Julia

Jace and I spent whatever time together when we weren't working. If he was working, and I wasn't, I hung out with Charlie and Jas. It took time for Charlie's black eyes to fade and her nose to heal. She also started therapy sessions with Jayden to help with the trauma she endured while finding a job at a PR firm.

Odin kept Casp busy so he couldn't see Charlie. Of course, Casp wasn't happy about it. I couldn't blame him since Jace and my parents did the same thing. Eventually, I talked to Odin and Sofie about letting Casp talk to Charlie as friends. I reminded Casp of his parents' rule about not dating until he was eighteen.

So, I did what any good cousin would do. I enlisted Jas to babysit Casp when he visited Charlie. Hey, someone needs to think ahead and deter any issues.

That was most of the summer until my eighteenth birthday hit. My parents woke up with confetti cannons and party favors. Why? Didn't anyone tell them you don't wake a sleeping bear? I promptly threw a shoe at them.

Since I didn't have to work, I wanted to sleep in. My parents didn't get the memo.

Wasn't it enough they were throwing me a party at the park under the pavilion later? Did they need to cause a ruckus in the morning? Ugh.

I dragged my butt out of bed, emptied my bladder, and shuffled to the coffeemaker. I need coffee before I deal with their shenanigans.

I sat at the table and sipped my coffee when my dad let Jace into the house. Jace greeted me with a kiss on the head before sitting beside me. I just waved and sipped my coffee.

"Still not a morning person?" Jace asked.

"Not when my parents wake up," I grumbled.

Jace chuckled.

Dad brought plates of food to the table. "Ignore, my grouch. She has never been a morning person. She would scowl at me as a baby until I changed her diaper and gave her a bottle."

"Dad!" I groaned.

"Pumpkin, you were the only baby that hated getting up. If I didn't wake up, you would miss your feedings. And don't forget about taking off when you were buck naked before your bath."

"Ugh!"

"I got pictures of you in the tub, and I can show everyone tonight."

"Don't you dare!"

My dad chuckled.

Mom brought the rest of the food and juice to the table. "Ignore your father. Maddie will lend me his baby photos of him wearing cowboy boots, a hat, a holster, and nothing else if he shows your pictures to anyone."

Jace chuckled.

"My ma would never!" Dad exclaimed.

"Want to bet?" Mom smirked.

"Fine. No baby pictures. But you are eighteen now. That means acting like an adult." Dad pointed at me.

"I do act like an adult," I said, giving Dad a strange look.

"That also means acting responsibly with your boyfriend." Dad gestured between Jace and me.

I rolled my eyes while I drank my coffee. It was too early for this talk. Mom sent Dad to rouse Jas so he would leave me alone. Thank you, Mom. I didn't want Dad to embarrass Jace. Although I doubt it matters. Jace was eating breakfast, having ignored Dad.

Dad returned to the table with Jas. Jas slid onto a chair and put a pancake on her plate before buttering it and drizzling syrup.

"So, your party is all set at the park. Romeo and Sage incorporated things you like," Dad said.

"Who's all coming?" I asked before taking a bite of pancake.

"Friends and family. It wouldn't be a party if we didn't invite everyone. And I ordered your cake from the bakery."

I looked at Dad and nodded while eating. My dad hired Romeo and Sage to plan my eighteenth birthday party. Since my birthday was in August, he wanted an outdoor party.

But then again, Dad always threw excellent parties for Jas and me.

******
Jace

I had to ignore Dexter's comment about responsibility. Jules and I already discussed the progression of our relationship. We were good at the pace we were taking.

Elias and Owen gave everyone the day off for the party. I didn't mind since I could spend the day with Jules. Plus, I had a present for her.

After breakfast, Jules headed upstairs to shower and change. Jas followed suit, leaving me alone with Dexter and Marla.

"Is everything set?" Dexter asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah. My folks are picking up my brothers while Carrie and Troy are getting Darby and Emerald. Charlie even agreed to come to the party since cops will be there."

Dexter and Marla nodded in response. They tasked me with keeping Jules busy until the party. So, I planned to do that.

*******
Julia

I finished getting ready, attached my charm bracelet, and headed downstairs. Jace and I left and headed to the mall. I wanted to pick up a few things for school.

We stopped in a store so I could buy a backpack and school supplies. Once I got what I needed, we walked around the mall, checking out different stores.

Eventually, we headed to the park. Jace pulled into a parking spot and parked. We got out and walked toward a pavilion decorated with balloons, streamers, and a banner. My family and friends were waiting for me to wish me a happy birthday. I greeted everyone and introduced Jace as my boyfriend to them. My news didn't surprise everyone. They knew we would end up together except for us. Apparently, Jace and I were too blind to see it.

"Jules, turn around," Jace said in my ear before turning me around.

My brows lifted in surprise when I saw Dallas, Braydon, Darby, and Emerald standing behind me with smiles on their faces. I walked toward them and hugged each one. They wished me a happy birthday.

"What are you doing here?" I asked them.

"We couldn't miss your eighteenth birthday, squirt," Darby said, smiling.

"Plus, we had to witness you and Jace together," Emerald said.

Jace slid his arm around my waist. "It was worth the wait."

"I would say you two getting together surprised me, but it doesn't," Dallas said.

"Yeah, we always knew it would happen," Braydon said.

I couldn't help but smile as Jace kissed the side of my head.

*******
Caspiam

I spotted Charlie talking to a few people and approached her. Charlie turned her head and lifted her brows in surprise to see me approach her.

"Hey, Charlie," I said.

"Caspiam?" She asked with her eyes taking down me.

My lips twitched slightly. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has. You've changed."

I shoved my hands into my front jeans pockets. "I've been working at the construction site with my dad."

"Do you like it?"

I gazed at Charlie. "I love it."

Charlie's lips curled into a smile as she moved her hair behind her hair. "I'm glad. I heard you graduated school early."

"Yeah, I skipped a grade. I'm commuting to school with Julia."

"Really? I figured you would have gone away for school."

I shrugged and tilted my head. "I prefer to stick close to home. You never know what can happen."

"You never know." Charlie smiled.

Damn, Charlie was even more beautiful than I remembered. Yep, commuting was the best decision for me. It would give me a chance to work my magic on my Charlie.

*******
Julia

I saw Casp talking to Charlie. So much for Casp keeping his distance.

"Damn, is that Caspiam?" Braydon asked.

Everyone looked in the direction of Casp and Charlie.

"Caspiam doesn't look like how I remember," Emerald said.

"Casp put on height and muscle since he's been working at the construction site," I said.

"Caspiam looks like he can bench press another person," Darby said.

Jace and I chuckled.

"Apparently, everyone changes when you leave home without anyone telling you," Dallas said.

"We wouldn't have had to tell you if you came home after college graduation instead of signing a contract during senior year," Jace said.

"It's not our fault we chose to play ball." Braydon shrugged.

"You could have waited until we graduated with a degree. What if you get injured?"

I stepped between Jace and his brothers to keep them from throttling each other. "My birthday party is a no-fighting zone. It's bad enough that my family dukes it out constantly at family functions."

"Damn, Jace. Julia took control of things. She makes me so proud," Emerald said, faking a sniffle.

Jace rolled his eyes. I shook my hand and dragged Jace from his brothers. They could duke it out another time. Today was my birthday.

The cousins went a bit crazy when they found Dallas and Braydon were here and asked for their autographs. The family talked to Jace and me while we ate. Then, I introduced Jace to my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins as my official boyfriend. Of course, my grandfathers sized up Jace while my grandmothers hugged him.

What else was new?

*******
Jace

Meeting Jules's family was different when I was her boyfriend. Her uncles gave me the third degree even though I'm related to Jordin. Decker and Dyson unnerved me with their interrogation until their wives stepped in.

Ben and Nash seemed pleasant in a threatening way. Casey was funny with his comments about Nash having the pleasure of earning a few more gray hairs. Larissa, Maddie, and Sylvia were sweet when they hugged me.

I already knew Mercedes from the center and met Max on the trip. Kenzie and Gabby weren't bad while they wrangled their husbands. But I could see how much Jules's family loved her.

After eating, Jules opened her gifts. I waited until she finished and gave her my gift. Jules took it, removed the wrapping paper, and opened the lid to the rectangle box. She pulled out a heart-shaped locket and dangled it from her fingers as everyone became silent.

I opened Jules's locket to show her what was inside. "I put a picture of us on one side and a photo of your family on the other. There's also an inscription on the back."

Jules took the locket and flipped it over. "You're my heart." She looked at me and smiled. "I love it. Thank you."

I nodded and fastened the chain around Jules's neck before kissing her. The women awed while the guys rolled their eyes.

"Time for cake," Marla announced before cutting the cake into pieces.

Dexter handed out cake plates to everyone, starting with Jules since she was the birthday girl. Jules and I sat together and ate birthday cake. My brothers, the girls, and Casp joined us. I saw Jas sitting with her cousins, far away from our table.

Sometimes, distance can help people find their way. It did for Jules and me.