Page 184 of If You Claim Me

“Not in front of the children.” I elbow my husband in the ribs.

“Victor, can you get the door, please?” Connor asks.

“On it.”

A door opens. Based on the smell, we’re in the garage.

“Are you ready?” Connor asks.

“Show her, show her, show her!” Everly claps.

Connor drops his hands.

“Happy birthday!” the three of them shout.

In the middle of the garage filled with outrageously expensive cars is… “Betty?”

“It’s Betty!” Everly gazelle leaps across the expansive space and jazz hands her way around my car.

“I thought maybe she went to the car graveyard.” When Connor handed me the keys to one of his carsand told me it was mine until further notice, I wasn’t totally convinced Betty would make it out of her makeover.

“I would never.” Connor looks aghast.

I arch a brow.

“Okay. I would, but I know how much you love Betty.” He takes my hand and pulls me over to my car.

“She looks brand-new,” I marvel. No rust. No missing side mirror.

“That’s because she pretty much is,” Everly says. “I helped pick out the fabric for the driver’s seat.” She opens the door. “Ta-da!”

My seat is covered in a strawberry pattern. The entire interior is brand-new—everything is brand-new.

Connor rubs his hands along his thighs. “Do you like it?”

“I love it!” I throw my arms around him. “Betty was a piece of shit. I can’t even imagine how much it cost to do this.”

“Your happiness is invaluable.” He passes me the fob. “Everything has been updated, so it runs like a new car, even though it’s still Betty. Why don’t we take it for a spin over to the Watering Hole?”

Everly climbs into the back seat. “Get in! Let’s go!”

Victor climbs in beside her, and I slide into the driver’s seat. Connor is comically large in this small four-seater. The engine purrs to life, and I drive my new-old car to the Watering Hole, the Terror’s favorite local pub.

Everly and Victor join Fee, Callie, and Tally, and we settle in with our friends—because of course they’re here. Connor has once again made sure I’m surrounded by love and the family I made for myself. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday celebration.

Afternoon slides into evening. I’ve definitely had far too many margaritas, so I ask Connor to get me a virgin drink. I don’t want to end up spending tomorrow in bed for all the wrong reasons. Flip puts his arm around my shoulder and gives me a side hug.

“Happy birthday, bestie.”

“Thanks for the very ostentatious but hugely appreciated gift.” Flip bought me a deluxe set of all of my favorite board games, designed to look like books. “I can’t wait to put them on my shelves.”

“I’m sure you also can’t wait to kick my ass at all of them.”

“Also that,” I agree.

He glances over at the dart boards where Victor is currently dominating—of course it’s something he’s randomly good at—and the girls are laughing and cheering him on. Callie stares at him with adoration.

Tally excuses herself to the bathroom, and Flip’s eyes follow her. “I’m hammered,” he announces.