Page 111 of A Hard Fit

“Isn’t my—my partner so talented?” Rory asked.

Finn shared a look with Rory. He could tell how much they wanted to tell her the news. But she would make a big deal about it and it was supposed to be her night.

Bailey didn’t notice their meaningful glance, enraptured as she was by the wrapping. “I’ll say. This is too beautiful to open. Anyway, come on in. Dad’s made a signature cocktail for the party but he hasn’t revealed it yet. He’s been waiting for everyone to arrive.”

“Are we the last ones?” Rory asked. They might have been a little slow getting out of bed.

“Not quite. We’re still waiting for Jackson. He’s apparently stuck at work.”

“Work? It’s your birthday!”

Bailey rolled her eyes. “You know him.”

They followed Bailey into the living room. It looked like pretty much the full clan was there—aunts, uncles, cousins and a couple faces Finn swore he’d never seen before. Steffie and Mikala waved, but Finn didn’t see Dimitri anywhere.

“There you are!” Lainey said when she saw them. “Hello, darling.” They swapped air kisses—the Jackson drama apparently swept under the designer rug—while Jonathan rolled in a bar cart draped in a white cloth.

“All right, everyone!” he called. “Apparently Jackson will be on his way shortly, but I’m not waiting.” He paused to make sure he had the room’s attention. “First of all, we would like to thank you for joining us for this special girl’s birthday.”

Bailey smiled and flushed as everyone cheered.

“She is the sweetest, most beautiful person, and we are all so lucky to know her,” Jonathan continued.

“Oh, Dad,” Bailey said.

“So, in honor of Bailey’s twenty-third birthday, I give you…” He paused for dramatic effect before whipping the cloth off the bar cart, revealing a tray of tall pink fizzy cocktails, topped with lime and fresh strawberries. “The Straw-Bailey margarita.”

Bailey laughed and clapped her hands over a chorus of oohs and ahhs. “What’s in a Straw-Bailey margarita?”

“Magic,” Jonathan said. “Just like you. Plus some tequila.”

“Aw, Dad.” Bailey hugged him, then accepted the first drink. She clinked her glass with his. “Cheers!”

Davis came in carrying another tray of the signature cocktail and circled the room distributing drinks.

Finn and Rory wandered over to Mikala and Steffie to chat as they enjoyed their beverages.

“Did Leo and Troy crash as hard as Cali and Bryson did last night?” Finn asked.

“So hard.” Steffie laughed. “I think Troy was sleepwalking by the time we got home. He kept telling me to get off the Ferris wheel.”

Finn chuckled. “Bryson just worshiped your boys. It was so nice of them to include him.”

“Oh, not at all, they had lots of fun too. They already asked this morning if they could have Bryson over one day.”

“Aw, that’s so cute. Next time they visit, for sure.”

It wasn’t long before they were herded to dinner and the adults found their seats in the dining room. The massive table was adorned with white and silver china, pink roses and pink candles.

They had loaded their plates with food—pork ribs, rice pilaf and corn on the cob—when Bailey stood and clinked her glass to get their attention. “I just wanted to say, thanks for being here tonight. It really means a lot to me—”

Jackson dashed into the room in a wrinkled charcoal suit. “Hi, folks,” he drawled. “So sorry, Bailey. I couldn’t get away.” He went to kiss his mom on the cheek.

“Hello, dear,” Lainey said.

“We’re glad you made it,” Bailey said.

Griffin snorted. “Just trying to imagine what you would have said to me if I had rolled in in the middle of dinner.”

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