When I woke up the next morning, I rolled over to kiss the woman next to me. There was an ache in my body, reminding me of what happened last night. It wasn't the kind that made me just remember what happened all night last night, but the kind that made me wince when I moved. Bo yawned next to me as I whispered 'Happy Birthday,' into her ear.

Last night was a lot of things - everything from exhausting to perfect and all of the things in between. I didn't know which category to label it in other than, 'something that gets better every time we do it.' Other than our time in bed last night, the house was silent. Collins slept all night without trouble. For some reason, she has been sleeping in her crib without an issue.

Everyone said there were difficulties to being a first-time parent. From what I have heard, babies never sleep. That wasn't the case for our baby, though. She is my little bundle of perfection. Somehow after getting back with Bo, my life has been a cycle of never-ending greatness.

"How quickly can you get ready?" I mumbled into Bo's ear.

She hummed. "Why?"

"I have a surprise," I checked my phone. "I'll get the kids ready."

"Give me twenty minutes," she yawned.

"Happy birthday," I kissed the top of her head.

The sun was peaking through the small opening on the curtains. It was noon. What worried me is I haven't heard a single peep from Chase. Nothing was coming from down the hall. I furrowed my eyebrows before sliding out of bed. When I stepped into the nursery, I saw Chase holding Collins.

"What's up, kid?"

He shrugged. "I woke up early and I didn't want her to wake up momma."

I leaned my head against the corridor. "We are taking your mom out. Go get ready and I will dress her. Everyone will be at the restaurant in an hour."

"Everyone?"

"John, Riley, Miles, and Trevor."

"What about Aunt Rosie?"

I shake my head. "Her morning sickness has been hitting her hard. So, she isn't coming. I told her we could have a separate party."

He handed Collins to me. "I'll meet you downstairs in fifteen."

"Perfect."

I laid Collins on her changing table to change her diaper. Bo made fun of me for hours the first time I had to change Collins's diaper. All I did was gag. My curly-haired girl had to take over, so I pleaded with Collins as I grabbed a diaper to have went pee and nothing more.

"Hello, little miss," I smiled at her.

She hummed as I grabbed her a change of clothes. Thankfully, we didn't have any stinky diapers. I slipped her arms into a white fluffy onesie. The weather outside was harsh, and I didn't want her to get cold. Bo came into the nursery with a bottle.

"You look beautiful."

The gray peacoat wrapped around her waist was soft as I pulled her into my chest. Her curls fell down the back, resting above her black jeans. She gathered Collins into her arms, telling me to get ready. I must have forgotten I was only a pair of shorts.

"I love you," I kissed her cheek.

"I love you."

After slipping into a pair of joggers, I pulled the hoodie Bo loved most over my head. Everyone was waiting downstairs on the couch. Bo was feeding Collins a bottle as she laid inside of her car seat. As I snatched the keys off of the counter, I turned to everyone.

"Is everybody ready?"

On the drive, John called to say everyone was waiting. We planned on Rosie's dinner. Bo clapped as we pulled into the parking lot. Chase has never eaten here, so I was excited to bring them both. My girl loved eating here. She said their ranch was better than mine, even if my bar supplied her more.

I parked the car, telling Bo I would grab the baby. She slipped out of the passenger seat, immediately wrapping John in an embrace as he stepped out of his car. Trevor was waiting inside with Miles and Marti.

From what I heard from Miles, he was already in love. Marti meant a lot to him, and she has been staying over so much, he doesn't understand why she doesn't move in. It is probably because he hasn't asked.

With the car seat in my hand and my family by my side, we stepped into the dinner. Miles stood from his seat to tell Bo happy birthday and press a kiss on her head. She thanked everyone for showing up. Everyone was excited to see her. They even had gifts in their hands.

"You guys didn't have to get me gifts."

"Yes, we did," Miles chuckled. "You always get us the best stuff."

"You do a lot for us," Trevor added. "You deserve it."

John shoved his gift toward her. "Riley helped me with it, but we didn't wrap it."

A smile crossed her lips as she looked down at the photo album he presented her. Pictures of us at the gym filled the pages. Photos from our trip and memories from my fights. Everything sat in between the pages.

"Oh," she sighed. "I love it so much. Thank you both."

Miles got her a necklace that splits in half. His pendant says best and hers says friends. I know she loved that one. He will always mean the world to her. Trevor got her a bedazzled ranch bottle. My eyebrows stitched in confusion as she hung it off of her keychain.

"Where did you get that?"

"Rosie did it for me."

John's head snapped to look at him. "So, you have been hanging out with my sister?"

He cleared his throat as he paled. "Uh - she just helped me with this."

Bo stifled laughter. "So whose baby is it? Trevors or?"

I gave her a high-five as John's face went white. "We need a paternity test."

"If it comes out with black hair then we know the baby is Trevors," I shrugged. "So, just wait until then."

The restaurant filled with laughter as I excused myself to use the restroom. A young lady was bringing drinks to the table as I left. Hopefully, no one at the diner would get annoyed by our laughter. It was at full capacity today and I didn't want to cause a scene yelling at someone who would tell us to pipe down.

When I pushed out of the bathroom as I dried my hands on my pants. Bo was approaching me. My chest contracted as I noticed the familiar look of panic on her face. She stopped me from moving any further as she tried to smile at me.

"What is going on?"

She sucked in a breath. "Luke is out there."

My mouth shut as I clenched my jaw. "It is okay. I won't do anything."

"Promise?" She looked at me, knowing I would never break a promise. "Kinnick, please promise me. I know it is a lot to ask, but the kids are here."

I looked up at the ceiling. "I promise."

She sighed. "Thank you."

Her fingers laced with mine as she pulled me toward the table. I didn't attempt to find him when we came out of the hallway. Everyone was looking at me because they knew. Anxiety was brewing in my stomach. I tried to focus on everyone, and what they were saying, but I couldn't hear anything over the anger.

My hand gripped the back of Bo's chair as I laid an arm to rest behind her. I know I told myself not to look for him, but I did, and I found him. He sat with a group of friends or whatever in the fuck they were.

"Kinnick."

I snapped out of thought to look at Bo. "Yeah?"

She ran a hand over my thigh. "Do you want to leave?"

"It's your birthday lunch."

"I don't care," her head moved back and forth. "I want to leave if you are upset. I won't make you sit in an impossible situation."

My chest moved up and down. "I am okay."

"No," she mumbled. "You are not."

"I made a promise."

"Are you sure everything is going to be okay?"

"I think so."

No. It is not going to be okay because he keeps looking over here, and all I can think about is what he did. So, no. It is not going to be okay.