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Noah laughed and pulled Jade into his arms, leaning his chin against the top of her head. “She might have had sugar before you two got here.”

“It’s time to eat,” Thalia said.

The spread looked wonderful.

Appetizers including bacon wrapped jalapeño’s with cream cheese, a gigantic charcuterie platter with meat, bread, cheeses, fruit, dips, chips, tiny pickles, and olives, and a variety of vegetables. He’s amazed to see the caterer had cooked two prime ribs, enough to feed everyone in the room with leftovers, along with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish and Au jus and several side dishes in the time allotted.

“Let me know how much I owe you for the spread,” Hunter elbowed Seth.

“We wanted to do it for Neri, so you don’t owe us anything. Cole kept talking about this company, worried he wouldn’t get enough work since they are starting out. This way I get to keep Aubrey and Cole happy, too.” Seth said.

“Thanks, kid.” He hugged Seth and Aubrey before he joined Neri at the table she’d made.

Hunter smiled at the group. Despite the problems they had over the years, they stuck together through the good times and had become closer because of the bad. He turned his gaze to Neri, who was feeding Silas small bites of her prime rib, while talking to Frost and Ara. The smile on her face made it all worthwhile.

After they had eaten their fill, Hunter signaled it was time to open the presents. Nerves assailed him as he remembered the black box in his pocket. But a noise from the kitchen distracted him.

Liv clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Which reminds me, time to blow out the candles and make a wish.”

Thalia walked out of the kitchen with the sheet cake decorated and twenty-five birthday candles lit on top. As she walked toward the dining room, Tajo and Jack followed behind, and Thalia smiled at Neri. As they opened their mouths, looking as though they were about to sing, Neri gasped.

“Nope. No singing, that’s just embarrassing.”

“But… it’s tradition.” Liv looked so heartbroken that Neri caved. Liv’s bottom lip stuck out and quivered, her eyes threatening tears.

“I despise crying more. Okay, but sing fast.” Neri pulled Liv in for a hug and laughed when Liv’s teary eyed expression disappeared.

As the ‘Happy Birthday’ song chorused through the house, Hunter didn’t look away from Neri’s face. Although she hated the attention and all the fuss being about her, she viewed the people singing, laughing, and celebrating her day with such love it brought a smile to Hunter’s face.

The song ended and Kai, surprising them, pulled Neri into a hug. “Happy birthday, Neri.”

“Thanks, Kai. And sorry… about the… body.”

“Well, at least you wrapped it in a tarp.” Kai’s dry statement made him laugh.

“Make a wish, moró.”

Neri closed her eyes and for a few seconds, concentrated on her wish. When she opened her eyes, a small smile tilted up her mouth, and she leaned forward. With ease, she blew out all the candles and laughed at the cheers that spread through the room.

Hunter watched the wonder written on Neri’s face as she cut the cake and handed out slices for everyone. She fit into their lives with ease, and he didn’t want to live without her.

Then his thoughts about marriage, proposing to Neri too soon, and thinking about the date of the wedding and where they would hold it and who they would get to officiate the ceremony. All of this before he asked her.

Pulled from his thoughts when Jade still on her sugar high, bounced over holding several huge boxes and stuffed bags, he grabbed her empty plate, gathering several others scattered around, and headed toward the kitchen to throw them away.

He sat next to Neri, or as close as he managed with the gifts piled around her, and watched as the rest encouraged her to open her presents.

“Which one first?” Neri asked.

Over the next few minutes, Jade placed presents on her lap and they all watched as Neri opened them. She slid her finger underneath the tape and with ease and pried the flaps of the wrapping paper open. She flattened out the paper and laid it on the now empty dining room table before she looked at her gift.

“While we have all night, if you open every present like that, we’ll be here all night and most of tomorrow,” Drew grumbled.

Neri met Drew’s eyes and reached for another present without looking at the one she first opened. And with a smile, unwrapped the present with slow, deliberate movements without moving her gaze from Drew’s.

After several minutes, Drew huffed and walked away.

“Neri, queen of sass,” Aubrey laughed.