“What?” I grinned, teasing, “You know I’m fucking with you. Only I own my balls, baby. But you…” I winked at her. “You can definitely own my cock.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What about your heart?”
“Well, that too.”
“Christian,” Autumn announced, bringing me back to the present. “I think you should get her the turquoise birthday cake since that’s her favorite color.”
I nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“Jesus fuck,” Julian exclaimed. “Where did your balls go, man? Did you just hand them over to her?”
Autumn giggled. “My brother loves Kinley. She’s his soulmate. Do you think you have a soulmate, Julian?”
“Nah, I’m not made like that, kid.”
“Maybe you already know her”—she shrugged—“and you just don’t know it yet.”
“I don’t know many girls.”
“Bullshit.” I chuckled. “You know every girl with tits and an ass from here to Dallas.”
“I’ve banged every girl from here to Dallas. Doesn’t mean I know them.”
Autumn scratched her head. “What does bang mean?”
I hit him in the chest, only looking at her. “Nothing you’ll ever do.”
“I don’t think I’d like to bang,” she remarked. “It doesn’t sound very nice.”
Julian laughed from deep within his chest, and I resisted the urge to hit him again. I swear he’d forget my little sister was only eleven, she was still a kid, and I wanted to keep her that way for as long as I could.
Autumn was beautiful, even as a baby. I knew there would come a time when little shits would be knocking on our door to take her out on a date, and I’d have to threaten their lives if they didn’t keep their dick in their pants.
“Christian, do you bang? Does Kinley?”
I glared at Julian, who was suppressing another laugh.
“Why don’t we let your brother pay for his turquoise birthday cake.”
“It’s not mine, you dick. It’s for Kinley’s seventeenth birthday.”
“So you’ve said.” He nodded to Autumn before getting down on one knee for her to jump on his back. “We’ll meet you outside.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“He’s giving me a piggyback ride! I think that counts, right?”
“It counts, kid.”
I watched them leave before grabbing a box of condoms. We hadn’t had sex yet. I could tell Kinley was getting impatient, waiting for me to make a move soon, so I figured it was better to be prepared just in case. I didn’t know why I was holding back, when we’d done everything else. I just wanted to make it special for her.
Fuck, I really did turn into a pussy.
Shaking my head, I paid for my stuff and then dropped Autumn and Julian off at our house. Julian was watching Autumn for the rest of the day while my parents were at work.
I was surprising Kinley with balloons, gifts, and a cake for her birthday. Knowing it was the first time she’d experience anything like this.
By the time I made it to her house, it was after three ,and I knocked on her door.
Completely caught off guard…
When Jax opened it.
—Kinley—
“Christian!” My eyes lit up, taking in his huge display of birthday balloons. “Geez, did you leave any in the store?”
“What are you doing here?” he asked, nodding to Jax.
Shit.
“It’s my best friend’s birthday, Christian. Where else would I be than with my girl?”
Christian stepped up to him, and Jax didn’t hesitate, standing taller. Not backing down.
“She’s not your girl, asshole.”
“Whoa!” I wedged myself in between them. This was me in the last year, having to constantly play referee when they were around one another. “It’s my birthday! You guys don’t get to pee on me today.”
Their stares never wavered from each other.
“Come in,” I said to Christian, opening the door wider for him to walk through and making sure Jax was still behind me.
It wasn’t like Jax couldn’t carry his own with Christian. I didn’t want it to get to the point where fists were flying.
As soon as we all walked into the kitchen, Christian’s eyes shot to the half-eaten turquoise cake Jax had brought me that morning with the blown-out candles lying beside it.
“What?” I asked, taking in his sudden harsh expression.
His glare cut to Jax. “Did you know she’s never had this?” Before his gaze snapped to me. “Because if he did know, then this wasn’t just a coincidence. He’s trying to show me up.”
“Christian, he’s my best friend.”
“I’m supposed to be your best friend.”
I winced. “Please don’t be this way.”
“If you knew she’s never celebrated her birthday, then why now?” he accused Jax. “Huh? You’ve been best friends for the last five years. Why the fuck now? Unless you’re trying to prove a point to me?”
Jax snidely smiled. “I don’t have to prove shit. I know where I stand in her life. Can you say the same, boyfriend?”
“Enough!” I intervened. “I’m tired of having to choose sides with both of you. This is ridiculous. We can all celebrate together.”
“Why now?!” Christian roared.
“I didn’t like celebrating my birthday before this year!” I declared for Jax. “You’ve changed that in me. Your whole family has. I wanted to celebrate my birthday for the first time with both of you. Is that a good enough answer for you?”
“I can’t believe you don’t see what he’s actually doing, Kinley. It’s fucking obvious.”
“I’m not doing shit,” Jax argued. “Instead of asking me if I knew, which I did, I’ve been trying to get her to celebrate her birthday since I met her. But what you should be asking yourself is why you’re so fucking insecure about it?”
It happened before I even saw it coming. I swear I blinked, and Christian’s fist was slamming into Jax’s jaw.
“No!”
Jax flew back, catching himself on the kitchen island.
With wide eyes, my hands flew to my face. This wasn’t going to end well, that much I knew. I lunged toward Jax to help him, but Christian grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“What the fuck? You’re going to him?”
I abruptly turned around. “You’re the one who hit him!”
“No shit, and I’ll do it again.”
With his hand on his jaw, Jax moved it around, scowling, “I’d like to see you try.”
“I just did!”
“You fucking sucker-punched me, you bitch!”
“Please stop!” I begged. My heart was pounding profusely. Two of the most important people in my life hated each other with the same love I had for both of them.
This was the last thing I wanted to happen on a normal day, let alone my birthday.
“Get the fuck out!” Jax ordered. “You’re not wanted here!”