"Hey, I got them special for that night. No reason to let them go to waste, right?" It strained his stomach to laugh, but he couldn't help himself. Mixed with the growing joy of the moment, Jax almost welcomed the pain if only because it was a reminder of being alive, giving him joy.

"Hey now!" Jax untangled their hands so he could point a finger at her sternly. "If you leave me for Newt, I don't know what I'll do!"