Page 142 of The Way We Collide

“Look! A kitten is trying to attack that balloon arch!” He points, and Kimmie gasps.

“Where?” She turns and starts running in the direction of the party, her little shoes slapping on the flagstones.

Austin punches Edward on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s go.”

“If a kitten is attacking that balloon arch, it could get a real fright. Some of those balloons are huge…”

He grabs Edward’s arm and drags him toward the exit. “I made it up, now come on.”

“Bye, guys!” I laugh, waving as I go to retrieve my abandoned toddler, who is now shaking Axel in one hand and the stuffed turtle in the other.

“Oh… Hi, Miss Raven.” Austin is at least embarrassed. “Great party!”

“It does give the impression of being under the sea.” Edward looks around. “It’s an interesting concept.”

“Thanks, guys.” I smile warmly. “And thanks for coming. I know baby birthday parties aren’t the most fun at your age.”

“I didn’t find any kittens!” Kimmie shouts as she runs back to where I’m standing.

Austin pulls Edward’s arm again, and the boys take off jogging away.

“Auntie Rave, where’s Austin and Eddie?” Her hands are on her hips, and her brown curls are a frizzy mass around her shoulders.

“They had to go.” Reaching down, I catch her hand. “Help me take the birthday girls back to the party, okay?”

“I’ve been helping them walk.” She nods, trying to hold Gigi’s arm. Gigi makes an angry squeal, waving her arm up and down and out of Kimmie’s grasp. “They’re a little wobbly.”

“They haven’t been at it very long,” I explain.

“That’s okay! I’ll help them get better. Miss Allie says I’m good at helping, and Haddy needs to know her cousin Kimmie.”

“Yes, she does!” We take their hands and make our way back to the party, toddler speed.

My dad’s words are on my mind and emotions twist in my chest.

His apology was one I didn’t even know I needed, and whileI do need time and probably some counseling, I accept it. I want to forgive him, and that’s a big part of healing.

“I had a brilliant idea, Rave.” Dylan skips up to us. “While you’re here, we can do all the Thursday Dare dishes together! Want to?”

“Absolutely, I do!”

Hendrix walks up, scooping his daughter off her feet and kissing my cheek. “Everything okay?”

Nodding, I press my lips into a smile, looking up at the two of them. Haddy is already squealing and struggling to get down again.

“He apologized. He even complimented you.”

“Hey—that’s…” He bends down to put Haddy on her feet again, then he straightens, holding my gaze. “Good?”

“It’s really good.”

Later that evening at Cooters& Shooters, we’re sitting around a big table with Grizz and Liv, Logan and Dylan, Rachel and Zane, and Jack.

Amelia is on the side porch playing pool with Austin, Edward, and the teenage gang. Gigi and Haddy are asleep on their respective daddies. Kimmie is conked out on a bench, using a stuffed cooter for a pillow, and Dylan is showing me her idea for dare recipes on the iPad Pro she uses in the kitchen.

“You fell asleep watching movies?” Garrett frowns. “That sounds like a tough habit to break down the line.”

“I always fell asleep watching football.” Hendrix leans back, patting Haddy’s little back.

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