“Is Phil still chewing his ear off about his restaurant?” Aunt Reneetsked as she swept her gaze over the couch, where my uncle droned on, and Joe sat in rapt attention. “You’re right, he is a tolerant man.”
I grinned, loving having Joe here with my family. He was too good of a person to be anything but friendly and respectful when they all swarmed us the second we stepped foot in the door. Having Joe in my life was a gift I’d never expected to get, and I enjoyed every second.
“Where the hell are the candles?” My mother rummaged through one of her many junk drawers before I tried to wave her off.
“I’m thirty-four, candles aren’t necessary.”
“Of course, they are.” My mother banged the box of old, reused-God-knows-how-many-times candles on her kitchen counter.
“You didn’t lie about your age, did you?” Rosa dropped a hand on my arm, her brow furrowed in concern.
I tried to hide my eye roll before shooting my cousin a glare. “No, I did not. Thirty-four isn’t old. In fact,” I said before catching Joe’s gaze .“I feel younger all the time.” He wore a dark blue sweater molded to his torso and dark jeans. His lips spread into a wide grin, and I wished we could move along with dessert so he could spreadmeback at my apartment. Something about having Joe in my apartment and in my bed excited the hell out of me. I’d been visiting him the past three weekends, thanks to my new work schedule, but this was the first time he was able to come in to see me.
The Halloween Scavenger Hunt had been a success, and, next week, I’d be helping Joe and Dominic decorate for the Christmas tour I’d discovered online. The Beach Pub didn’t quite see the summer volume of business, but it had a lot more activity than usual after their busy season ended. My chest swelled with pride that I was able to help Joe and that I didn’t have to keep ungodly long hours to feel good about what I did for a living.
I went out into the living room and made my way over to Joe. There was no room on the couch, and I’d never hear the end of it if I planted myself on his lap. I stood next to him, rubbing his back in slow, hopefully, soothing circles.
“Thank you for your patience,” I whispered as he rested his head on my hip.
“I’m happy to be here. No need for thank you.” He nodded toward the dining room table. “Now, I see why you love dessert so much. I own a restaurant, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much food in one day.”
“We like to eat.” I shrugged. “And on holidays, we eat a lot.” My aunt fluttered around the cake, fussing with the lighter.
“Where did you find a three and a four?” I groaned as I made my way over to the table after spotting two mint green number candles shoved into the cake.
My mother shrugged. “I saved them from when you were little and just found them now. Easier than counting them out.”
“Who knew candles lasted that long?” My Uncle Zaro snickered before elbowing my side.
Joe snaked his arm around my waist from behind.
“Can we leave after the cake?” His words fanning hot against my neck triggered goose bumps down my shoulder. “I need to wish a hot cougar averyhappy birthday.”
My mouth fell open before I turned my head. “I amnotthat much older than you are. Three years does not make a cougar.”
His lips twisted as his head cocked from side to side. “Technically, now, it’s almost four. But—”
Joe was cut off by the off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” my family bellowed out. My icy glare only made him laugh harder.
As a kid, I’d put a lot of effort into my wish each year. My family would yell to blow out the candles already, but I took my time because I refused to waste my wish. Yet, I’d never really expected anything I’d wished for to come true. Today, I blew the candles right out.
After years of being afraid to go outside the lines, and only doing what I thought I was supposed to do, this was the year I realized all it had cost me and all I’d missed. I finally believed I deserved more than the tiresome life I’d allowed myself to have, and on one lowly Thursday night, I jumped in my car and decided to do something about it. After a lifetime of making excuses out of fear, I’d learned there was always room for the important things in life, and how important it was to fight for them, even when they seemed impossible.
Joe buried his head into my neck and brushed a kiss behind my ear.
“I love you,” he whispered. “Happy early birthday, baby.”
I didn’t need my wish, because this was the year they all came true.
Epilogue
One year later
Joe
“Nervous?” Dominic asked as we closed out the register for the day.
“Nope. What’s there to be nervous about? We pretty much live together now. That’s like being married already. This is just sealing the deal, right?”
