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“Oh wow, she’s a juice snob, just like Jax!” Thorn howls.
“Shut up! I’m not a snob, I just happen to prefer the good stuff. It’s called having tastebuds, which you’d know about if you didn’t burn them all off with hard liquor.” Jax bites back with a smile.
Just then, I’m distracted by the pendant around Phoenix’s neck. I reach out to gently touch the delicate golden heart with a feather engraved on it, surprised by the weight of it.
“Nix, this is a very pretty necklace,” I say cautiously. “But where did it come from?”
“I gave it to her,” a voice says quietly at the exact same moment Phoenix beams “Jax” at me.
“He’s got one for you too Mummy,” she continues. “So we can match, and always wear them together.”
She’s so excited, bless her, that I don’t have the heart to say no. I do however throw Jax a questioning look. He comes over to me, dips his hand into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a slightly larger version of Nix’s necklace.
“May I?” he asks, dipping his head once towards my neck. I nod and spin around to allow him to put it on, which he easily does with my wet hair up out of the way in my towel.
The heavy pendant falls just to the top of my breasts, the weight of it allowing it to nestle comfortably against my skin, dead centre.
“It’s beautiful, thank you. But why?” I ask, confused.
“Just saw them and thought of the two of you. I figured you probably didn’t have too much jewellery...” his eyes flit to the ring they gave me which I still wear, “and I thought it would be nice if you had matching pieces.”
“Well thank you, it really is beautiful and I love it,” I tell him earnestly. “Phoenix, did you say thank you?”
“She did. She has impeccable manners,” Jax informs me, making me flush with pride.
“Ok. Well, if you guys are happy to watch Phoenix play for a bit, I’ll go upstairs and get ready.”
“No problem, there’s no rush,” Rebel replies. “Nix and I are going to gather supplies to make a fairy garden.”
I raise an eyebrow but say nothing, instead opting to go get dressed, leaving my beautiful stubborn daughter still trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of an orange.
Done, I’m just coming back down the stairs when the doorbell rings. I open the door and sign for the special delivery envelope. The results are here.
Closing the door, I turn to find all five guys have popped their heads out of the various rooms they were occupying, and are now staring intently at me.
“It’s here,” I whisper, nervous and sick and shaking all at once.
“It’s fine, babe,” Baxter reassures me. “Nothing changes remember?”
I nod uncertainly, because I’m not sure I believe that. Everything is about to change.
“You guys go into the lounge, I’ll set Phoenix up with a game and then join you,” I say. At the last second I fling the envelope at Baxter, trusting him above all others to wait for me. “Here, you take this.”
I race down the hallway to the conservatory and tell Phoenix that I need to have a quick chat with the guys. I set up some colouring things for her and tell her that Rebel will help her look for items for the fairy garden after we’re done. She doesn’t seem to mind, so I give her a quick kiss and a squeeze, then race back to the lounge.
No one is seated, everyone looks tense. My stomach is in knots and my hands tremble as I take the envelope from Baxter.
Can I do this?
I bite my lip and slide a finger under the sealed flap. Gently, I start to tear the join, opening up the envelope an inch at a time. I’m about halfway through when the doorbell goes once more.
The room freezes and we all stare at one another. I have no idea who that might be.
“Want me to get it?” Thorn offers and I nod gratefully. He disappears. My legs are jelly as I hold the trembling envelope in my hands. It’ll have to wait. After four years, another minute won’t kill me.
“JAX!” Thorn roars at the top of his lungs, and the frozen room shatters and springs into action. Jax, Baxter and Rebel are gone from the room in the blink of an eye, responding instinctively to the wild panic we all heard in Thorn’s voice.
I start to move but Ace lightly tugs me back.
