I turned away from the door and strode toward the back of the store. “Why would I go by myself on my birthday, Carter?”
“People do solo trips all the time.”
“Really? Have you ever met me?”
I could tell he was trying to temper his reaction to my irritation. “Okay, then get us a penthouse suite, and I’ll come there after practice since your mother will be here to watch the children. I’m sorry. This is why I don’t like making big plans on your birthday, especially when I have to travel with the team. Shit happens.”
“This feels like my twenty-first birthday all over again.”
He grumbled, “Don’t make me feel worse than I do.”
“Do you really feel bad? You planned this because I hung up on your ass. Maybe you’re glad you have an excuse not to go with me.”
“Come on, why wouldn’t I feel bad? No matter what you think, I still wanted to make your birthday special.”
I gritted my teeth. “Then start off by apologizing and figuring out how to make it up to me instead of calling me with a lame-ass answer of traveling to Napa Valley, a place I’ve never been, without you on my birthday.”
He replied tersely, “I have to go. Are you getting us a suite or not?”
I tapped my foot. “Are you going to have me waiting? You’ve done it before, and I’m not up for it tonight when I could be with my children and mother.”
He sighed loudly. “Get a suite, and I’ll be there in time for dinner.”
“How about I get a suite, and you find somewhere else to stay? I also know how these things work.”
“Darren,” he growled. “I’m not sleeping without you.”
“You were ready to send me alone to another city a few seconds ago? Maybe I don’t want to wait for you...wondering if I should eat or wait because whenever you can’t give me a definite time, I end up doing that. Today is my day. So, either be at the suite by seven or don’t bother at all.”
“Just text me the address of the damn hotel when you find one. I have to go.”
“Go then.” I huffed and then clicked off the cell.
I stalked to the door and opened it. Grey leaned against the building, hands thrust in his pockets. “Can you spend the day with me as a friend?”
Grey pushed off the building, wearing a frown. “Everything okay?”
“Can you spend the day with me or not?” I placed my hands on my hips.
He grinned and held his hands up. “Chill. I would love to. As long as you leave that nasty attitude right here.”
I wryly smiled, exhaling my anger. “Done. Now, let’s go have fun.”
As I finally blew out my candles with Grey watching, my only wish was that my children would survive and continue to thrive after the tsunami that was about to hit the family.
