that you guys worked it out. This is honestly the best scenario for this situation. You deserve all the happiness.”
I turned to my best friend. “Thanks. I still can’t believe it’s real, but I’m holding on tight and not letting him go.”
“What are you two whispering about over here?”
I squeaked. “Holy shit, Tris. You startled me.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist, and I settled against his chest. We fit perfectly together. I tamped down the shiver that rolled through me. I always wanted him. I craved him.
“I was looking right at you when I walked over here,” he said, and then he leaned in. “You were zoning out and thinking about that bench in my shower, weren’t you?” he whispered, before he nipped the skin behind my ear.
Heat flooded my body, and this time, I couldn’t tamp down my shudder.
“Wow. I think I need a cigarette after that,” Mac said, effectively dousing me with cold water.
“Tristan, stop it.” I playfully shoved his chest and tried to ignore his rapidly beating heart under my palm.
Now was not the time to think about that bench and how he’d thoroughly made me orgasm with his tongue and his fingers every time he got me in there.
Good god. I needed to sit in an ice bath and cool down.
Then he winked at me and my heart sped up again. I hadn’t anticipated this playfulness with him. He’d always seemed so reserved. But I loved every minute of it.
“Stay over tonight,” he whispered.
“Maybe. I have to be in the office early.”
“I could stay at your place,” he said.
We hadn’t done that yet. The handful of times we’d been together, we had been at his place. I was nervous about what James would say if he saw Tristan there in the morning. But I was tired of rushing out of Tristan’s place at five a.m. so I could get home before James woke up. Not that my son seemed to mind all the sleepovers with my mom. He loved hanging out with his grandma, who spoiled him rotten.
Much like all of the people in this room.
“We’ll see,” I said, lifting up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek and trying not to think about how his scruff felt on the soft skin of my thighs.
Yeah, an ice bath would be awesome right about now. I was turned on, and it was my son’s birthday party.
Mom. Of. The. Year.
“I think it’s cake time,” I said, my attention back on James, where it should be.
His little grin filled his face as he stood on the chair at the table.
“James, sit down,” I said, rushing over to the chair. The kid would climb anything and everything he could, no matter what I said. I swear he did it just to test me.
“Cake time. Cake time. Cake time,” he sang.
“He’s got a better voice than you do, Jax. Maybe we should recruit him,” Bash teased.
“Whatever, Wolfie,” Jax growled, but he was smiling.
“Let’s keep him away from the stage for as long as possible,” I said.
“Jax? Yeah, we really should,” Tristan said, coming up and putting his hand on the small of my back. His thumb traced along my waistband and I shifted away from him as stealthy as possible.
From the soft laugh coming from Cassie, as she returned with the cake and stood next to me, I hadn’t been stealthy at all.
“Obviously, James isn’t going to be on stage any time soon. He’s our perfect little secret for as long as you want him to be, Evie,” Cassie said softly.
I sighed in relief. “Thanks. I can’t imagine what will happen when people find out,” I said, keeping my voice low so James wouldn’t hear.
“We’ll figure it out. I promise,” Tristan said. “Now, how about that cake? It looks amazing.”
“Rubble is his favorite Paw Patrol character,” I said. “Honestly, Marshall’s my favorite. Clumsy and full of corny jokes.”
“You watch the show for James or for yourself?” Tristan asked, humor lacing his tone.
“Oh, shut up. James likes it,” I muttered.
“Rubble on the double,” James shouted the character’s trademark line.
“See,” I said, nudging my elbow into Tristan’s rock-hard abs.
Shit.
Focus.
Cake.
I stepped away from Tristan and crouched down next to my son as Cassie lit the large number three candle.
We all sang “Happy Birthday” and James looked around the room, his grin wide again, and I fought back the tears in my eyes. My baby was getting older, and he had a huge new family. Happiness threatened to burst inside of