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“Isn’t it all a bit…much?”

“Absolutely. But wait, there’s more.”

Soren and Tase groan in unison.

“Guess who!”

The call comes from the driveway and we all look over in time to watch her sisters arrive. Suzanne waves her arms in the air and gives a shout of greeting.

With a loud gasp of surprise, Gilli pulls from my arms to race to her sisters, swooping in for a hug. Lorie, the youngest of the Kerrigan daughters, gives a whoop of excitement. “Now the party can start!”

“They remembered to bring the gift with them, right?” Tase whispers to me. “And Gilli has no idea, does she?”

My smile grows. “Nope. And you did a great job picking that out, too.”

Tase huffs. “It’s literally my job.”

The three of us watch Gilli and her two sisters as they catch up. “It was a nice touch, bringing in the family,” Soren mutters.

“Everything I do is a nice touch, man. You’re going to have to go over there and say hi to them too. They’re technically your sisters as well.”

“Dude, don’t even go there.” His beard hides the corners of his mouth and the smile I know he wants to bury, but I catch sight of it anyway.

“What?” I blink innocently. “Legally, I mean. You’re legally related.”

He hates being reminded of the fact.

Not much has changed in the way of how they relate to Alistair and Honey, but at the end of the day, as long asweget along, it doesn’t matter what those two are doing. They can fuck off and rot for all I care.

I certainly didn’t extend the invitation their way.Sorry, not sorry.

“When you say it that way, it sounds fucking bad, Aiden.” Soren shoots me a serious look before he stalks forward.

Not willing to let him outdo me, I follow and grab up Lorie in a hug. “Look at the two of you! Have you grown a foot since the last time I saw you?”

“The only way I’m growing is outwardly.” She steps back and rests her hands on the swell of her stomach, her second kid well on the way toward being fully baked.

After a round of catching up, we launch into the dreaded “Happy Birthday”chorus and Soren sings off key louder than any of us. Gilli laughs and slides the knife home to cut the cake. I can’t resist swiping some icing and dabbing it on the tip of her nose.

She gives me the biggest piece. I like to think it’s because she loves me the best, but I know her. She loves us all. We each occupy a place in her heart, and sure, there are some days where it feels like we’re competing.

But at the end of the day, only happiness matters. Love matters. We’ve carved out a future that works for us.

People are going to gossip no matter what. They’re going to judge your lifestyle choices whether you choose the route we have chosen or the traditional one.

Fuck ’em. Fuck ’em all. I’ve got my woman and my brothers. That’s enough for me.

Gilli attacks her pile of presents with gusto. Suzanne brought her a gift card for the local theater, to help get her out of the house. Maybe Gilli will make some friends besides Kayla and Belle from the clinic, Suz tells her. But it’ssaid with a laugh. Lorie brought a painting she painted herself, and I know exactly where we’re going to hang the sucker.

The scene is a woodland view done in autumn colors. The golds and robin’s-egg blue of the sky, the watery reflections in the lake, it’s incredibly well done and will be perfect above our stone fireplace in the great room. We’ve got a couple more finishes to go in that room and then it will be ready for more parties like this one.

Because whyshouldn’twe celebrate?

After Gilli’s pile of birthday gifts has been thoroughly admired, it’s time to bring out the main surprise. I cup my hands around my mouth and call for attention until the conversation dies down.

“We’ve got one more gift for the birthday girl.”

Gilli groans. “Come on, Aiden, no more. It’s too much!”