Page 124 of Wild Ever After
“Your mom would be really proud of the man you’ve become. Your grandparents, too.”
Warmth spreads through my chest. I don’t have the words, so I kiss her again.
Practically the whole team is here tonight. Even Everly and Grace stop by to wish me a happy birthday.
I spent a lot of years perfectly content to hang in the background and let life happen around me, but Jade pushes me to be present in moments like these.
After making a lap around the room to say hi to everyone, we pause in the doorway between the kitchen and living room.
“Who should we pretend to be tonight? Scarlett and Leo are sweet. He keeps rubbing her belly. Tyler and Piper disappeared, so they’re probably in some corner making out. Then there’s Dakota and Maverick getting a little handsy while talking to people.” Jade lifts a brow in question. “Or we could stare at each other longingly across the room like a number of others hoping not to go home alone.”
I step in front of her and place my hands on her hips. “I don’t want to be anyone else. Not tonight. Not ever again.”
She links her arms around my neck and stares into my eyes. “You want to go home and have sex, don’t you?”
I nod. “Yeah, immediately.”
Laughter lights up her face. I love these guys, our friends and family, but my very favorite place is home with my wife.
Before we can make our exit, Ash claps me on the shoulder. “Happy birthday, man.”
“Thanks. Appreciate you hosting.”
“Always happy for a reason to throw a party,” he says, and hands me a glass of whiskey.
Somewhere in the room, someone whistles, and then Jack commands everyone’s attention by stepping onto the coffee table and lifting his glass. “Happy birthday to one of the greatest guys I know. I hope it’s the best year yet, buddy. To Declan.”
Everyone tips their glass toward me. “To Declan.”
I lift my drink to them in return. I get a chorus of happy birthdays shouted my way.
“And to my gorgeous wife,” I say, after swallowing down the dark liquor. “Because of you, last year is going to be hard to top.”
Jade smiles and clinks her glass lightly against mine. “To us. The best is yet to come.”
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