Page 38 of Pastel Kisses

Wait for the moment we can finally exhale again.

And when that day comes, I’ll bring her out here, sit her cute ass down, and tell her that no matter how much time has passed, she still belongs here—with us.

Kam crosses his arms, surveying the yard with quiet pride. “Only thing missing is Dan being here to see it,” he says, his voice edged with something unspoken.

“He’ll come back when she does,” Lennox replies, wiping sweat from his forehead with his forearm. “For now, it’s enough that we go to him.”

We all nod in agreement. Dan hasn’t set foot in Avery’s house since the police gave it back to us. It’s too much for him. Too much empty space. Too many reminders of what’s missing. And honestly? We get it. We feel it, too. Every time we walk inside, there’s a heaviness that settles in our chests. But being here, keeping her space alive—keepingheralive—is all we can do until we bring her home.

Jax runs a hand through his hair, glancing toward the house. “We should be heading out soon,” he reminds Kam.

Kam sighs. “Yeah, another damn press conference.”

“Another chance to keep her face out there,” I say, trying to remind them why we keep doing this, even when it feels like screaming into the void.

Lennox claps me on the back. “And another chance for you to bite some poor reporter’s head off.”

I smirk, but it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Maybe if they stop asking bullshit questions, I wouldn’t have to.”

A vibration cuts through the air—Jax’s phone buzzing in his pocket. He pulls it out, and his expression twists. “Sarah,” he mutters.

Silence blankets us for a beat before Kam sighs. “You gonna answer?”

Jax’s jaw tightens. “If it’s about the baby, I probably should.”

“She’s been using that as an excuse to pull you back in,” Lennox points out, crossing his arms. “It’s never just about the baby.”

“Yeah, well, I need to make sure she’s not pulling any new shit,” Jax says, though his entire body is screaming that he doesn’t want to deal with this.

We exchange looks before Liam sighs. “Put it on speaker.”

Jax presses the button, and Sarah’s sugary voice fills the air. “Jaxy,” she practically purrs. “I was hoping you’d answer.”

Jax’s face remains unreadable. “What do you want, Sarah?”

“Relax, I just wanted to check in. I had a doctor’s appointment today. Our little one is growing so perfectly. I thought you might actually want tobeinvolved in this.”

Lennox rolls his eyes so hard it looks painful. I’m barely holding back an irritated sigh.Twisting the knife—that’s what she’s doing.

“I already told you I’d do what I need to do for the baby,” Jax says evenly. “That doesn’t mean I want to deal withyoumore than necessary.”

Sarah hums like she expected that. “Well, you mightneedto deal with me a little more, because I was thinking… Maybe I should move in for a while.”

Kam nearly chokes on his own laughter, and Lennox just groans outright. I don’t bother hiding my disgust.

“We’ve already talked about this. Not happening,” I state firmly. “We live in Avery’s house. There is no way inhellyou’re moving in here.”

“Oh, come on,” she croons, as if she isn’t a manipulative psycho. “I just think it would be easier for you to be involved if we were under the same roof.”

Jax’s grip on the phone tightens. “Sarah, I already told you—youare not getting back into our lives. I will be there for the baby.Onlythe baby. My brothers arenota package deal. We are in love with Avery. We willnevercome back to you. Move. On.”

Silence.

Then a sharp exhale. “You’ll change your mind,” she says, voice dripping with smug certainty.

And then she hangs up.

“Jesus Christ,” Kam mutters.

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