“Okay.” Jemmy laughed. “Go play, then.”
Micah shook his head. “No, with you guys.”
“No gifts?” Jaxson smirked after looking around.
“No gifts,” Patrick confirmed.
“Someone has to chaperone,” I reminded Jaxson as I fastened a wristband on my wrist.
“Go and play,” Will encouraged us as he came up behind us. “We have this.”
I turned and saw Will, Greg, Miranda, Megan, Mr. Moore, and Cora were all there.
“Let’s go,” Lincoln stated with a grin.
?
“…Happy Birthday to Alex, Happy Birthday to you!” we all belted out.
Alex had a huge smile on his face, and I was pleased to see that Jemmy had her camera out and was busy snapping pictures.
“Sorry I’m late,” Troy stated as he came up behind me and wrapped
his arms around my middle.
I wrapped my arms around his and looked up at him, smiling. “At least you’re here. Everything okay with the helicopter?”
He looked confused for a moment. “Oh that,” he said, frowning. “Yeah. I couldn’t get it.”
“Well, what are we supposed to do now?” I asked with a frown.
“We’ll figure it out,” he replied with a smile that never reached his eyes.
Something was off about Troy. He knew how important it was that we got the helicopter, but he was acting like it was no big deal.
“Blake!” Alex called. From his tone, he must have been trying to call my name a few times.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Can I open up my gifts now?” he asked once again.
I laughed. “Of course.” I pulled out the notebook I brought. “Make sure you tell me who it’s from and what it is so we can write thank you cards.”
He groaned. “Do I hafta? I can’t write that good.”
“That well.” Will smiled out of the corner or his mouth.
“Yeah, that,” Alex said.
I laughed. “They didn’t have to give you gifts, but they did…”
“I’ll help you with the cards when you write them,” Kade put a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulders.
“Okay,” Alex said eagerly.
“Blake, would you like me to cut the cake?” Miranda asked, and I could see the desire to…please in her eyes. She had been trying so hard lately.
I nodded. “Sure, thanks.”