“How did you do this?” I asked him, while still holding on to Leah.
“Sugar.” Law walked over to me and Leah let me go to transfer me into Law’s arms. “I’ve been planning this since you got here. I just had to figure out the time when it would mean the most to you.”
“And you thought July?” I laughed at him.
“Well.” He took my face in his hands. “It’s a holiday this week and it’s your birthday month, so I think that warrants a visit from your friends.”
He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. I had no idea how he had found out when my birthday was, probably Leah, but she would know then that I never celebrated it. I didn’t see the point in my own birthday. It was just the day I was born, nothing else, but others’ birthdays…give me all the decorations and let’s go all out. I wasn’t big on doing things for myself and Leah knew that, which was why she probably gave Law the idea.
I glanced over my shoulder and shot her a glare, but the bright smile on her face showed me my assumptions were correct. These three people together would probably be the death of me. All of them knew different parts about me and together they would be my kryptonite.
“Your mom texted me to tell me they were going to have a barbecue on Wednesday.” I looked up at Law.
“That’s perfect timing then!” Leah said behind me. “I’ve never had Southern cooking, so I’m looking forward to it!”
“Let’s get our bags up to our room before you decide to run off on another adventure.” Axel shook his head in admiration, never being able to be upset with Leah. He understood her in a way that made them so perfect together. “What room?”
“Third on the left,” Law answered him, and Leah and Axel made their way up the stairs, which finally left me and Law alone.
“You are pretty sly, mister,” I scolded him.
“You don’t seem excited.”
“Just not a fan of my birthday.” I shrugged.
“Well, I am. It gave me you. So let me indulge.” Law pleaded with me by bending down so he was eye level with me and putting on his best puppy dog face.
“Fine.” I drew out the ‘e’ on the end of the word, like it was a bother to me, but Law’s fingers tickled my side, and I let out a yelp and tried to run away for the man who had become a tickle monster lately when he couldn’t see the smile on my face constantly.
“Come back here!” Law ran after me and I headed for the kitchen, colliding with Tony, who was standing there with a soda in hand.
“Sorry!” I said as I took a step back right into Law’s arms.
“Gotcha,” he whispered into my ear. “Hey, man.”
Law held out a hand and fist bumped with Tony, just as Axel and Leah entered the kitchen.
“What are the plans?” Tony asked as he took a bar stool next to Axel and introduced himself.
“We can go to the track, then get food, roam around,” Law suggested.
“I’m good with anything,” Leah added.
“Let’s go then.” Law grabbed my hands and led us all out of the house, but before we followed, I grabbed for him, holding us off to the side by ourselves.
“Thank you.” I looked up at him. “I don’t think I told you how much this means to me, Law.”
He leaned down to kiss me.
“You know I would do anything for you, sugar.” He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and then led me to the truck where we were all about to be off on our next adventure.
When I looked around the truck, I don’t think I would have ever been able to predict that this would become my life, that I would be in Alabama and my friends would be visiting, but I wouldn’t ever change anything for what I had today with all of these people.
With my family.
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Red shorts.Check.
