She smiles, looking relieved, and my heart melts a little more. “The Birthday Boy gets what he wants. Let’s find a spot,” she says, leading me to a cozy nook in the back of the store.
I settle into a big bean bag, but instead of sitting in the one next to mine, she sits halfway on my lap, resting the back of her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her waist, feeling the comforting warmth of her body against mine. She opens the book and begins to read aloud, her voice low, just for me.
As she reads, I rest my chin on her shoulder, following along with the text and breathing in her scent. My hand moves up and down her side, feeling the rise and fall of her breaths. I close my eyes for a moment, just savoring the feeling of being this close, of sharing this moment with her.
We spend the next couple of hours wrapped up in each other and the story. We eat snacks, laugh, and talk about the book between chapters. Each shared smile and gentle touch eases my nerves.
This is perfect.
More than perfect.
It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
I notice Amelia’s eyes growing heavy, her head resting more firmly against my shoulder. Gently, I stroke her hair, my heart swelling with affection. “This was the best birthday ever,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Let’s get you home.”
She smiles sleepily and nods. We stand, and I take the special edition. On the way to the cashier, I grab another copy of it.
At the counter, I pay for both books, and as we leave, I hand her one. “Happy birthday,” I say with a grin.
She looks at me, puzzled. “It’s not my birthday today.”
“I know, but I owe you a birthday present. And, well, it’s not really my birthday today either.”
She laughs, shaking her head.
We walk to the car, the night air cool and crisp. On the drive home, more than once, I reach for her hand, bringing it to my lips to kiss the back of it. I’m already addicted to the feel of her on my lips, the taste of her skin.
When we arrive at our building, we take the elevator up to her floor with me holding her hand the entire way. We come to a stop in front of her door, and my nerves pick up again.
This night has been everything I hoped for and more.
I don’t want it to end already.
“Thank you… for tonight.”
She looks up at me, her eyes shining with happiness and something deeper, something that mirrors the longing in my own heart. “I had a lot of fun.”
We don’t make a move to part, both of us lingering.
I can’t bear to let this end without one last kiss.
Leaning in slowly, I almost grin when our lips meet, the kiss soft. Her lips respond to mine with a sweetness that makes my heart race. I can feel the warmth of her breath, the slight tremble in her touch as she holds onto me.
When we part, I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against my chest. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, I breathe in the scent of her hair.
“Goodnight, my Fave,” I whisper, letting all the affection and promise I feel flow through my words.
She snuggles into my embrace for a moment, then turns her head to look up at me with a sweet smile, her chin resting on my chest. “Goodnight.”
Reluctantly, she steps back and slips inside her apartment, giving me one last look before the door closes behind her. I wait, listening to the quiet click of the lock, ensuring she’s safely inside.
As I turn and head back to the elevator, I feel like I’m flying, my feet barely touching the ground. This night has been more than I ever dreamed of.
I know we still have a lot to figure out, but for now, this is enough.
This is everything.
THIRTY-FOUR
