Things with Jensen had been much smoother sailing since the post-holidays madness. I spent a couple of nights a week at his house. We flew to New York once a month to see Colton, and he started spending a weekend here every month. I knew Jensen wanted more time with him, but he also didn’t want to interfere with Colton’s schooling. Vanessa had mellowed out. I wasn’t sure if it was the large quantities of Xanax she was taking or what, but she stopped fighting us when we came into town. After eight months, she must have finally decided I wasn’t going anywhere. And I wasn’t.
“Thanks for dropping me off,” I said.
I was trying not to be nervous even though it was really my first official day teaching high school students. I’d been a TA in college and taught my own introductory history class, but for some reason, high school had felt more daunting than college. Maybe because I’d found out who I was in college, and I had been so scared of high school.
“Have a good first day,” he told me, leaning in and giving me a lingering kiss.
“Is anyone actually ready for their first day of high school?”
“You survived once before. You can probably make it a second time.”
“And with the right brother this time.”
“Ha-ha!” he said with a roll of his eyes. “I’d better be the right brother.”
“The one and only,” I whispered against his lips.
“Good. Now, get in there, and then later, we can enact all my naughty teacher fantasies.”
I blushed despite myself. It didn’t matter how much sex we’d had. I couldn’t seem to keep it together.
“God, I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too.”
I kissed him once more and then hopped out of the truck.
I adjusted my skirt and took in the world I was about to enter. I never thought that I’d be back. It was kind of cool to think that I could start over here. I entered the building with more optimism than I’d thought possible.
The day went by lightning fast. Way faster than I remembered high school going when I had been there. But, before I knew it, my first day was over. I had over a hundred and fifty names to remember that had completely flitted out of my brain. But I’d survived.
There was Jensen, waiting for me, when I left. Of course, he was in the flashy Corvette. Bright red and low to the ground with the top down. I shook my head and laughed as I approached the car that all the students were staring at.
“Miss me?” he asked with a grin.
“Every moment.”
“Good.” He popped open the passenger door, and I dropped inside. “So, where do you want to go to celebrate your birthday?”
I dropped my head into my hands and groaned. “Oh my God, how did you find out?”
“Heidi.” He sat down in the driver’s seat and then obnoxiously revved the engine.
“Bitch.” I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t know. Let’s stay in and work on those fantasies.”
He grinned. “Thought you’d say that.”
The drive back to his house was unbelievably short in his new car. It blew my hair all around my face, but it was exhilarating. I could see why he loved the thing, and he was already talking about getting something sleek and distinctly European. He was addicted.
He parked in the garage and took my hand as I stepped out of the car.
“I am so not a birthday person,” I informed him with a sigh. “I do like cake though.”
“I was made aware of this. But I don’t care. You’ll celebrate with me if I want you to.”
“Just be warned, I will retaliate!”
He laughed and drew me in for a kiss. “I’ll take all the punishment you’re willing to offer.”
We stepped in through the garage and straight into the kitchen.
Jensen flipped the lights, and suddenly, a whole group of people jumped up and screamed, “Surprise!”
I put my hand over my mouth. “Oh my God!”
There were party streamers all over his kitchen and out through the foyer. A giant party cake that read Happy Birthday, Emery with a bunch of lit candles sat in the middle of the island. And all around it were my friends and family and Jensen’s family.
My heart expanded enough to hold them all. I might not have been a birthday person before, but today changed that. I’d never had good birthdays growing up. They’d always been filled with disappointment—kids missing parties, no one showing up, and all that. But right here was exactly what I’d always wanted.
Heidi was jumping up and down next to Landon. They both looked ecstatic that they had been able to surprise me. Austin was across the room from Julia but kept glancing her way. She was making a point not to look at him so much that it was clear she wanted to look over. Instead, she beamed extra hard at me. Morgan was leaning into Patrick, and Sutton was holding her new baby boy, Jason, in her arms. Maverick was at her side, indulging her. Then, there was Kimber, Noah, Lilyanne, and Bethany all standing to one side with my mother, of all people.