They all texted me at some point throughout the day, but I can’t fight the voice inside me saying it isn’t enough.Not nearly enough.
Pulling in a deep breath, I try my best to let it go. I’m going to just appreciate a fun night with some of my favorite people.
If I wasn’t so lost in my thoughts, I might have realized the car had come to a stop, and my door was pulled open.
I yelp, jerking back into the seat when a hand rests on my forearm. It isn’t Riley’s hand, that’s for damn sure.
Too big… and rough.
The headphones are moved an inch from my ear. “It’s me.” Cole’s voice rings through my ears before the headphones snap back into place.
I relax, knowing it’s him. He helps me step from the car. As soon as I’m steady on the ground, I smack his chest. I can feel him vibrating with laughter.
He just wraps his arm around me, guiding me forward. I have no idea where we are, but I trust Cole not to steer me straight into oncoming traffic.
He helps me up a few steps, then stops me. The headphones are removed. The sound rushing back in at once is almost dizzying.
A faint rock song. Clinking glasses. Quiet voices.
Gentle hands that I’m assuming are Riley’s pull the blindfold free. I have to squint as the brightness assaults my eyes.
Confusion settles in first as I realize we’re not at the steakhouse. We’re at Benny’s.
An explosion of “surprise” and “happy birthday” rings out around me. A sea of familiar faces smiles back at me, but I can only focus on the three men standing behind the bar.
Their eyes are locked on me, and despite the chaos in the room, I can’t look anywhere else.
I’m quickly engulfed in hugs from people who I am genuinely happy to see, but I don’t feel like I can actually breathe until I’m standing in front of them.
Wyatt is the first one to pull me in for a hug. “Happy birthday,” he says, smacking a kiss to my forehead.
I hold him close, trying to absorb a bit of the sunshiny happiness he always seems to radiate.
I’m shuffled over to his brother next. I haven’t been face-to-face with Linc since he walked me to my door in the wee hours of the morning.
The intensity in his eyes matches the energy radiating from the memories of that night.
His lips brush over the shell of my ear. “Happy birthday, angel.”
There are a million things I want to say to him, but I settle for, “Thank you.” It isn’t the time or the place, but even if the setting was different, I don’t know if the things floating through my mind should even be said.
His hand ghosts down my back, setting shivers loose in my extremities.
Kane pulls me against his chest in a hug that is pure comfort. He has the ability to set my nerves alive with desire and settle my soul with his unflappable presence.
“I can’t believe you guys did this,” I say.
“Of course we did. It’s your birthday, and you’re…” He pauses for a second. “It’s you.”
He doesn’t need to elaborate. I’m pretty sure I get what he means because I feel the same way about each of them.
The eighties pop song plays through the speakers, sending electricity through my veins. I can’t keep the smile from my face as I spin in a circle, surrounded by my girlfriends.
Linc grumbled about my poor music choices, but he said he would let it go tonight since it was my birthday. He did firmly promise to teach me to appreciate good music, whatever that means.
If he’s the one teaching, though, I won’t resist.
I catch Wyatt’s eye from across the room, and I use my finger to motion him toward me. His grin is devilish as he crosses the room.
