.”

Levi stretches out his legs and taps his thigh. I’m quickly learning that doing as I’m told comes pretty easy when I’m around them. My mother would have a field day with this. I straddle him, trying my hardest not to grind against him.

“Hello,” I say, our foreheads touching.

“Hi.” Levi smiles.

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