My birthday was right around the corner as November creeped in. In one week, on the eighteenth, I would finally be turning seventeen.

I felt like I had been sixteen my whole life and although not much would change, Jax and I would be the same age. He wouldn't be turning eighteen until February.

As the days neared I counted every second until my birthday. It would be yet another year

for me that I'd be living without my mom by my side. Another birthday she would miss.

Getting into Jax's car with Hunter already in the back seat, I sighed in exhaustion.

"How was your day?" Hunter asked me as Jax drove away from the school.

"Long," I tie my hair into a pony tail. "I failed my math exam."

"What?" Jax jerked his head. "That's the easiest subject."

I gave him a face filled with disgust. "Math is the worst. How are you even good in math if you are failing it?"

"Who said I'm failing it?"

"No way you're passing math and Emma isn't." Hunter laughed.

"Let me see your grades." I reached my hand out. As we stopped at a red light, he took his phone out of his pocket and passed it over to me.

I opened the app we used for school to check our grades and gasp as I stared at the screen.

"He's only failing Spanish." I tell Hunter. "How are you failing Spanish?"

"How are you failing math?"

"Spanish is so easy!" I exclaim. "I thought you were like...failing stuff, you know."

"Uh, I don't actually," He glances at me. "Do you think I'm dumb or something?"

"No," I hesitate. "Not necessarily dumb. Just maybe...lazy?" I say, making it come out more in a questioning matter.

"He's lowkey a geek. You've been dating two seconds and you haven't learned that? Come on, Emma keep up." Hunter jumps in.

Rolling my eyes, I shoot Jax an awkward smile and he shrugs it off.

"Definitely not a geek." Jax protests.

"Yeah, I don't see it." I shake my head.

"How could you when you have his dick so far up your ass?"

"Yeah, fuck you too!" Jax shouts back and Hunter flips him off.

He steps out of the car saying his goodbyes and goes into the house. Once he's inside, Jax leans in and surprises me with a kiss.

"He's never going to accept us." I utter.

"He's your brother. I'd be surprised if he did."

Silence filled the car as Jax kissed my cheek and I sighed, leaning my head on the seat.

"So, I've been thinking." I begin.

"That's not good."

Chuckling, I slap his chest. "I'm serous. Since my birthday is coming up I have the perfect idea for a present I can give myself. Or maybe if my dad wants to, you know, be generous."

"I don't think it works like that." He jokes.

"Jax!" I sigh. "Listen."

"Okay, okay go on." He leans back in his chair and watches me.

"I think we should go away." I grin. When he raises his eyebrows in confusion I continue. "Like out of town. Let's get out of Boston and go somewhere."

"What?" Jax chuckles. "Where?"

"New york, or California, maybe even Canada. I don't know, I don't care. I just want to go somewhere, the two of us." I tell him.

"As fun and amazing as that sounds I don't think your dad or even Hunter will let that happen." He explains.

"You don't know that." I cross my arms.

"Your brother is staring out the window as we speak in my car and you want to tell him we're going away?"

Looking out the glass, I get a peek of Hunter's face poking out of his curtain. He quickly moves back and closes his curtain as if he wasn't just spying on us.

"But it's my birthday." I pout.

"We'll do something else, I promise." He kisses my hand. "We can go ice skating or I'll take you out to eat."

"My idea sounds better."

It was never my intention to sound ungrateful of what I would receive from Jax or anyone else. The idea of staying in Boston gave me a dreading feeling.

I never went anywhere. Always stuck in the same place doing the same thing. Wishing upon a change wasn't a crime.

"Emma," He sighs. "I would give you the world if I could, you know that bu-"

"I know," I cut him off. "I didn't mean to sound like a bitch. I just wanted to do something different for once."

"We will." He assures. "I'll figure it out."

"It's fine," I shake my head. "I'll be happy with whatever I get."

He smiles and kisses my hand once more before moving back in his seat.

"Do you want to come in?" I ask. "My dad's probably working."

"I can't," He shakes his head. "I have to look after Amanda but I'll call you tonight."

"Okay," I give him a kiss. "Drive safe, I love you."

"I love you, too."

Stepping foot into my house, I am welcomed by warm, cozy air. I take off my jacket and throw it on the couch.

I was about to head into my room when I noticed a purse sitting on the coffee table. There was a slight muffled noise coming from the kitchen.

"Dad?" I call out. "You home?"

Silence.

"Dad?!" I yell out, louder.

"In the kitchen!" He calls out.

Walking towards the kitchen, my dad's laugh echoed through the walls. I furrowed my eyebrows as I heard a females laugh and I immediately picked up my pace.

"Dad?" I look between the short woman standing next to my dad, a smile plastered on their faces. "What's going on?" I look at both of them.

His face falls. "Hey, kiddo. I thought you would be going to Jax's."

"Not today, I have a lot of homework and he's taking care of Amanda." I tell him. "Who's this?"

I knew exactly who it was.

Her body becomes tense as she looks between my dad and I and she clears her throat.

"I'm Joyce," She puts on a smile. "It's so nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you."

She walks over to me and reaches out to shake my hand. Hesitating, I look at my dad and back at Joyce. This was the woman he's been seeing.

I had so many emotions, I didn't know which was right to feel. I was happy for my dad but angry that he brought her to our home without even a heads up.

I felt hurt he was going to hide it from me seeing as he thought I would be going to Jax's house.

"Nice to meet you, too." I give her a small smile and shake her hand.

"I-uhm," My dad stutters. "H-How was school?"

"Okay, I guess." I stand there uncomfortably as they look at me and back at each other. "I'm uh, I have a lot of homework, so I'll leave you guys to finish...uhm, this."

Turning around my dad calls out for me but I shut my door and sit on my bed. I wondered how Hunter reacted when he saw them.

My heart was racing so fast I could feel it vibrating through my body. My head was spinning.

I kept my composure and grabbed my phone. Unlocking it, I open Hunter's number and begin to send him a text.

Did you meet Joyce? I text.

I laid down and started scrolling through my phone waiting for Hunter to answer back. I was in no mood to leave my room and have to see Joyce and my dad together. It all felt too sudden for my liking.

This was probably what Hunter felt like seeing Jax and I together.

Where are you? He replied.

In my room. I answered. Did you go into the kitchen?

Yes, I met her. He texts.

And?

And what? He questions.

Rolling my eyes, I continue to type. What did you think of her?

She's okay.

Did he tell you he was bringing her over? I ask.

After waiting five minutes, he still wasn't responding, I began doing my homework. I was struggling to do my math homework when suddenly, I heard the door shut close.

Getting up, I walk down the hall and see my dad walking away from the door. He seems startled when his eyes land on mine, but he soon grabs a hold of himself and smiles.

"Emma," He gulps. "Listen, I-"

"Dad," I cut him off. "It's cool."

Lies.

"I'm stupid for ever bringing her here." He says.

"Dad, trust me. I'm not mad, it's whatever."

More lies.

"I should have told you she was coming by but it was last minute and I thought you would be at Jax's place and then Hunter came in, I am so sorry." He runs on.

"Dad, breathe," I awkwardly chuckle. "It wasn't exactly pleasant meeting her like that but it's understandable. Just, I don't know maybe a heads up next time?"

"Yes, for sure." He nods his head.

He was about to walk off when he turns back around and scratches the back of his head. "I was wondering, Joyce and I have like a date tonight." He breathes in. "Maybe you could help me pick something out to wear. I'm not really good at that stuff. Your mom, she uh, always used to pick out my outfits."

Not the best timing to ask for help but I'd do anything for him. Even if it meant pretending.

"Uh, yeah sure." I smile.

I walked back to my room and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Sighing, I sit on my bed and stare off into the distance.

I was slowly accepting the fact that my dad had a right to move on with his life.

I wouldn't be another Hunter and stand in the way of my dad and his choices. I chose to believe he knew right from wrong.

I knew he wouldn't let someone in without him really knowing they were going to be good to him and his family.

He, along with myself, had the chance of being happy and neither of us would let anything come between that anymore.