“Wow, that was…thanks.”
Dexter snickered gleefully. “You should see your face. The good news is…it’s over and since you’re here, you get free donuts—including today’s special, my soon-to-be famous peanut butter and jelly donut.”
I beamed. “No way.”
“Way.”
I accepted birthday well-wishes like a champ, along with a complimentary cup of herbal tea and a box of donuts, then followed Rhona and Harry outside.
“So…Ivy?”
Rhona chuckled. “Yes. We saw Coop and the kids last week before he took them to Fallbrook. They were buzzing with stories about their new neighbor. They’re quite taken with you.”
“That’s nice to hear. I think they’re pretty awesome too.”
“They sure are,” Harry agreed. “And let me tell you, they’re amazingly well-adjusted.”
Rhona pursed her lips as if she’d tasted a lemon. “That’s all Cooper’s doing.”
“Oh, now…give Sarah credit too,” Harry chided. “She’s a good mom.”
“Hmm.” Another lemony look later, Rhona patted my arm, then hooked hers through Harry’s. They shuffled off together, calling out birthday greetings in their wake. “Feliz cumpleaños, Joyeux anniversaire, Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!”
I didn’t bother hiding my monster grin. Maybe thirty-seven wasn’t such a bad birthday after all.
And it got better, too.
I was inundated with text greetings from friends and family, including a video from Val of him and his baby daughter, Gigi, in their pool.
“Wave to Uncle Si. Can you say happy birthday?” Vally asked the baby, turning to the camera with a wide-eyed shocked expression as Gigi babbled and sucked her fist. “Did you hear that? This kid is a genius! Happy birthday, buddy. Miss you, and I actually mean it. I bumped into your agent at Nobu and he’s got me thinking you met someone in Vermont. I might have to come out there and see what’s goin’ on. Love ya!”
Alli left a voice mail. “Hey, you. Happy birthday. I’m planning a trip to Boston this summer and I want to meet up. Liam could join us…or not. We can decide later. I’d love to see you. Eat all the cake!”
Two months ago, that would have been an automatic hell no. I had no desire to get stuck in a megastar’s vortex with my ex. Now? It didn’t sound terrible. I had a life of my own that didn’t revolve around football and yes, I was probably on borrowed time, but maybe not. I mean…the longer I was in Wood Hollow, the more I saw a glimmer of something here for me. I could commute, I could buy Vally’s house, I could…be with Cooper.
Okay, I was getting ahead of myself. But fuck, it was my birthday, baby.
And any day that started with two orgasms and ended with homemade chocolate cake got top marks in my book.
“…happy birthday to you!”
“And many more!”
“From channel four!”
“And Scooby Doo on channel two!”
I shot a three-way WTF between Cooper, Chase, and Ivy huddling around me at the kitchen island. “Is there more?”
“Nope. Blow out your candles before I have to find my fire extinguisher,” Cooper snarked.
“And make a wish,” Ivy reminded me.
“You should close your eyes,” Chase piped up. “It always works better for me.”
I took his advice, squeezed my eyes shut and blew out the candles on the four-layered, slightly lopsided cake liberally iced with chocolate frosting and decorated with blue sprinkles, and thirty-seven red candles. Yep, I counted them.
I helped pluck out the candles, oohing and ahhing over Ivy’s masterpiece…as I’d done since I’d walked into Cooper’s house and realized they’d basically thrown me a small party. The banner Cooper had put away when he’d left for the mill that morning was up again, along with a few balloons. We’d feasted on grilled burgers, corn, and potato salad, and now cake.
