Addicted to You (Devils Right Hand MC #3)

Chapter 23

Gabby's POV

I've always hated surprises. I never understood the appeal of surprise birthday parties. Making someone believe their loved ones have forgotten their birthday just for ten seconds of appreciation seems so off-centered. Shouldn't that person know they're loved on their birthday? Shouldn't the whole day be about them and not the gratification the party planner gets at the end for pulling off said surprise? Besides, I would much rather know what's about to happen so I can prepare.

Life, on the other hand, loves surprises and most of the time they're not as simple as a birthday party. The surprises life throws at us always come when you least expect them. At least, on your birthday you have a little warning. But sometimes the universe, God, or whatever is up there thinks our life is just a little too boring so it throws us a curveball. And I may not know anything about baseball, but I know curveballs are never a good thing.

It's been a month since Axe patched into the chapter and my life has been mind-numbly normal. I go to work, I go home with Axe, we have sex, and then we do it all over again the next day. It's a perfect routine. It's a normalcy I never thought I would get so now I will never take it for granted because after living a life of chaos for the first 21 years, I want a boring life for the next 21 years.

Today is a rarity because all of the girls have the day off, so we are all piled into the bar while I try to tidy up behind the bar. It's crazy to think how close I've gotten to these girls in such a short time, but now I see them like my sisters. And the craziest part is that I know they see me as their sister. I've never had that before. I mean, of course, I had Cass but it's different on the streets because both of us would've betrayed the other for the right amount of dope. These girls, I think they'd take a bullet for me. Except for Grace, I think she'd redirect the bullet with a death glare and then disembowel the idiot that tried it.

"How's Hazel liking summer camp?" Grace asks Shorty.

"She loves it. It's a nature theme so she basically gets to dig in the dirt all day," Shorty answers.

"Oh, that sounds like it's right up her alley," Clove laughs.

"Has she grown out of the tea party phase?" I ask. The last time Axe and I babysat Hazel she had us playing tea party for three hours.

"Oh no, now she just wants to do it in the park and serve us mud pies," Shorty says with a look of disgust.

"That's gross," Amber gags.

"You better get used to it mama, boy do much grosser things," Grace says.

"Girls, what the hell am I going to do with a boy?" Amber asks with an exaggerated groan.

"Get a vacuum cleaner with a spot cleaner detachment," Shorty laughs.

"And lots of wine," Grace adds.

"And when he gets to a certain age, let Grease deal with all of it," Clove laughs.

"I cannot believe I only have a month left," Amber says as she rubs her belly, "it's gone by so fast yet so painfully slow."

"Yeah, and Sammie's first birthday is in exactly ten days. Can y'all believe it?" Clove says. I swear, it feels like we are planning a party every week around here but I guess that's just the price you pay when you have a big family.

"We are having her party on her actual birthday right?" Shorty asks.

"Yeah, it falls on a Sunday so it works out perfectly. It'll be August 14th," Clove replies.

"That's only ten days away?" I ask. My God, what happened to July?

So that means today is August 4th. Shit, I still have so much I have to do for Sammie's birthday party. Of course, Clove and Amber are planning most of it but I'll be doing most of the leg work which I volunteered for. I love feeling like I'm a part of something and after everything the girls have done for me, this is the least I can do for them.