“Positive.”
“Thanks, babe.”
“Sure.” I manage to say this without whimpering. No one has ever called mebabe, and the way it naturally rolls off his tongue makes me melt.
He goes back to the computer and begins typing furiously as he talks. “I’m posting this. We’re going to flood this place with people who understand that Cassie deserves the best birthday ever. This kid is going to know how many people are on her side.” His face has such solid determination as he works on his post, and I am even more captivated by him. “There. Done.” Esben stands up. “Okay, everybody, move. We’re on the clock.”
Danny stands and towers over us. “I’m gonna make a much better princess than you, Jase.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. Just you wait. I am going to rock this out so hard.”
Esben shoves them both playfully and pushes them to the door. “Go, go, guys.” We hear their princess debate and screeching harmonica sounds continue down the hall.
Kerry gives him a quick hug and takes the car keys. “Love you, Baby Blue. We’ll be fast, I promise.” She goes to the door and coughs too loudly. “I’ll give you two a second. Sorry for breaking things up.”
Esben reaches for my hand and pulls me up. “I’m going to stay here and keep track of the comments. See what else we can come up with. I bet anything that someone will come up with something awesome. I’ll also call this bounce place and let them know what’s coming their way. See if they’ve got more rooms they can open up.”
Everything about him is electrified right now. He’s got an energy and a drive that has him totally on fire.
I put a hand on the side of his face, and I can’t help but shake my head a little with disbelief. “You’re like a goddamn superhero, aren’t you?”
He laughs lightly. “Hardly. I just can’t let this little girl be sad. At least not today.”
The next five hours secure that I am falling for Esben the way he is falling for me. He creates much more than a birthday party. He creates a near festival. The bounce place opens every room they have, and people stream in—with the overflow crowd hanging out in the parking lot like tailgaters at a football game—and there are so many balloons and metallic streamers and dresses and crowns and presents that I can hardly see straight.
Best of all, there is a truly happy little girl who has the party of all parties and who is undeniably and totally delighted by it all, and a mother who’s nearly speechless with gratitude.
When the party begins to wind down, I find Esben. He’s pulling off his pale-blue dress with its poufy tulle skirt, and I take his hand.
“You’re wonderful. You know that?” I say. “I could have used someone like you when I was a kid.”
He looks at me so intently and with such care. “I’d have moved mountains for you, Allison.”
“I believe that.” I start for the door, then turn back. “Esben? No more push and pull. No more wariness. I’m completely in this with you. I think I have been from the minute you picked up my ice cubes, but I just didn’t know it.”
CHAPTER 18
SHATTER ME
It’s the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, and I’m getting ready to go to Kerry’s art show. Last week, I hitched a ride down to Massachusetts with Esben and Kerry, and although I could tell Esben wanted to meet Simon when they dropped me off at my house, and I know Simon wanted to meet Esben, I wasn’t ready. That blending of worlds felt weird at the time, but I’m regretting it a little now. Maybe over winter break... and I cannot wait for Steffi to finally meet Esben when she comes for Christmas, as she does every year.
Back in my dorm room, Esben is at my desk and has been alternating between catching up on his social-media pages and sneaking glances at me. I’ve been fussing with my hair and trying to put on eyeliner the way Steffi taught me, and I’m not sure what’s so interesting about that. But he keeps looking at me.
When I’m finally done, he spins to face me with a mischievous expression. “You look good,” he says with a certain edge that I like.
“Thank you.”
“That dress...” He eyes me up and down. “It’s hot.”
I wrinkle my brow. “It’s not hot. It’s a long-sleeve wrap dress.”
He reaches out and strokes a hand over my waist. “One that hugs you in all the right places. You’re oblivious to how gorgeous you are.” His touch goes to my lower back, and he guides me closer until he’s pulled me into his lap. Immediately, his mouth is buried against my neck, kisses covering my skin, grazing over the top of my chest.
I tilt my head back. “I should wear dresses more...”
“And purple. Purple looks great on you,” he murmurs. “We still have thirty minutes until we have to leave. Think we could find something to do?” He pushes aside the top of my dress, and his mouth goes just above my bra line.
Esben wasn’t kidding when he told me there was a spectrum. I haven’t even taken my pants off with him yet, but he’s somehow managed to keep us very busy these past few weeks. And given the way his tongue feels and the way he’s periodically sucking on my skin, I’m pretty tempted to rip off my dress right this second.
