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“But I don’t need it.”

Lilah snuck up behind Charlotte, swiping the vase and cuddling it to her chest. “It’s your birthday. You don’t have to need it.”

Charlotte spun on her, holding out her hands. “Give it.”

“No,” Lilah said, nose lifting into the air. “I wanna get it for her.”

“I touched it first.”

“Yes, but presents are my thing.”

An arm slid over Ali’s shoulders as Lizzie appeared, sighing as though they’d all been through this song and dance a time or two.

“Presents are both their things,” Lizzie explained. “Every Christmas, they have a contest to see who gives the best one. They call it, ‘winning Christmas.’”

Ali looped her arm around Lizzie’s waist, watching as Charlotte and Lilah continued to argue over who would purchase the vase.

“Well,” Lizzie sighed, “they’ll be here a while.” She perked up. “There’s a bakery across the street?”

Ali grinned and spun them toward the door. “I love bread.”

Lizzie, Charlotte, and Lilah accompanied Ali back to her apartment for a little while. Lilah wandered through her space, hunting for the perfect spot to put the vase she bought her, eventually settling on the TV stand. Charlotte had flowers delivered in record time.

The four of them piled onto the couch, Ali and Charlotte snuggled beneath a blanket while Lilah and Lizzie kept trying to steal the majority of their shared blanket. Ali didn’t pay them much mind as her favorite movie played on the screen. After the first film, Lizzie and Lilah made their departure, leaving Charlotte and Ali to enjoy stolen kisses and their favorite take out as falling leaves drifted past the window.

As evening crept in, Charlotte insisted they both get dressed for dinner, admitting she made a reservation.

“I forgot to grab your best present in my haste to get to you yesterday,” Charlotte said as they climbed into her car. “We have enough time to swing by and collect it, I think.”

Dressed to impress, they drove to Charlotte’s, their conversation light and easy as always.

“Come inside and I’ll sing and play you a happy birthday song on the piano,” Charlotte offered as they pulled into the driveway. “We should have time for one or two requests if that interests you.”

“Have you ever fucked anyone on your piano?” Ali wiggled her eyebrows, hungry gaze tracing Charlotte’s form.

“You’re ridiculous,” Charlotte replied with a shake of her head, stepping out of the car and leading the way up the walkway.

“That’s not an answer,” Ali said, trotting after her giggling, eyes glued on Charlotte’s ass and the sway of her hips.

Charlotte unlocked the door and made her way down the hall toward the kitchen. “Maybe I’ll call and have our reservation pushed back a bit.”

A little shiver ran through her as she followed Charlotte, distracted by the delectable scents filling the air, making Ali’s mouth water, though she couldn’t quite place them.

“Hey, I just wanna say thanks for making this birthday a good one. It really means a lot⁠—”

Her words were cut off as they rounded the corner, voices erupted at once.

“Surprise!”

Ali shrieked, grabbing Charlotte’s arm as fright snapped through her. Her brain caught up as a chorus of happy birthday surrounded her.

Her gaze swept the room. Everyone was there. The Davenports, Carters, Pryces, Wren, a few of her artist and Blend & Brew friends, Imani, and even Leah were there. This was a party for her.

Charlotte slipped an arm around Ali’s waist and kissed her cheek. By the end of the song, the shock wore off enough for a smile to blossom across her face.

Mouth opening and closing, all Ali managed was a thin, breathless thank you, while treacherous tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.

Wren bounded toward her, lifting Ali off her feet in a bear hug.