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Katy

I ’ve never had a birthday party. My mother never cared to celebrate my birth. I’m not sure I would even know when my birthday was if it wasn’t for my teachers in school celebrating it for me.

The scene around me is a flurry of organized chaos. Annie lives in a house that looks like an ordinary, everyday residence from the outside, but the inside tells a different story. Everything is top-of-the-line, including her fancy Doberman, Candy, who keeps licking my ankles. Blake told me it’s because I used cherry-scented lotion, and Candy loves…well, candy.

Blake also told me a hilarious story of the time Candy stole one of their dildos, and Cole had to chase her around the house trying to get it back. I love Blake. She’s fantastic and doesn’t treat me like a child. The only hesitation when she told me that story was making sure no one else heard and tried to stop her from sharing. I’m going to be a mother. A dildo story is probably the least of my worries at this point.

Mother. I’ve officially decided to keep the baby and plan to tell them tonight. Despite the circumstances that he or she came from, seeing the loving families and relationships around me solidified what I already knew I wanted. How could I not want to bring another life into this incredible group of people? I know it won’t be easy, but Annie, Blake, and Nicole are such amazing role models. I feel confident in my decision and can’t wait to tell them.

“Dempsey, eyes,” Nicole calls from across the room. Mr. Viking bodyguard has followed us around all night. He’s under strict instructions not to let us out of his sight, and he’s taking it very seriously, including being inside Annie and Blake’s massive bedroom with us. Someone must be changing because that’s the code for him to turn and face the wall.

I like when he’s facing away. I can linger a little longer on his large muscular body. At Nicole’s request, he took his hair down. The hairdresser in her wouldn’t allow her to not check out his dirty blond locks, and then she stole his hair tie.

I was envious of her hands and wished I could run my fingers through them.

Down girl.

Man, these pregnancy hormones are no joke.

“I agree.” I jump at Blake’s whisper in my ear.

“You what?” She moves from behind me to stand and gawks at Dempsey’s backside.

“He’s yummy looking.”

“No, I wasn’t…I mean, I was…well…” I drop my head and huff, and hear her snicker.

“It’s written all over your face, Katy. Your cheeks are flushed, and I swear I can see your heart beating through your shirt.” I raise a hand to my cheek and feel the heat. “He’s a very handsome young man.”

“He’s not that young. And even if he was, I’m only barely seventeen and pregnant. They make TV shows about girls in my situation, Blake.”

“Hmm.” She taps her lip, and I don’t like the look on her face. I can tell she’s about to embarrass me. “Hey, Vik the Viking.”

“Blake,” I hiss her name through gritted teeth and grab her arm, trying to pull her anywhere else in the room to avoid this conversation.

“Ma’am?”

“Relax, Katy. He knows how good-looking he is—most men who look like him do. So Vik, how old are you?”

I see the lip twitch he tries so hard to hide when he finds something funny. “I’m twenty-two, ma’am.”

“Excellent. And do you like kids? Ever thought about having a family of your own?”

I could die right now. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. He knows she’s asking these questions for me. I’m standing right next to Blake, and I’m probably as red as a tomato.

“I like kids just fine. A family is always the dream, but dreams can be futile.”

“Huh. Interesting. Thank you for your answers.” I don’t know if I like his last answer. There was a hint of sadness that I’m not sure Blake picked up on. I can’t help but hang on to his every last word and notice the slight change in his pitch.

“All clear, Dempsey,” Nicole says nonchalantly from across the room. She has no idea of our conversation as she was in the bathroom. No clue when Viktor turns, and his eyes immediately meet mine, searching. What are you searching for, Viktor?

Instinctively, I cup my non-existent stomach, and his eyes fall to my hand. Of course, he knows about my pregnancy. When his eyes roam back up to meet mine, there’s a new look on his face before he turns his gaze back to the middle of the room.

Was that guilt? He has nothing to be or feel guilty about.

“Katy. Get your young ass in this closet, and let’s find you something to wear.” Blake swats at my butt, and I give Viktor one last glance before disappearing into a room that might as well be a department store.

? ? ? ? ?

On a normal day, I wouldn’t be allowed into Midnight Moonshine, and I guess, technically, I’m not going in . The restaurant is open to anyone, but the dance floor is eighteen and over, except on Sunday afternoons when family dancing is allowed.

As we walk into a foyer that looks like a movie theater entrance, I notice a sign that reads, “Restaurant Closed for a Private Party.” I hope that’s not for me. I can’t imagine Tucker would close his entire restaurant on a busy Friday night…for me.

“I’ve been told you need to close your eyes, but if you’re not comfortable with it, you can just walk in.” I know Spencer’s offer comes from a place of her own comfort level.

“I’m comfortable. And I know I’ve told you already, but you look beautiful, Spencer. I feel bad for the guys.” Spencer is wearing a form-fitting, devil-red dress with a halter top and a hemline that’s borderline sinful. Red is usually a color that someone with Spencer’s complexion can’t pull off, but somehow, it highlights her dark strawberry-blonde hair, that is down and perfectly styled thanks to Nicole, and looks absolutely gorgeous. I’m glad I’m spending the night at Justin’s house because I don’t want to be anywhere near her and a bedroom.

“As do you, Katy.” Blake was all too happy to play dress up with me. She was nostalgic looking at some of the clothes in her closet and wondering if she’ll ever get to wear them again. She picked a dark pink strapless dress for me with a sweetheart neckline. The bottom of the dress flows down to just above my knees, and Blake made sure to point out that it has pockets. She practically squealed while showing me.

While my eyes wandered their amazing closet of shoes, I fell in love with a pair of sparkly black four inch heels; I didn’t want to look like a baby doe all night wearing shoes I had no right trying to pretend I could walk in. I opted for a two-inch strappy sandal instead, and I’m glad I did. This place is huge and I’ll most likely end up doing a lot of walking.

Tucker walks out from a pair of tinted glass doors and looks handsome. His usual attire of dark jeans and a button-up shirt has been replaced with dark gray slacks. He has one of those string tie things that cowboys wear in the movies over his maroon button-up shirt.

He walks up to Spencer and me and removes his hat to bow at us.

“Well, look at my two favorite girls. Absolutely stunning. Let me look at you. Spin for me.” Spencer’s smile is bright as she spins, and Tucker’s eyes beam with pride. When I turn, Tucker whistles, and I swat his chest at his ridiculousness.

“Please tell me that’s not for me?” I gesture toward the closed restaurant sign, and he looks at me like I’m crazy.

“Of course it is.”

“Tucker, that’s too much. You can’t close your entire restaurant for me to eat dinner here.” He rolls his eyes and steps behind me. Placing his hands over my eyes, he slowly walks me forward. I hear the door open, and the air shifts. Soft music plays around me, and it smells heavenly.

“Of course I can. It’s the perk of being the owner. And it’s not just dinner, Katy.” He removes his hands and steps back. “Open your eyes, birthday girl.”

I open them, blinking a few times because I don’t believe what I’m seeing. The entire restaurant is draped in pink and gold. There are unicorn balloons, centerpieces, and even a cake. The delicious smell is various mac n cheeses based on the signs in front of the serving platters.

“It wouldn’t be a Katy party if there wasn’t mac n cheese.” I spin and throw myself into Justin’s arms. Tears prickle my eyes as he wraps his arms around me. “Happy Birthday, Katy.”

“Justin. How? Why?”

He laughs, and I feel the vibrations on my cheek. “The how would be this cowboy standing next to us. The why is because you deserve it.”

“You’re special, Katy, and deserve to be celebrated.” I release Justin and throw my arms around Tucker. I shake my head into his chest.

“I don’t deserve all of this.” Tucker grabs my shoulders and pulls me away at arm’s length.

“You deserve this and so much more. I heard about your history with Justin, and I know what happened before you came to live with Spencer. You’re a strong, resilient woman, and we are honored to have you in our lives. We’re going to celebrate your life, and you’re going to eat your mac n cheese and unicorn cake with a smile.”

“Can it be a teary smile?”

I’m pulled away from Tucker into Axel’s broad chest. “It can even be a snotty smile, Katy girl. We’ll still love you.” Love me?

“Nope. We aren’t doing that. I just felt you get stiff. We love you and all of your stubborn brattiness. Don’t ever doubt that.” I know Axel means every word he says; it’s just sometimes hard to believe. After so many years of feeling unloved, these random adults took me in on the worst day of my life, and they haven’t looked back once. I’m the same person in Spencer’s house as I was in the apartment I grew up in, but I never felt loved there. I barely felt cared for.

Once again, I’m pulled from one embrace into another. Well, two others. Miller and Lincoln sandwich me between them, Miller to my front and Lincoln to my back.

“Katy doesn’t think we love her,” Axel tattles.

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t, but your body language did.” I can’t argue with him there.

“Okay, okay. You all love me.” I shift away from Lincoln and Miller and wave my hands in the air. “I’m a lovable, adorable, angsty teenager. A pregnant one that really wants to eat her weight in mac n cheese until she’s about to pop and then top it off with unicorn cake that better be strawberry flavored because that’s the only acceptable way.”

“Told ya,” Axel boasts.

“What? Told who, what?” There are grumbles and sour faces all around me.

“Axel here,” Tucker throws a thumb his way, “said you’d want strawberry. We all disagreed.”

“All?”

“Yes. We thought you’d want chocolate.” Lincoln plays with the cuffs on his silver dress shirt paired handsomely with black slacks.

“So there’s no strawberry cake?” I try to keep the disappointment out of my tone but I fail.

Miller huffs. “No, there’s a strawberry cake and a chocolate cake. Axel was persistent.”

I step over to Axel, who’s wearing a purple dress shirt with cuffed sleeves and navy dress pants. It suits him and his personality perfectly.

Lifting on my toes, I kiss his cheek and whisper shout so everyone can hear me. “That’s why you’re my favorite.” His face beams as I skip off toward the food table and hear the gasps and commotion behind me. They’re fun to rile up and so easy.

Dinner is amazing. I stuff myself with the most delicious mac n cheese I’ve ever eaten, but no matter how good it is, nothing will ever compare to the blue and orange box that Justin made me the first day I wandered into his apartment.

When it’s time for dessert, as promised, there are two identical unicorn cakes. As I blow out the candles on both, because they insisted on lighting both, I decide it’s time to tell them.

“Before we eat these, I’d like to make an announcement.” Everyone in the room turns their attention to me. This is my family—the one the universe made me wait almost seventeen years for. Not a single one of them is my blood, but it doesn’t matter to any of them, and it definitely doesn’t matter to me.

“I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. I’ve shared the worst day of my life with some of you…and now I share the best day with all of you. And because of you and the support you’ve provided me, I’ve decided to keep the baby.”

They all stare at me with smiles of admiration. I don’t deserve any of them.