NICK
“Happy birthday to youuuuuu!”the crowd sang as I leaned down and blew out my candles.
The X-rated wish I’d made floated in my head as applause broke out as I scanned the room for Skye, the only woman who could make my wish come true. I’d only gotten a few moments with her all night. She was keeping her distance from me. I tried not to let it fuck with my head, but it did. I kept worrying that she was going to leave and not say goodbye. I’d made her pinky promise that she wouldn’t, but that hadn’t eased my stress that she would.
The party was being held at The Monroe Art Deco Lounge. The space had a Great Gatsby or Casino Royale vibe. A grandiose thirty-foot Italian marble bar framed by bronze mirrors and ornate chandeliers set the moody tone in the space. That sexy Old Hollywood vibe continued with oversized leather and velvet-tufted booths surrounding pine hardwood floors that were the perfect space for dancing or mingling.
Alex and Maddox had outdone themselves. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. The perfect venue, the perfect music, the perfect mixology drinks, and two hundred partygoers. Growing up the way we had, birthdays hadn’t always been positive things in our lives. They weren’t celebrated or even remembered. I couldn’t count the number of birthdays as a kid I’d wished that even one person would wish me a happy birthday. To have the day celebrated like this meant so much to me.
As much as I appreciated my friends putting this together, the truth was, I’d rather just be alone with Skye to celebrate. Or, at the very least, have her by my side. But at this point, I was just glad she’d shown up.
The cake was cut, and as it was handed out, Alex pulled me into a hug. “Hey old man, happy fortieth. We’re going to take off.”
“Thanks for doing this, man. I love you.” I was surprised the newlyweds had stayed as long as they had. I slapped him on his back. “Now, take your bride home.”
Alex saluted me.
Maddox and I stood and watched Sadie and Alex leave. He wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and leaned into him. As miserable as I was about my own personal life, I was beyond happy for my friend. His life had not been easy, with the loss of his wife and son, if anyone deserved a happy ending, it was him. And he’d found it in Sadie.
“I’m so glad he found her,” Maddox voiced my inner thoughts.
“Yeah, and I’m glad you and Peyton found your way back to each other.” Maddox and Peyton had dated in high school, but she moved away unexpectedly. Twenty years later, they were reunited at their high school reunion.
Maddox nodded. “Now that just leavesyou.”
I nodded, and my gaze fell on Skye. She looked to be in deep conversation with Jada. The two had been hanging out all night. As happy as I was to see them getting along, I wished I’d been the one spending time with Skye.
“What’s going on with you two?” Maddox asked.
I didn’t need to ask who he was talking about. I turned toward him and answered honestly. “Nothing.”
He tilted his head to the side, indicating he was calling a silent bullshit. I wish I was lying, but that was the truth.
“We hooked up a couple times, but she doesn’t date, and I’m… I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m all fucked in my head."
A wrinkle appeared above Maddox’s nose as his brows furrowed. “Is it because of what’s going on with your mom?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Or maybe it’s turning forty. I told Dr. Lavine I thought I was having a midlife crisis.”
“Really? What did he think?”
“He said that was interesting and asked me why I thought that.”
“And?” Maddox prompted.
“And I told him that I haven’t been myself. I’m not interested in dating anyone. I am thinking about things I’ve never thought about before.”
“Like what?”
“Like getting married. Settling down.”
“It sounds like love, not a midlife crisis.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I knew that my feelings for Skye were different than what I’d ever felt for anyone else, but that didn’t explain the block of cement that was sitting in my gut.
That couldn’t be how love felt. Could it?
I was about to ask Maddox if he thought that’s what it was when Peyton joined us.
