Page 37 of Other Side Of Never
Shae groaned, tugged Dylan up onto her lap, and held her close, her face soft and happy.
Gabe’s handsome face, usually closed tight or bubbling over with teasing, lay stripped naked as he watched them.
Feeling as though I was intruding on a private moment, I quietly backed away.There were a few people I didn’t know milling about, but I figured I’d talked to everyone I needed to for the moment.
“You good?”Kian murmured at my shoulder.
I smiled up at him.“I’m good.You hanging in there?”
He smiled back and pulled out the nearest chair.“Have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
Isaiah dropped into the seat next to me, his plate piled high with breaded chicken strips.
I raised an eyebrow at him.“They didn’t have any vegetables, Ace?”
He looked at me in horror.“It’s a birthday party, Bridge.You don’t eat vegetables at a birthday party.”
Max laughed, pulling the chair out beside Kian who sat up straight.“Mind if we join you?”
“Please,” Kian offered politely, his face blanking of all expression.
Isaiah stuck his hand out in Max’s direction.“I’m Ace.”
Kian snorted out a laugh, then a quiet reprimand, “Isaiah.”
Isaiah pursed his lips then continued.“Some people call me Isaiah.”
Max grinned and offered his hand, encasing Isaiah’s small hand completely.“It’s good to meet you, Ace.I’m Max.”
“Hello, Isaiah,” Wren greeted, her eyes soft and warm as she smiled at him indulgently.
“Hello.”Isaiah’s brow furrowed.“So, if I share my dad with Aaron does that mean he shares you with me?”
Wren laughed softly.“Yes.That’s exactly what it means.I’m your Wren.”
“My Wren,” Isaiah tested the words, nodding as he came to a decision.“I’ll just call you Wren.”
“That sounds good,” she twinkled at him.
“Is my brother here?”
Wren shook her head.“Not yet.”
“Did Dini lay her egg yet?”
Max started then chuckled, his wide shoulders shaking.
“No,” Wren choked.“Not yet.”
“I have tried, God knows, I have tried,” Kian joked as Isaiah jumped down from his seat at the announcement from Julian that the dessert table was ready.
Wren swiped a finger under her eye.“He reminds me so much of Aaron at that age.”
Kian’s eyes snapped to hers, a fierce hunger on his face.“Do you have pictures?”
Wren nodded.“Yes.Absolutely.I’ll put a small book together for you.”She tilted her head to the side.“They look alike, for sure, but it’s the sweetness and mischief they share that stands out the most.”
