Page 89 of Choosing Us

Harlow looks around and sees Wells’s sister in the crowd of friendly faces, tucked under my brother Jack’s arm. Tinsley Sinclair may be an international country pop star, but around us, she’s just Tinsley.

And she’s also why I notice the extra security without needing to look for it. Jack and Wells insisted, and I was more than happy to comply with whatever needed to happen for her to be comfortable being a part of everything, and of course, to be here to celebrate Harlow.

My brother Liam arrived an hour late, but I was just happy he could make it at all. Harlow and Liam have been friends for years, which is still so crazy to me how small their world is.

Liam gives her a brief hug before I pull her out of his arms, making both of them laugh. “Happy birthday, Whiz Kid,” he tells her as he hands her a gift bag.

“I thought I said no gifts.” She looks accusingly at me then Liam. I gave her a brand-new top-of-the-line Kindle e-reader earlier in the evening.

“It’s a family trait, none of us listen when people tell us to do things,” Finn chimes in with a grin on his face.

“I’m starting to see that,” she deadpans as she mock glares at me.

“Go on, open it up. Let’s see if it fits.” Liam smirks as Finn hands him a beer.

Harlow gives him a quizzical look before unwrapping the present.

If my brother gave my girl jewelry—I don’t care what his spy-guy training all included—I will punch him in the face.

Thankfully, his gift did not require a violent response.

“Ryan told me his plan for his gift and thought you could use some accessories, but full disclosure, Sophia told me everything to buy.” Inside the gift bag is a new Kindle case that looks like the Pride and Prejudice cover, a wireless charging station, and a gift card for her to buy some new e-books.

“How did she know the exact cover I would have picked? I love it!” she cries out and gives him another hug.

My jaw flexes, and I barely hold back my growl at her in his arms again, which only makes my brother laugh.

“Calm down, Ry Guy. She’s your girl, I know, but she was my friend first,” Liam tells me with a pointed look, and he’s right. I don’t have to like that he knew her first, but I do like that he’s in her corner. She may have been born into a shit family, but she has us now.

“And I don’t know if my sisters or Ryan explained how this all works, but you’re one of us now, so even though you’ve had my number for years, if you need me—if you need anything—you can call me or any of the members of The Brigade. Walker already knows how this all works, and Sav formally added you to the group chat, but I wanted to remind you. We’ve got you, no matter what, Whiz Kid.”

“Stop with the fucking nicknames.” I half-jokingly punch his arm as everyone laughs at our antics.

But I’m not fully joking.

And judging by the gleam in Liam’s eyes, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Little shit.

The entire evening ends up being a gift to me. I don’t think Harlow stopped smiling for more than thirty seconds all evening. She laughed as she ate her favorite foods from the buffet, danced in her seat when she ate her all-time-favorite vanilla bean ice cream cake, and cheered on the dance-off between Finn and Wells.

It was perfect.

“I want a photo of everyone together. Is that okay?” she asks me as things start winding down.

“Whatever you want, Lo.”

And I mean it. She can have anything, because she is everything to me.

Everyone grabs their drinks and one of the security guards appears from the shadows to stand on a chair and take the photo. Harlow says something to Tinsley in her ear, but she shakes her head before saying something back, kissing Harlow’s cheek, and walking over to stand next to Jack.

“What was that about?” I ask as she comes to stand next to me.

Harlow lowers her voice so only I can hear her. “I just told her I wouldn’t be offended if she wanted to step out of the photo for privacy. The gift was her being here, and I don’t have to share that for it to be true.”

“What did she say to that?”

Harlow gives me a small smile. “She said she’s done enough hiding in her life and isn’t interested in holding back sharing joy with the people she loves for a moment longer.”