Page 212 of Cross the Line
Their back-and-forth makes me laugh while I cut the first slice of cake. A server plates the rest for Christina, Summer, and the girls.
“We’ll see you soon, sweet girl,” Eli tells me, his groan cutting through whatever Jayden’s saying.
“Party pooper,” JJ grumbles before he sings, “Love you, Baby.”
“I love you, Fin.”
My chest squeezes tight as I tell them, “I love you more.”
“No, no, no,” Christina says, wagging a finger in my face as she forks my slice and force-feeds me, like buttercream can plug tears. “You are not allowed to be sad on your birthday, especially not when you have cake and bubbles.”
Summer gives me a tender smile. “They’re back in a couple days, right?”
“Thirty-six hours.” The cake is delicious. Salted caramel with a praline crumble that makes my mouth water for more.
“But who’s counting?” Christina offers another forkful, and I snatch it, stuffing the yumminess in my mouth. “Hey, that’s not nice!”
“Yeah, Lucky, that’s really not nice!”
I gasp, half choking on cake as I whip around fast enough to crick my neck. My pulse knocks wild when I lurch to my feet and launch intoJJ. His beautiful grin strums every heartstring while I hold his face, making sure I’m not imagining him.
He’s real.
“You’re here. Like really here.”
His grin cuts wider as another set of arms gathers me from the side.
“There is no way we were going to miss your birthday, Fin,” Eli says with a kiss to my temple.
“Especially when it’s our first one together,” JJ adds. “We would’ve made it to dinner, but the plane couldn’t take off in time because of the snowstorm that hit this morning.”
“Doesn’t matter, you’re here now.You’re here.”
I’m a blubbering mess, and I don’t attempt to stop it. It’s energy I refuse to waste when I have them here and there are so many other ways I can use it up.
CHAPTER 58
ELI
Birthdays have always been odd days. When we were kids, the only celebration we got was a special prayer during Sunday praise, and as we grew up, we’d find a way of sneaking away to Finley’s grandparents’ ranch. Her grandma always made a small picnic for us to enjoy under our tree.
It wasn’t fancy, and I could never afford to buy her anything special. It was impossible to get her something without bringing attention to us and ruining what we had.
Now that’s all changed. There’s nothing stopping me from spoiling Finley, and that’s exactly what JJ and I planned when we had Christina organize their spa day together and then dinner at one of the city’s nicest restaurants.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here.” Finley nuzzles into my side, burying her face in my shoulder with a deep inhale when we settle in the back of the cab that’s taking us home.
I love the way she physically breathes me in. Even more, that I get to inhale her sweet scent into my lungs and feel the delicious burn of her perfume filling every inch of my lungs.
“I’m sorry we didn’t make it to dinner. We were meant to surprise you at the spa.” Jayden glances at me over our girl’s head with a look that’s part relief, part disappointment.
Jayden’s been flustered all day. From the moment we overslept—by awholethree minutes—to when we arrived at the airport, only to be told that our flight was delayed. Three hours at first. Then five… six… seven…
I’ve had him on conniption-watch since his eye started the nervous twitch. He says I’m the control freak, but I’ve had to disarm him enough times today to proveit’s him. He’s the one who needs everything a certain way, and God forbid we have to change plans… he might just lose his mind.
“Breathe,” I mouth at him.
With a kiss to Finley’s head, he drapes his arm around her shoulders. His fingertips trail along my nape in lazy circles that ease the last of my travel tension, too.
