Christian shakes his head, lips tipped upward. “Just wanted you here.”
He tugs me gently onto his lap and my cheeks heat as I adjust my position. My ass shimmies over his crotch and he groans, his hands tight on my hips. “Lana,” he warns.
I sniff a laugh and bat my lashes at him. “Yes?”
“Okay, love birds!” Isabelle holds her camera up, her eye looking through the viewfinder. “Smile!”
My arm comes around Christian’s shoulders again and he pulls me back into his chest. I smile wide and Isa takes the photo, the flash going off.
“One more!”
With my left hand, I hold Christian’s right cheek and kiss his left one as he holds a huge smile on his face. The flash goes off again.
“Perfect! We got it.”
Rowan comes up to the table, lighting the candles, then steps back with a smile of his own. “On three!”
He counts down and everyone starts singing like it’s a child’s birthday party. Except it’s after dark and we’re apparently adults now. Christian’s cheeks redden, going warm, and instead of singing, I’m stuck watching his beautiful face light up from the glow of the candles.
There’s that little boy inside of him showing.
“Blow out your candles,” I whisper in his ear when the singing is over.
Christian’s eyes fall closed and he leans forward slightly. He blows out his candles and our friends clap and cheer. He sits up and back, taking me with him, and kisses my bare shoulder. “I love you.”
I smile, turning my head toward him, and nudge his lips with mine. “I know.”
“I’m not cashing in that kiss yet,” he whispers on my lips.
I sigh and pull away. “Okay, but that one was for me.”
I try to stand from his lap but he pulls me back down. “You can’t just say that and leave.”
Laughing, I kiss the corner of his mouth.
“Either get a room or stop before I vomit,” Natalia says.
Isa laughs, coming forward to cut the cake. She begins putting slices on paper plates, distributing them, but giving Nico his especially slowly, keeping contact.Real subtle.
“Thank you for this,” Christian tells me.
I smile. “Let’s eat cake.”
CHAPTER 16
Christian
It’s midnight and everyone is gone. Lana is outside grabbing the last of the mess while I clean the kitchen and do the dishes.
Music is playing softly, the lights low and candles illuminating the seating area and kitchen. Lana loves her candles.
“Stay” by Post Malone—a song Lana and I used to listen to together—comes on and I hum along, thinking of her and the day she planned for me. The time I got to spend with my closest friends and mybest friend. The best part of it is now, ending the day with her. The party might be over and gone, but this right here, this is the party of a lifetime with her.
After finishing the dishes, I dry off my hands and check the missed messages on my phone. The first one I see is from Terrance.
Terrance Holt
Happy birthday kid
