Mark nodded his head towards me. "Hiya, Sam. I asked to tag along. I hope that's okay with you."

"Sure…" It wasn't like we were family…or were we? Was David still family to me? I wasn't sure anymore.

Then Lily gave me an excited wave with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Surprise! I bet you thought you didn't have to deal with me, but nope. Here I am. It's my night off and I'm ready for some birthday cake."

"You're welcome to my piece." Then I leaned back and asked, "Did Logan get cake?"

Mason's hand tightened around my hips. His thumbs started to rub up and down. "Of course. A birthday party without cake is a crime to Logan."

"Oh."

He grinned down at me. "You don't like cake?"

I shrugged. "It's an acquired taste."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretend to eat a piece for him. I think he made it from scratch."

"I'll eat two pieces."

"Happy birthday, Sam," Nate called out as he started over.

"Hell no! I get her first." Logan shot forward and plucked me from his brother. He threw me over his shoulder and turned back to the group. "Everyone gets to spank her except Mason. He does that all the time."

He bounded to the kitchen and I looked up in time to see Nate and Mason share a grin, both shaking their heads. As Nate lifted a hand to put on Mason's shoulder, Logan turned the corner. I couldn't see anymore, but he deposited me in a stool at the counter. A large white cake sat in front of me with eighteen candles on top. None of them had been lighted, but then I peered closer.

"Logan!"

"What?" He'd been waiting for my reaction, brimming with excitement. "Don't you like it?"

Those candles didn't look right. "Tell me those are not joints." Please tell me they aren't.

He started laughing. As he continued, the laughing got louder and louder. Then Becky's boyfriend bounced to the cake and pulled them out. He wiped each clean and put them back in a baggie as he gave me a sheepish look. "He thought it'd be funny." He looked like he had more to say, but then he smiled and snuck back to Becky's side.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Logan was still laughing. "That would've been awesome."

"Too bad you haven't gotten tested for basketball season yet," Nate noted as he and Mason rounded to the other side of the counter.

A wistful sigh left Logan. "Tell me about it."

Nate flashed him a grin and for a moment, I didn't see the tension between the two anymore. What had changed? When I caught Mason's gaze, I made a mental note to ask him, but was distracted as he gave me a heated look, dark promises in his depths.

My eyes widened. A jolt of desire burst through me, and I clenched my legs together. It was my birthday party. A private party would have to wait a few hours. I licked my lips as I thought about it.

He smirked back at me, our gazes locked together.

Then Nate spoke up, "This is also a farewell party too, a small one. Since you three are moving back home."

Logan's smirk turned smug.

And I knew why the tension had been lifted between the two. Mason was now home, with Logan and me. Nate couldn't move in with us. Though, I bet he would've.

"Thanks for letting me stay here."

"Any time, Sam. I mean it."

His words sounded genuine so my smile turned genuine as well. Maybe the old fearsome foursome would come back with the move. I had missed it.

Lily moved next to me as Logan started to cut the cake. She gave me a small hug. "Heather and the rest of the staff are coming after closing."

"That's late. Are you sure they want to do that?"

She shrugged with a delighted spark. "I think Heather said they were going to close early. She said you're worth it."

I was taken aback. That was a lot of money since the diner was full every night now. The gesture spoke volumes to me and for a moment, I couldn't speak.

Then she started giggling beside me.

"What?"

She pointed at the cake. Logan hadn't cut the cake in small sections. He cut it into the exact amount of pieces needed. There were nine people there, so the cake was cut into nine large pieces. Six of the pieces were double in size and he delivered those to the guys. The last three were smaller, but still bigger than I wanted.

Lily groaned as she took hers. "I gained five pounds just looking at that thing."

"You gotta eat it!" Logan barked before he raised his hands again. "Okay, everyone! I have an important announcement to make." He grinned to himself. "Today is not Samantha's birthday." He pretended to wave off any boos. "I know, I know. This is a shock of a lifetime to you, but we'll get over it. We'll band together and we'll make do. Raz, where are the joints?"

"Logan!"

His grin doubled and two dimples appeared. "Okay, okay. In all seriousness, we did this a week early to shock Sam's panties off her. Which my big brother will be doing tonight." He lifted an eyebrow to Mason.

"Logan."

He continued, "But anyway, I'm doing the speech because I baked the cake, with all sorts of natural goodies." He pretended to scowl. "I wasn't allowed any of the fun stuff, but whatever. We'll get over it. Peace and prosperity, right Raz?"

"Right." A fist was thrust in the air.

Logan laughed to himself, but then a somber expression came over him. The jokes were done and he lifted his piece of cake to me. "Happy birthday, Samantha. I love you. You're going to be my stepsister and maybe my sister-in-law someday, but until those days come, you already know you're family. And I think I can speak for everyone in saying, you're going to get wasted tonight!"

He lifted his cake in the air. "Salute to Sam getting wasted!"

Everyone saluted. Then they tried their best to sing the birthday song to me, which was interspersed with Logan and Mark rapping "In Da Club" in the background.

I shook my head. My throat was thick with emotion and I turned away. I wouldn't start crying, not again.

Two arms came around me, both slender and soft. Becky was on my right and Lily on my left. They gave me a hug, squeezing me with soft smiles. "Happy birthday, Sam."

"Thanks, guys." I patted both of them on their hands and looked down. I really felt the tears now.