Page 128 of Pucking Obsessed

I didn’t realize that he was doing it. He was smart and subtle about it, alienating me from Dad and Cody.

My family were against the marriage, which meant that it was easy for Wilder to say that he didn’t want to see my family. I hate that I spent years estranged from my brother.

Being married to a narcissistic abuser, who controlled me more than I understood at the time, made me lonely.

Plus, my brother must have needed me.

I fucking needed him.

That I can wrap my arms around my younger brother now feels like the best gift in the world.

Birthdays have filled me with sadness because I’ve been alone or surrounded by my husband’s friends.

They taught me that I wasn’t loved for myself.

Happiness swells through me because tonight, I’m being shown that everything has changed.

Since coming to Freedom, I’ve found men who raise me up and support me for all of who I am.

My brother and his husband love me, unconditionally. They know about my dark past and they’ll fight my demons alongside me.

My best friend, Neve, doesn’tfitin the same way that I don’t but she’s never stopped being my friend. She’s turned her entire bar into an expression of love with this birthday without needing to say a word…and that’s very Neve.

I grin, pulling back from Cody. “Thanks, guys. This is awesome.”

“I invited Lucy, but she has a shift at the hospital.” Neve’s expression softens, when she talks about her girlfriend. “It’s a shame because you have your hot blond here tonight,” she winks at Shay, who blushes, “and I wanted mine.”

I haven’t seen Neve talk or act like this about anyone before. She doesn’t do the traditional partner thing, including inviting them to important events.

It’s hopeful.

“Have you been dragged along to any more extreme sports with Lucy like skydiving or juggling machetes?” I ask.

Neve is an Emo and the least outdoorsy person I know. Yet she’s trying in order to share Lucy’s passions.

Still, she pulls a face. “We’re kayaking next weekend.”

Shay perks up. “Lucy sounds like a badass. I’d love to do those things.”

D’Angelo sighs. “It appears hot blonds are adrenaline junkies.”

“So, this party was a surprise…?” Neve narrows her eyes at Shay. “No little piggy squealed?”

Shay looks startled. “No squealing. Well, unless it’s because Jude—”

“Don’t complete that sentence if you want to leave this bar alive,” Neve says with a deadly seriousness, which makes Shay’s eyes widen.

I bite my lip not to chuckle.

D’Angelo marches to stand next to Shay’s shoulder. “Is someone threatening my cucciolo?”

Shay looks both proud and smug like D’Angelo is his shining knight.

Naïve.

Neve leans forward. “My bar, my rules.”

Cody grabs my hand and yanks me to the booth. “Let’s get this party started, before we have to break up a fight. Who do you think would win?”

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