“Thanks for the watch,” Gabe said, pulling Ace into a hug. Gabe told his brother something in his brother’s ear that I couldn’t hear.
Ace snorted and frowned before he dropped his gaze to me. He went to say something but stopped himself. “You both have a good night.”
Gabe dropped his arm around my shoulders and watched as Ace left.
I wondered about him.
Ace had to have a stressful career as a pilot in the Airforce. Given his schedule with early mornings or sometimes late-night flights and training, I figured that might be the issue. Gabe also mentioned something about a possible transfer or reassignment somewhere abroad.
That had to weigh heavily on him as well, seeing as it would take him away from his entire family.
“We have to cut the cake,” Micah said as he approached.
“I’m hungrier than a rattlesnake with a mouse in his cage,” Joel said, rubbing his belly. “I hear your lady special ordered some sort of red velvet cake.”
Gabe peered down at me with a smirk.
“You loved that red velvet cheesecake we had in New York. I had the owner of the restaurant make this one especially for you.” I also ordered red velvet cheesecake cupcakes for all of the guests.
I motioned for Jodi, and she brought over the microphone I’d had set up before Gabe arrived.
“The cake please,” I said into the mic, signaling for Toni to bring it over. As he did, the chords of “Happy Birthday” began playing, and I started to sing.
Gabe stared me in the eyes the entire time I sang. His orbs gleamed with joy and affection. I hoped I wasn’t making it up in my head. Emotion bubbled up, making it challenging to finish the song. Thankfully, the rest of the crowd picked up the slack for me as they sang the words as well.
I laughed and clapped with everyone else when Gabe blew out the candles.
“Thank you for tonight,” Gabe said sometime later.
“It’s not over yet. I have one more thing I want to give to you.”
“What’s that?” he asked, taking me by the waist.
“Not here. Later,” I promised, telling him that once his party was over, I’d give him his next gift.
Secretly, I prayed that he didn’t hate me for it.
* * *
Gabe
“Now?” I asked, demandingly, once we exited The Rustic after my surprise birthday party. It was well after two in the morning, and the final guest had left the bar. I was ready to be alone with Lena.
“Yes,” she answered, pulling away from me when I tried to pull her into my arms. “But not home. Let’s go for a walk.”
I growled.
“Come on. We’re not going far.”
“Fine, but it’s your fault if some passerby sees you getting fucked out here in the middle of the night.”
She tossed her head back, laughing.
“You think I’m joking.” I’d wanted to take her all damn night since I’d walked into the bar hours ago.
“We’ll see if you still want to do all of that once I give you your gift,” she said cryptically. “Let’s walk to the bridge.”
Tucker Bridge was only a few blocks from the bar and had a place where pedestrians could walk along the side, away from traffic. Locals often referred to it as Harlington’s Golden Gate Bridge because it connected two sides of the city.
