Page 93 of Jax & Knox

"What? I'm just reminiscing."

"You're embarrassing us," Knox mutters.

"Good," Switch says. "You deserve it."

Bella reaches over and squeezes my hand. "Don't worry, honey. They've changed. I can see it."

"They have," I say softly, my voice thick with emotion.

"Good," she says, smiling. "Because you and Owen deserve the best."

Owen is sitting in a high chair between Jax and Knox, happily munching on mashed potatoes. He's the center of attention, and he's loving every second of it.

"He's such a good baby," Brooke says, smiling at him.

"He really is," I say, my heart swelling with pride.

"Takes after his mama," Jax says, winking at me.

I blush and look down at my plate, but I can't stop the smile that tugs at my lips.

After dinner, we move to the living room.

Bella and her sisters start setting up board games on the coffee table, and I realize this is a thing. A tradition.

"You guys really do game nights?" I ask, surprised.

"Every week," Bella says, grinning. "It's a Carter family tradition."

"We take it very seriously," Bri adds.

"Too seriously," Blade mutters, and Revolver laughs.

Owen is playing on the floor with a few toys, and I'm sitting on the couch between Jax and Knox, watching the chaos unfold.

And then it happens.

Owen toddles over to Jax, his little legs wobbling slightly.

He reaches up, grabbing Jax's pant leg, and looks up at him with those big, innocent eyes.

"Da-da-da," he babbles happily.

Clear as day.

The room goes silent.

My breath catches in my throat, and my heart stops.

"Did he just...” Bella starts, her voice trembling.

Owen babbles again, his little face full of joy. "Da-da-da!"

Jax's face crumples, and he scoops Owen up, holding him close. Knox wraps his arms around both of them, and I can see the emotion in his eyes, raw and unguarded.

Tears stream down my face, hot and unstoppable.

This is real.