Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Forrest

“Next weekend, we’re having a party,” Emerson announces. We’re at her place having Sunday dinner.

“Not that I don’t love a good party,” Lachlan comments, “but what’s the occasion?”

“It’s Briar and Brogan’s birthday.”

“What?” I sit up straighter in my chair. “It’s her birthday?”

“ Their birthday, yes,” my sister corrects me.

“Why didn’t I know that?” I scowl.

Emerson laughs. “Why does it matter? She’s my friend.”

“Mine too,” Monroe adds.

“She’s my—” Fuck me, I don’t know what she is, but I should have known it was her birthday. Why didn’t she tell me? We’re trying this, right? Whatever this is? Dammit. I should have told her that whatever this back and forth is, it’s exclusive. Would she have told me then?

Son of a bitch.

“My place,” I tell my sister.

“What?”

“The party. It’s at my place.”

“I have a house to host a birthday party for my friends.”

“Emerson.” My voice carries a warning that I never, ever use on my little sister.

Emerson tilts her head to the side to study me. “She’s a single mom.”

“I fucking know that,” I grit out.

“I don’t know what, but she’s been through something.”

“I know that too.”

“What are your intentions with my friend, Forrest Huntley?”

I watch as my sister places her hands on her hips, ready to go to battle for Briar, and even though it should piss me off that she’s doubting me and my intentions, it doesn’t. It makes me smile that she’s in Briar’s corner. Something tells me my girl, her daughters, and her sister haven’t had many people in their corner lately, if at all. I know very little, but I know she lost her mom, and then her dad. I know the girls’ dad isn’t in the picture. She hasn’t flat-out told me that, but my gut tells me that I’m right.

She needs Emerson, Monroe, and Maggie too. I want her to have a tribe to stand beside her. I just want her to let me be a part of that as well. I want to stand with her in whatever she faces, past, present, or future.

“I want her.”

“She’s not a plaything!” Emerson stomps her foot. Her hands are still braced on her hips.

I’m aware that our family is watching us, and I’m certain every person in this room, well, aside from baby Lilly, is wondering what my intentions are.

“Let me finish, kid,” I scold. I think about Briar, and how I have this need inside me to be near her. Not just her, but the girls too. When I say I want her, it’s not just in my bed. I want her in this house. I want her girls here as well. I want all three of them to be mine. I’ve never had this feeling before. I’ve never wanted someone to be mine. We have a long way to go, and she has trust issues, but I want to be the man who tears through them. I want to be the man who tears down the walls around her heart and helps her build them back, but with love, not fear, or hate, or whatever else it is that caused those walls to be erected so damn high.

“Wow,” Emerson breathes.

I shake out of my thoughts. “What?”

“Um, Forrest, bud, you were thinking out loud,” Maddox tells me.

I just stare at him while I process what he’s saying, then I shrug. “Saves me from repeating my thoughts.”

“Forrest?” Roman says my name, pulling my attention. I turn to one of my best friends, who is now my brother-in-law.

I stare him in the eye as I prepare to answer his silent question. “I understand. I get it now. I’m not there—not where you were, but I get it.”

“Hell yes, welcome to the club, brother,” Legend says.

“What am I missing?” Maddox asks.

“Right? Share with the class,” Lachlan chimes in.

“One day….” Roman grins and places a kiss on Lilly’s cheek before doing the same to my sister—his wife.

Yeah, I finally fucking get it.

Finally, after a week of planning, the day is finally here. Briar and Brogan’s birthday. I didn’t ask Emerson what she said when she told Briar the party would be at my house. I’ve also talked to Briar every day this week, and neither one of us mentioned it. In fact, I didn’t even let on that I knew it was her birthday today.

I know why she didn’t tell me. She didn’t think I would care. She’s wrong, so very wrong. I care more than I thought I ever could or would outside my sister and niece. That’s something I’ve admitted to myself this week as well. The more I get to know Briar, the more I crave her. With each new detail of today’s party, those feelings were cemented more than ever.

I take one final look around the house before guests start to arrive. Emerson and Monroe came over earlier to help me decorate. I waited until they were gone to bring out the things I bought. The twins needed a place to sit outside, so I got them a picnic table just like Lilly’s. The three of them will have lots of fun sitting at their own table. I can imagine the smile on River’s and Rayne’s faces, knowing they have their own table at Forty’s house. Lilly is still too little to understand, but she’s used to me and the rest of the guys spoiling her. This is new for the twins, and I want to be the one to start the trend.

Once I ordered the picnic table, I realized that they would need their own chairs as well. I went ahead and ordered three, so that Lilly would also have one. They’re small plastic Adirondack chairs, just like the ones we have around the firepit, and cute as hell. I can’t wait until they see them.

That led to them needing items for the pool. I don’t even know if they know how to swim, so I bought some arm swimmies, goggles, and way too many other toys. I even got this little inner tube that has a canopy over it for Lilly. I went overboard, but that’s okay. I know my niece will spend a lot of time here, and so will the twins if I have anything to say about it.

I hear the front door open, and I move to the living room to find Maddox and Lachlan standing and taking in the decorations.

“Damn, Mo and Em went all out,” Lachlan says.

“Hey, I helped.” I pretend to be offended.

“Good job, buddy,” Maddox says, patting my shoulder.

“Fuck off.” I laugh.

“What else needs to be done?” Lachlan asks.

“Nothing. We’re all set. Just waiting for everyone to get here.”

“What are we eating?” Maddox asks, rubbing his stomach.

“Steak and chicken breasts. I have some burgers I can toss on the grill if anyone wants one, and hot dogs for the girls. There’s pasta salad, potato salad, chips, and baked beans in the Crock-Pot.”

“Damn, you went all out.”

“Cake,” Lachlan says. “Did you get the girl a cake?”

“Yes, I got a cake. I also have cookies that say Happy Birthday, Briar and Brogan and Welcome to 23 on them. ”

“Who talked you into those?” Maddox laughs. “Emerson or Monroe?”

“Neither. I thought the girls might like the cookies better than cake.”

“You’ve got this girl-dad thing down, Huntley,” Maddox teases.

Girl dad.

I know that River and Rayne come with Briar. They’re a package deal, and an adorable one at that, but it hasn’t really hit me until this moment that if this goes where I hope it does, I’ll be a girl dad. I smile at the thought.

“We lost him,” Maddox jokes.

“I can kill that,” I tell them.

“Kill what?” Legend asks as he and Monroe step into the house. I didn’t even hear the door open.

“Girl-dad life,” Lachlan explains.

“Bro, you’ve got this in the bag.” Legend nods.

“I agree. I should know… you practically raised Emerson and me.”

“Baby, that sounds creepy as fuck. Forrest and I are the same age.”

“Cradle robber.” Maddox coughs into his hand.

“Stop.” Monroe laughs. “It’s ten years, Legend. Not twenty. Besides, Roman and Emerson have the same age gap.”

“Don’t remind me,” I groan.

“Um, Forrest, you do realize that you’re thirty-two, right?” Monroe asks.

“I know how old I am, Mo.”

“And you know that your girl turns twenty-three today. I know this is hard, but let me help you. Thirty-two minus twenty-three is nine. As soon as it’s your birthday, it’ll be ten years.”

“Ha ha, smartass. I know how old she is, and how many years there are between us.” I just don’t give a fuck.

Monroe’s phone pings, and she pulls it out of her back pocket. “It’s Emerson. Briar, Brogan, and the girls just got to her place. She’s walking them over. She wants us all to yell ‘happy birthday’ when they walk in.”

Maddox rubs his hands together. “Let’s do this.” We form a line so that they’ll see us as soon as they walk in.

“Wait.” I turn and grab the bag of party favors and start tossing them out. Noise makers and hats are a must, right?

“They’re turning twenty-three, not three.” Monroe chuckles.

“Shut it. We’re doing it right. They haven’t celebrated with anyone but each other for four years.” Legend gives me the stink eye for telling his wife to shut it, but I just smile and toss him a party hat. Monroe might as well be my little sister, and I’m not going to treat her otherwise just because my best friend married her.

The door opens, and my heart rate kicks up into a higher rhythm.

She’s here.

Emerson leads them into the house, and as soon as Briar and Brogan enter, we call out “Happy Birthday.”

Briar’s mouth falls open. She takes in the room and all of us standing here with crazy hats and noisemakers. The twins are standing still with awe in their eyes. Roman slips out from behind them and grabs a hat for Lilly, placing it on her head.

My feet are moving before I know what I’m doing. I lean down and press a kiss to Briar’s cheek. “Happy Birthday, beautiful.” Tears shimmer in her eyes, but the smile she’s giving me tells me they’re happy tears. At least, I hope they are. And because her daughters are watching, I do the same to Brogan. “Happy Birthday.” I move back to Briar, needing to be next to her.

“Forty, I didn’t know we’d see you,” Rayne tells me.

“Yeah, we didn’t know,” River agrees.

I crouch down so that I’m at their level. “I’m glad you’re here.” I’m taken off guard when they both wrap their arms around my neck. Something shifts inside me as Maddox’s words play through my mind.

Girl dad.

“Did you bring your swimsuits?” I ask them .

“We did. Do we get to swim?” River asks.

“Do you know how to swim?” I ask her. I glance up at Briar and she nods.

“Yes!” the girls cheer.

“Well, all right then. Let’s go outside and get this party started.”

“Do we get a hat too?” Rayne asks.

“Of course you do, Dazzle.”

“Dazzle?” Emerson asks.

“That’s my name. My sister is Razzle. And he’s Forty.” Rayne points to my chest.

“Well, Razzle and Dazzle, let’s get our swim on.” Lachlan winks at them and they look to me, not their mom. Me. They look to me for permission.

“It’s okay. You can go. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Hey, I want a twin.” Maddox pretends to pout.

“I’m a twin.” River points to her chest.

“Razzle, you want to be my swim buddy today?” Maddox asks her.

“Yes!”

“Dazzle, that leaves you and me.” Lachlan holds his hand up for a high-five, and Rayne slaps her tiny hand against his.

“Don’t let them out of your sight, and in the water you’re with them,” I tell my friends.

Maddox nods his approval. “Yeah, you got this in the bag, Huntley.”

“I’ll go with them,” Brogan says, following out the patio door.

Glancing around the room, I see it’s just the two of us. “Come here.” Snaking an arm around Briar’s waist, I pull her into my chest and hug her. “Happy Birthday.”

She sighs and settles into my embrace, her arms wrapping around my waist. I hold her for a few minutes, relishing the feel of her in my arms.

“You said that,” she finally speaks up.

“I know, but I didn’t get to do this.” Leaning back, I tilt her chin and press my lips to hers. The kiss is PG but does nothing to quell my desire for her. I nip at her bottom lip, forcing myself to pull away before I won’t be able to.

“I can’t believe you did all of this. Forrest, it’s too much.” Her lips are swollen and shining from our kiss.

“Nonsense. Come on. Let’s go check on the girls.”

Releasing her, I lace her fingers with mine.

“They don’t know,” she says, and she doesn’t need to explain. I know she’s talking about her daughters.

I nod. “Okay. You let me know when you’re ready.” Dropping her hand, I lead us outside.

“Mommy!” River and Rayne call out. “Look!” They’re sitting in their chairs I bought them. Roman is next to them, keeping a close eye on them.

“Wow,” Briar responds. “Those are cool.”

“They’re for girls,” Rayne tells us.

Briar looks up at me. “You don’t need to spoil them.”

“What makes you think it was me?” I ask, placing a hand against my chest as if I’m offended.

“Right.” She laughs. “Those chairs have you written all over them, Uncle Forty,” she teases.

Before I can tell her I’m not her uncle, Monroe and Emerson pull her away with Brogan to greet Maggie.

I’ve smiled so much today, my face hurts. It’s been incredible to have everyone here while getting to spend the day with Briar and the girls, even if I do have to share them. It’s made it even better.

“Time for gifts!” Monroe announces.

I’m sitting on a lounge chair with River and Rayne. I have one on each side, and they’re sleep soundly. The sun and swimming wore them out. Briar and Brogan both offered to take them in to lay them down, but I refused. We’re sitting under an umbrella, keeping the sun off them, and I’m just enjoying the moment.

Briar and Brogan smile and blush as they open each gift. Maddox and Lachlan got them both gift cards to a boutique in town, claiming they didn’t know what to get them. Maggie got them tumblers with their names on them that all five of the ladies gush over.

Monroe and Legend got them each a bath set. With lotions, and salts and all that stuff that I only know about because of my little sister and her best friend.

Emerson got them both some kind of wallet that they all also gushed over. It’s a woman thing, and I’m okay with that. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.

“Last one.” Emerson hands them my gifts. An envelope for each one.

I watch as they open them and grin.

“Spa Day.” Brogan holds up her envelope and waves it in the air. “Thanks, Forrest.”

“You’re welcome.” My eyes find Briar. “That comes with a day of childcare. You let me know when you ladies are going, and I’ll make sure I’m off to watch the girls.”

“Forrest,” Briar breathes.

“Don’t worry, Briar. We’ll make sure he’s supervised,” Lachlan jokes.

Everyone laughs, including Briar and me, but her eyes that are locked on mine tell a different story. She’s happy, and she’s surprised that I would offer to keep the girls. That’s fine too. She’ll understand eventually. When she’s ready to open up her heart and let me finish tearing down those walls of hers, it will all make sense to her. In the meantime, I’m going to keep showing up. I’m going to show her that my words are what's in my heart with my actions.

“Cake!” Lachlan calls out, making us laugh.

“We’re on it,” Maggie says, as she and Monroe head into the house to get the cake.

Briar comes over to me. “Thank you, Forrest. Not just for the gift, but for today.”

“You’re welcome, beautiful.”

She offers me a shy smile.

“I have another gift for you. Grab the bag behind the lounger.”

“You’ve done enough. ”

“Humor me.”

“Fine.” She stands and finds the small gift bag behind the lounger, which I left before everyone arrived. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

She reaches into the bag and pulls out an envelope. Tearing it open, she tugs out the small stack of cards. “What are these?”

“Mom coupon cards.”

“What?”

“I found coupon cards online that were blank, and well, I filled one out for mom things.” I nod and she starts sifting through them.

“Dinner, date night, babysitting, laundry, housecleaning, car wash,” she reads off some of the cards.

“Those are all things I’ll do for you. You just have to hand me a coupon and consider it done.”

She keeps flipping through the cards. When she stops, she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “Forrest, this is too much.”

“No, baby, it’s not too much.” I place my hand over hers, careful not to wake the girls. “I know it’s been you and Brogan taking care of the girls all on your own, but that’s not the case anymore. I want to be there for all of you. Girls' night, bring them to me. I’ll come to you, whatever works, but I want to do this. I enjoy spending time with them. You’ve raised two incredible tiny humans, Briar.”

“Are you real?” she mumbles. She’s shaking her head as if she can’t believe the words I’m saying. How could I not want to spend time with the twins? Not only are they a piece of her, those little girls already own two-thirds of my heart.

“Very,” I assure her.

“Cake!” Maggie calls out.

“Go on. It’s time for you to blow out your candles. Don’t forget to make a wish.”

“A wish.”

“Make it a good one.”

“I can’t think of a single thing I could wish for that I don’t have in this moment.” My chest expands and tightens at the same time. I want to make all her wishes come true .

“If you don’t want me to kiss you in front of our friends and family, you better get moving.”

“Forty, who are you kissing?” Rayne asks sleepily.

I chuckle as Briar’s eyes widen as she stands and scurries away. “No one, sweet girl.” Your momma. “Did you have a good nap?”

“I want cake,” River says, waking up.

“Yes,” Rayne answers. “Can we swim?”

“After we eat some of Mommy and Aunt Brogan’s birthday cake.”

That perks them up. They sit up and rub at their eyes.

“Okay.” They climb off the lounger and move toward the table where everyone has gathered around. Lachlan and Maddox see them, and each lift a girl into their arms so they can see what’s going on. We sing “Happy Birthday,” and then dive in to some cake and ice cream.

The rest of the day is much of the same. Good friends, good food, and lots of memories.