Hadley’s sister had never really been the same after she was kidnapped as a child. We’d been in the same grade growing up, and our classmates had treated her more like a fascinating science experiment than anything else. “I know she won’t say anything.”
Addie pressed her lips together. “You should invite him to dinner at my and Beckett’s place.”
“What?” Shock bled into my tone. Both at the fact that Addie would welcome a stranger into our fold and that she was pushing me to basically make a move on him.
Her eyes misted over. “I know what it’s like to feel alone. He must be feeling some of that, losing someone he loves, being in a strange place. You guys were so wonderful to me. Boden should have some of that, too.”
I took Addie’s hand and squeezed. “You have the best heart.”
“You’ll ask him?”
I was a sucker when it came to requests from Addie. She’d battled through so much to find her freedom, and I couldn’t tell her no. “I’ll ask.”
She beamed. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
Hell. What had I gotten myself into?
A breeze liftedthe hair around my face as I moved towards the picnic table in the center of a grove of Aspen trees. It had always been one of Jase’s favorite spots, but it had lost some of its magic over the years.
For the first couple of years, the group that gathered for Jase’s birthday had been a large one. Friends, teachers, coaches. It had dwindled to just family and me. Kay and Chip. Jax. Gilly. Serena.
Now, we all stood somewhat awkwardly. It was so different than what birthday parties had been like all those years ago—full of laughter and good-natured teasing. Games and fighting over who had given the best present.
No bond in our group was as tight as it had been back then, and my heart ached with the knowledge. My gaze caught on Chip as he stared off into the distance, not completely here with us. I remembered when he had stepped into all the roles my father had so carelessly given away. Now, he was in danger of becoming a stranger, too.
He caught me looking his way and gave me a forced smile and a pat on the shoulder. “How are things with The Gallery?”
“Good.” I toyed with the zipper on my jacket. “I’m putting the finishing touches on an exhibit that opens in a couple of weeks. You should come.”
Serena let out a little scoff. “I thought the guest list was limited.”
I worked my jaw back and forth, swallowing down the retort I wanted to send her way. “It is, but there’s always space for family.”
“This isn’t your family,” Jax bit out.
“Jackson Granger,” Gilly scolded. “Laiken is a member of this family in every way that counts.”
But I wasn’t. At one point, I had been. They had been my refuge when my mom got too intense. The happy chaos of their ranch was always a balm to my soul. All of that had changed when we lost Jase—slowly and in a split second.
“She’s not. I’m only stating the truth. If she can’t handle that, then maybe she should leave.”
Serena looked on, her brow furrowing while Chip shifted uncomfortably.
“Jax,” he said in a low tone, one that carried so much fatigue. “Now isn’t the time for this.”
“When is, then?” he barked. “You act like it’s normal that she’s here.”
“I invited her,” Kay said softly. The flatness of it had my stomach cramping. The same way it always did when her voice was absent of emotion. It was a sign that things were taking a turn. “Jase would want her at his birthday.” Her eyes were glassy as she stared at the cake, the candles flickering in the wind. She let them burn until the wax melted onto the frosting.
Her knuckles bleached white as she focused on the dessert. It was as if she believed if she held on long enough, her son would show up to blow out the candles. That determined hope carved a hole in my chest.
“Mom, you’re gonna burn yourself.” Jax stepped up and bent to blow out the candles.
“No!” she shrieked. “No, no, no. Those are your brother’s candles. You can’t blow them out. You can’t. They’re his candles!”
Chip wrapped an arm around her as Kay dissolved into sobs, her entire body shaking. “He’ll come. Jase will come. He always comes.”
Jax’s face paled as he took a step back. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want her to get hurt.”