Page 60 of Until Forever

“You got it, dude.” I smile and lift the top of the cooler, snagging a fruit punch Capri Sun for him.

He takes it and rushes off. “Thank you.”

A moment later, the other children approach, all just as out of breath as JJ was.

“Can I have one?”

“Me, too.”

“I’d like one, too, please.”

Holding the cooler open, I wave. “Have at it.”

They all run back to the bounce, and JJ instructs them to finish drinking before going back to play. My little man, so mature already, and that scares me sometimes. Every day he’s coming more into his personality, and I’m not at the point where I’m on board with him no longer being my baby.

“We have ice,” a deep voice yells out.

I turn. Harmony’s brother, Bax, exits my back door, holding two bags of ice in each hand.

“About damn time,” Jasper teases.

“Oh, shut it,” Bax retorts while crossing the yard, stopping next to me. “Hey, Toya.” He leans in to give me a sideways hug. “Where would you like this?”

“Hey, Bax, can you fill all of the coolers?”

He tips his chin at me in response. “Got it.”

“Hurry up, old man,” Wes blurts through a laugh.

I step off, chuckling inwardly at their banter. I’ve only been around Bax and Jasper a couple of times since the party and always find their relationship wholesome. And thought maybe that’s just the way they were with each other, but I see that bond extends to the others as well. It’s beautiful when you think about it.

I look over my shoulder at the men all standing around the grill as Jasper prepares the meat. I point my gaze through my kitchen window at the ladies, at their talking and enjoying each other’s company. Baby Ava is rolling around on a blanket in a world of her own with her teddy while the other kids play together. Everyone seems happy, and their smiles radiate through me. It’s always just been JJ and me, but now we have a family, one that consists of Jasper and all of our friends. And I realize that maybe there isn’t anything to be afraid of after all.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

JASPER

“Hey,man, can you pass me a beer?” I ask Bax when he finishes pouring ice in all of the coolers.

“Yeah, let me get one of those, too,” Harlen requests.

“Anybody else want one?” Bax inquires, snagging three brews when the others decline his offer. “Are you sure you want this?” He hands me and Harlen our bottles. “I thought you were doing the donor transplant thing for your dad.”

Twisting the cap off the beer, I bring it to my lips, swallowing a large gulp before answering. “I’m actually not a match.”

“Damn,” Cobi adds. “So, what does that mean for your dad?”

I flip the ribs. “Not a whole lot right now. He’s an alcoholic, so they couldn’t put him on the transplant list, not until after he’s been sober for at least six months. They sent him home a couple of weeks ago, so he’s just waiting it out.”

“You think he’ll do it?” Bax asks and takes a pull from his drink.

“What? Stay sober?”

He nods.

“I doubt it. The doctors told me he was instructed to stop drinking months ago, but he didn’t.”

“Still stubborn as an ox,” Bax points out.

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