SEVEN

"CJ, can you come here, please?"

"Be there in a minute."

After brushing my hair and tying it up in a neat ponytail, Leo was with Auntie Effie, Uncle Logan, and Zara at Chuckie Cheese thirty minutes ago, so I got time for myself. With my new phone in hand, I run downstairs to Thea's room, where I find her changing Jacob's diaper.

"Do you need help?" I ask.

"No, I got it. There, who's my big boy." She cooed, her son planting kisses. "That isn't why I called you."

"Oh, okay." I was sure she needed help since she was still a new mother, and I had experience, but she got it. I can't help but smile to see Thea as a mother. She and Effie would come to me sometimes and ask for parenting advice. Not all parents are perfect at raising a kid. Look at me, My relationship with Leo's father isn't what it used to be, but I raised Leo the best I could.

Watching Thea and Rex with their son made me wish we would be like them if Eddie weren't violent.

Thea raised Effie after their parents passed away, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to raise a child. I'm not one to judge not, like my mother. When I told her about Thea being pregnant and unmarried, she ranted about how well Thea has a future.

When we were kids, she would often beat up the bullies who made fun of my accent. She never talked about having a family only dreamed of being the big kid on the playground. But now, she's older and mature, more beautiful, and a mother with a loving man to be together forever.

"You and I will be the future together, forever."

Why did I think of his voice all of a sudden? Mentioning the forever part with Eddie is going to be a while.

I thought my future with Eddie would be magical and a dream I've always wanted in a man to be together, but that won't happen.

I got to get him off my head before I go bonkers.

"What is it, my dear cousin?"

Thea picks up Jacob gently and places him on her chest, cradling him. "I'm going to Party City to get some luau supplies."

"Luau?" I furrow my brows. "Are we having a party?"

"Yes," her eyes sparkle. "Next weekend is Rex's birthday, and I wanted to surprise him with a luau birthday party. He and his brothers are far, well, not far from home, but I wanted to make them feel more at home."

That's right, the Wolfe brothers are from Hawaii, and they moved here not too long ago."Did you buy at least a few things?"

"Yes, online, and they will arrive tomorrow. Rex will be at work, so it's a good opportunity to hide it from him. Effie and the brothers will help too."

"Okay. Well, Leo is with his aunt and uncle, and cousin. He wants to spend time with his cousin."

Leo bonded with Zara, and how they reacted to each other was so cute. He would play Knights and Princess with her as if he were the knight and shining armor, and Zara is the Princess in distress captured by a big playful dragon name Seth. "I got free time before I head to work tonight."

"Great," she exclaims and smiles. "Here, you hold Jacob while I shower and change."

Athena hands me Jacob, as he cradles me in my arms, and we wait.

Thirty minutes later, we are on the road to Long Beach Town Center, where stores, a restaurant, a Barnes and Noble, and a theater.

We went to Party City, and on the aisle where the luau party supplies are, Thea got everything they offer. My cousin is going on out to this party for her fiancé.

At the cashier and waiting to see how much she spent. I push Jacob's stroller back and forth to make him fall asleep, and Thea is staring at me, and I have to ask why?

"Is there something going on between you and Don?"

Why are you asking that so suddenly?

"No, why?"

"I don't know," she shrugs the pulls up a smirk. "It seems he has an interest in you."

"Him?" I speculate the same guy I'm staying with under the same roof as my cousins.

"The brother of your baby daddy. Are you inflicting that he is interested in me? Don't joke around, Thea."

"I'm not," She paid her purchase, and I saw how much she spent and didn't say anything as we left the store and into her CRV. While I put Jacob inside, she put the bags in the trunk. "I'm just saying. I mean, he's very protective of you."

"I just see a man who thinks I'm a child because I look like one."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do," I argue. "You are half British and have your dad's height, but as for me, I got both my parents and half the people around the world think I'm sixteen."

"Don't exaggerate yourself."

We both hop in the car. I sit beside Jacob, sleeping soundly as she ignites the engine."I stop growing at sixteen."

We hit the freeway, and she says, "CJ, your perfect just the way you are. Because of our vampire gene, we look young and stay young once we reach the golden age."

She's right about that. Naynay died when she was in her eighties and still looks thirties. My mother, on the other hand, gets facelifts with Botox. He gets injected every two to three months to keep that youthful look.

"Don doesn't see you as a kid. He hates when women are abused."

I'm curious about that. Athena mentions that on that day. I wanted to ask but needed more courage to ask.

"Why does he care about me? Is it because I'm your cousin? I barely know the lad." I cross my arm and look at her in the mirror.

"No, not only that." Our eyes met while keeping on the road. "I don't want to say, but since you are family and not an outsider. Don is Rex and the boys' half-brother."

I sit still, trying to get my mind working on what she said.

"Shocking, isn't it?" Thea chuckle. "I found out the day Rex and I moved in together."

"Does all his brothers know?"

"Of course, Don came to the Wolfe house when he was eight. Rex was thirteen, and Seth was ten. Logan and Liam are not born yet. Well, in the process." She giggles.

"So, I take it their father cheated on their mother?"

Thea sigh. "You know that their dad was in the Marines and always away. So, being away from family can sometimes make someone forget they already have to come home. Rex's dad met Don's mom in Iraq. She was a traveling doctor who would help anyone, friend or foe.

They had feelings until she found out he already had a family and broke it off with him. Eight laters, Don arrived at their doorsteps with his mother."

"What did their mother say?" I ask.

"She was pissed and had a huge argument. But their dad apologized and left the house for a while to make amends until he was allowed to return."

"What about Rex and Seth? How did they treat Don?"

"They surprisedly open their arms to their brother. Welcome him home."

That's good; usually, siblings meeting another from another mother or father wouldn't accept them because they aren't a full-breed child of the family.

"So, what happened with Don's mother? Why leave him?"

"Although Don's mom wasn't a high-class doctor, she is willing to help anyone. But she left Don because her fiancé found out about their son not being his and beat her and Don. He was an alcoholic, by the way. He was one of those men who lost their job and drank to improve themselves. After she left Don with the Wolfe family, he never heard from her again."

"Poor Donovan." That is why he acted that way toward me the day I arrived. He was distraught.

"I know," Thea signed. "You can see why Don is so overprotective of us girls. You don't see it because he's like a ninja. Very stealth and sneaky."

I couldn't help but laugh. Imagine a large guy trying to hide from the enemies. Yeah, very stealthy.

We finally arrived, and I helped with the bags while Thea our Jacob into his crib. I settled the bags in the living room as soon as I did. Donovan appears after leaving the garage. He was all dirty with oil stains and sweating like crazy.

I found him very sexy I couldn't look away.

"Your home."

I'm startled by his hoarse voice, and I stammer my words. "Y-Yeah, Thea w-went all out with the luau stuff."

"Well, you know her. Loves to plan parties."

I nod in agreement.

I want to leave just like that but can't. If I go, it will make him think I'm ghosting him. After hearing his childhood story, I feel sorry for him. I want to hug this large man and tell him he is not alone.

I must make the conversation longer and excuse myself at the right time.

"So, how's work?" He surprises me with that question.

I look through the bags to feel like I'm doing something. "It's good. Great tips. But the only minor problem is the college kids. They told Billie hired a teenager to work at the bar and would call the cops for child labor."

"Why?"

I look at him. He's serious about it. "Because of the way I look."

"What's wrong with the way you look?"

Is he serious?

"I stop growing at sixteen, so people think I'm sixteen." I stop and sigh, bringing up my childhood memories. "It sucks being this small, and I'm a grown woman in a child body."

"I don't think you're small." He says and walks to the fridge. Pull out a beer and pop it open with an opener hanging with his keys as he leans against the kitchen counter and takes a sip. "I find you - cute."

I blush from my toes to my face. Other boys I know from high school and college say I'm cute, and I would hate it. But coming from Donovan's mouth gives me a different feeling.

I need to leave fast.

"Cute is for puppies and babies. I'm twenty-five. What kind of man says that to a woman?"

"Me."

Oh. My. God!

Can he get any smoother?

He stepped forward as I strode back before my back hit the kitchen counter. "Not only cute but small like a dove." He smirks.

Dove?

Am I a fucking bird?

Well, doves are symbols of love, peace, and messengers. I learned that in private school. Before anything else happens, I straighten my back.

"I'm going to put these away before your brother sees them." I grab the bags and walk away with ease. Walking down the halls and hid them in the closet with me in it to calm my rapidly beating heart.