Page 1 of Pastel Kisses

CHAPTER ONE

Jaxton

The entire ride into town is a battle between logic and instinct. Every fiber of my being screams at me to turn the car around, to go back to Avery, where we belong. The rhythm pounds through me, beating against my ribs like a drum.

Go. Back. Go. Back. Go. Back.

But I don’t.

Because weagreedto give her space. She’s had a hell of a past couple of days—meeting Kam and Lenn in person for the first time, getting sick, and then practically wearing herself out in the yard. She needs rest, not four giant-ass men hovering over her like she’s made of glass.

Even if itiskilling me to leave her alone.

I grip the wheel tighter, jaw ticking as I focus on the road ahead. “Tell me again why we thought this was a good idea?”

“Because Avery’s not a damn porcelain doll, and she needs some time to breathe,” Kamden mutters from the passenger seat, arms crossed as he slouches slightly, pouting as he answers. “And we need to talk. Just us.”

Lennox, stretched out in the backseat with Liam, snorts. “Yeah, but let’s be real. Jax is gonna be the first one to cave and text her.”

Liam scoffs. “Are you kidding? He’s probably already texting herright now.”

“Iam not,” I argue, shifting in my seat. “And fuck you guys for assuming I havezeroself-control.”

“Youdohave zero self-control when it comes to Avery,” Kam points out, glancing at me, laughing. “Which is fine, considering we all feel the same way. But don’t bullshit us.”

I sigh, flexing my fingers against the leather of the steering wheel. “Fine. You’renotwrong.”

“Damn right we’re not.” Lenn smirks, kicking the back of my seat lightly. “But hey, at least we get one nice meal together before we permanently cement ourselves in Avery’s house and never leave.”

Liam chuckles. “I don’t think she realizes that yet. Shethinksshe’s sending us back to the hotel tonight, but…”

I smirk. “But we all know we’re checking out tomorrow, don’t we?”

Kam grins. “Yeah, we do. The real question is, will she freak out when we tell her?”

Even though we’re laughing that’s the loaded question of the night because the idea ofnotbeing near her? Unthinkable. But moving in with her—permanently—means shiftingeverything.

The restaurant comes into view, and I pull into the parking lot, killing the engine. None of us move to get out immediately, the weight of the conversation settling between us.

“She’s it, isn’t she?” Lenn says quietly, his usually cocky demeanor tempered with something more serious. “Like, we knew from the start, but it’srealnow.”

Liam nods. “Yeah. She’s it.”

Kam exhales slowly, running a hand over his jaw. “So, what do we do? Stay here? Ask her to come with us?”

“We’ve got the money to do whatever the hell we want,” I say, leaning back against the headrest. “We could buy a damn house here tomorrow if that’s what it takes. She’s the only thing that matters.”

“We need to ask her whatshewants,” Liam adds. “This isn’t just about what works for us. It’s about what works forher, too.”

Silence settles in the car, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s weighted with something bigger than any of us—commitment.

Finally, Lennox breaks it with a grin. “Well, guess we’re about to spend this entire dinner planning our future with the girl of our dreams.”

Kam smirks. “And drinking a shit-ton of bourbon in celebration while we do it.”

I chuckle, pushing open the door. “Sounds like a plan. But first let me text Avery to check in on her.”

Liam laughs. “Told you he’d cave first.”

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