Jace

My head felt like there was a jackhammer slamming into my brain a billion times. I groaned, peeled my eyes open, and noticed I wasn't in my room. Where the hell am I?

I rubbed my face and sat up slowly to find Jules and Jas looking at me with their arms folded across their chests. I blinked a few times while figuring out why my girl and her sister gave me the evil eye. "Where am I?"

"You're in my room since you passed out in Juju's car," Jas snapped.

"What?" I squinted my eyes and cocked my head.

"You called me from the car drunk last night. I picked you up after you rambled about me having the hots for Braydon," I said.

I stared at Jules and blinked before shaking my head. "What?"

Jules nodded before shoving Jas out of her room and closing the door. She walked over to the bed and sat beside me. "You called me drunk and told Braydon you weren't dancing with him because he wasn't me. And you called him ugly. Then, you thought I wanted Braydon and begged me not to break up with you. No offense, but I don't like Braydon or Dallas like that."

I covered my face in humiliation. "Oh, god."

"Jace, what's going on? I've never heard you talk dirty to me or accuse me of liking your brother."

I scrubbed my face in frustration before dropping my hands. "We were talking at the bar. Braydon asked me how things were going with us. So I told him. Then, Dallas talked about Darby. The conversation got weird."

"How weird?"

"Braydon mentioned Emerald was his forever. Dallas avoided the topic like the plague. He said he prefers the present and not the future. Then, he refused to elaborate and kept drinking."

"Is Darby okay?"

"Dallas said she was. But I think Dallas is avoiding the idea that Darby's leukemia might return. I want to discuss last night, but my head is pounding. Plus, I need to go home to face the firing squad."

"Call me when you feel better."

I nodded before tugging on my shoes and heading to the bathroom. Once I finished, I kissed Jules before heading home to face Mom and Dad. I'm twenty-two, but it doesn't mean I don't respect my parents.

I entered through the kitten door to find my parents and Braydon sitting at the table before approaching them. "Before we discussed last night, I need some ibuprofen and water."

My parents nodded in response.

I gulp two pills and chugged water before joining my family at the table, except for Dallas. He must still be sleeping.

"Braydon told us what happened last night. Marla's call confirmed it," Dad said.

"Are you mad or disappointed?" I asked.

"Neither." My dad shook his head. "Jace, you're twenty-two and legal to drink. Braydon was your designated driver. It would upset us if you acted irresponsibly while out. And Braydon filled us in on your phone call to Julia." He grinned.

I rested my elbows on the table and covered my face to hide the redness.

"Jace, it's okay. However, you might want to keep your personal thoughts to yourself. I doubt Marla and Dexter would approve of them," Mom said.

I groaned before lowering my hands. "Trust me. This is not a conversation I want to have with my family or anyone for that matter. Can we not talk about it?"

My parents nodded in agreement.

"Once your brother wakes up and feels okay, we go to dinner to celebrate his and Braydon's birthday," Dad said.

"Can I bring Jules?"

"I don't see why not since Darby and Emerald are coming." Dad shrugged.

"I'll let Jules know. Right now, I need my bed." I got up and headed upstairs. Once my head hit the pillow, I was out.

*******
Julia

Thanks to Jace, I got to endure a lecture about drinking from my parents. No offense, but drinking doesn't interest me, unlike the kids at school. I know my classmates experimented with alcohol, sex, pot, and other things. It didn't mean I had to partake.

After listening to my parents tell me the dos and don'ts of drinking, I assured them they didn't need to worry. I had no interest in it. Then, my phone pinged with a text message from Jace inviting me to dinner with his family. I accepted and headed upstairs to get ready.

While I was getting ready, Jas entered my room with a gift-wrapped box and handed it to me.

I took it from her. "What's this?"

"It's a gift for Dallas."

"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"

Jas folded her arms across her chest. "Because his family didn't invite me to his birthday dinner. It's not like they had a reason since I'm no one special."

"Jas."

"It's fine, Juju. Tell Dallas I said happy birthday." Jas turned on her heels and left my bedroom.

I knitted my brows and looked at the gift in my hands before texting Jace and telling him I couldn't make it. As much as I love Jace, I couldn't go to dinner with his family while Jas sat at home. It wasn't right.

*******
Jace

My phone pinged with a message from Jules. I furrowed my brows and headed to her house. She answered the door when I knocked.

"I got your message. What do you mean you can't come to dinner?"

Jules stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind her. "It's not right for your family to invite me and not Jas."

"I thought that was a given."

"What?"

"Jas is always welcome to our birthdays."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I already texted Casp and invited him. I figured you would have told Jas. That's why I didn't say anything."

"Great." Jules sighed.

"You didn't tell Jas, did you?"

Jules shook her head.

"Is it because of Dallas and Darby?"

She nodded.

"I thought so. Dallas and Darby wouldn't do anything to make Jas uncomfortable. It wouldn't bode well with my parents."

Jules smiled slightly. "Let me get Jas so we can leave."

I nodded and followed Jules into the house. I invited Charlie to join us. She declined because of work. At least Jas won't feel like a ninth wheel with Casp there.

*******
Jasmine

I sat on my bed, scrolling through my phone, when Juju walked into my room with a smile. "What's with the smile?"

"You're coming to the birthday dinner."

"I'm what?"

Juju nodded. "Yep. Jace said it was a given you would come. So get dressed. We'll wait for you downstairs." She turned on her heels and headed downstairs.

I got up, pulled a simple dark blue dress from my closet, and changed into it. Then, I slipped my feet into matching flat shoes before grabbing a light jacket since the weather had turned cooler. I came downstairs and walked toward Juju and Jace. Juju handed me Dallas's present so I could give it to him.

"Ready?" Jace asked.

We nodded and left with Jace. When we arrived at the restaurant, Casp exited his car and walked toward us.

"Charlie couldn't make it because of work," Jace mentioned.

Casp's face fell slightly before he schooled it. Juju and I caught it and exchanged glances.

"She got stuck trying to clean up a business owner's reputation after his wife caught him with his pants down, if you catch my drift."

We started laughing before heading inside. Jace led us to a private room where his family, Darby and Emerald, sat at a table. We walked over and found a seat. I ended up sitting between Darby and Juju.

Darby looked at me and smiled. "I like your dress, Jas."

"Thanks. I wasn't sure what to wear tonight," I said.

"It's perfect for the occasion. Most girls would wear a fancy dress, forgetting it's not prom." She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

My lips curled slightly. "Tell me about it. I like your outfit," I said, pointing to her simple skirt and top.

"Less is always more."

"I agree." I nodded.

Darby and I talked, which was odd. We never talked much. But I can understand why Dallas loves her. She was kind when she could have been a bitch to me.

*******
Julia

Everyone talked before the server brought our food. I glanced at Darby and Jas talking, which surprised the hell out of me since they had never spoken a lot before. My eyes shifted to Dallas, who joined in the conversation.

Jace leaned into my ear and lowered his voice. "What has your attention?"

"Jas is talking to Dallas and Darby."

Jace glanced at the three of them before looking at me and nodding, which meant we would dissect this situation later when we were alone. We also needed to discuss his lack of filter when he drinks since he likes to unburden his soul.

Once the food arrived, we ate and continued our conversations. I talked to Hazel, Emerald, and Braydon while Jace, Casp, and Bradley discussed work. I swear they never discuss anything other than work when celebrating an occasion.

"How's college life, Julia?" Emerald asked.

"I regret taking six classes this semester," I said.

Braydon and Hazel laughed.

"How did I manage six classes a day when I can barely manage six a week?"

"Because college isn't like high school. Maybe ease back on your class load. No one says you need to rush through college," Emerald said.

"True. Plus, I'll see Jace more." I smiled.

They nodded in agreement.

After dinner, the server brought a cake to the table. We sang Happy Birthday before giving Dallas and Braydon their gifts. Jas asked Dallas not to open his gift until later. I understood why. Who wants to have their crush open their gift in front of everyone?

Once we finished our slice of cake, Jace, Jas, and I stood to leave.

"We can take Jas home if you want?" Bradley offered.

"Are you sure?" Jace asked.

"Yeah, it's fine since she lives next door."

We glanced at Jas.

"Did you want to stay?" I asked.

"I wouldn't mind." Jas shrugged.

"Okay. I'll tell Mom and Dad that Hazel and Bradley will bring you home."

Jas nodded as she sat back down.

Jace threaded his fingers with mine and led me from the restaurant to the car. We climbed in and headed home.

"By the way, we still have your dirty phone call from last night to address," I said.

Jace's hands tightened around the steering wheel as his knuckles turned white. It's not my fault he can't hold his liquor.