Page 61 of The Comeback Road (Leaving #2)

Jace

Two years later

The soft hum of chatter filled the room as I stood by the door, a wide grin plastered on my face as chatter filled the space.

I adjusted the colorful balloons, glancing at the clock.

I had planned the surprise party for my wife for weeks, wanting to celebrate not just her birthday, but everything we had built together.

Every laugh, every tear, every late-night conversation that had led us to being there, together.

When the door swings open, a chorus of “Surprise!” erupted, and Lexie stepped inside, her eyes widening in shock. She looked stunning, and the look on her face made all the planning and kickback from the guys worth it.

“Husband, you did this?” Lexie exclaimed, disbelief and joy mingling in her voice.

“Only the best for you, Starlight,” I said, stepping forward so I could pull her to me. I wanted to feel her, and I loved the way she melted against me, her smile infectious.

“I can’t believe you did all this. It’s amazing.” She laughed quietly, pulling back to meet my gaze. Every part of her lit up that room.

“I had to make it special. You deserve it all,” I replied, brushing a strand of her perfect-colored hair behind her ear.

Just then, I caught sight of Luke across the room.

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching us with a weird look of distaste.

While I’d grown used to his presence, it didn’t mean I had to like him.

“Happy birthday, Lexie!” Jess called out as she walked by, giving her a quick hug.

Jess and Lexie had become close in the last few years.

They understood each other in ways some of us didn’t.

Jess pulled my wife in for a hug, and I noticed that Luke’s expression had soured even more when she came over to us.

The look he shot Jess could curdle milk, but she seemed oblivious to it—or just didn’t care.

“Best birthday ever,” Lexie whispered. And in that moment, as we stood wrapped in each other’s arms in a space full of our closest friends, it still felt like we were the only two people in the room.

“Happy birthday, my life, my love, my Starlight.”

With her radiant smile and the warmth of our friends surrounding us, I knew, without a doubt, that we were just getting started.

The End