Chapter 10
TEN
After the painful recovery,my face is finally healed. As I prepare to return to college, I can”t help but feel frustrated that my first day back falls on my birthday. In the midst of my mixed emotions, my phone suddenly starts buzzing nonstop, with countless Happy Birthday messages from friends and family flooding my inbox. Amidst the chaos, my mother”s call comes through and wishes me a Happy Birthday, as well. The signal is spotty and I can hardly hear her on the phone as she is still away on holiday.
I make my way into the kitchen and a sight greets me. Nate, Mike, and Cain are all standing there, each wearing colorful birthday hats and holding party poppers. Before I can even react, they set off the poppers, filling the room with a popping sound and confetti. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Nate and Mike shout in unison while Cain has a rather unimpressed expression on his face, clearly not thrilled about having to wear a silly hat. Despite Cain”s lack of enthusiasm, the festive atmosphere is infectious and I can”t help but grin from ear to ear at the surprise.
Cain approaches me with a gentle touch on my waist. He leans closer and whispers, “Happy Birthday, princess,” into my ear, making my heart race. I turn to him and plant a soft kiss on his lips, feeling grateful for his presence.
I then walk toward Nate and Mike, who are waiting eagerly with a big box and two smaller ones on the table. “Open them,” Mike instructs with a grin.
I slowly unwrap the small boxes to reveal two stunning pieces of jewelry. One box contains a magnificent necklace with a green emerald pendant, while the other has a matching bracelet. I am speechless for a moment, admiring the intricate details and the way the gems catch the light. “Wow,” I whisper in amazement, feeling overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for such thoughtful gifts.
Nate hands me the large gift box wrapped in shiny, green paper. I eagerly take the box from him and carefully begin to remove the wrapping paper, revealing the contents within. My heart skips a beat as I catch a glimpse of the beautiful, emerald green, silk dress that I had eyed in the boutique window. With trembling hands, I lift the dress from the box, admiring how the light catches the silky fabric. I can”t resist the urge to put it up to my body. I twirl around in front of the trio, my eyes sparkling with joy.
“I can”t believe you got me this,” I exclaim, grateful and happy.
Nate leans in and kisses my cheek, causing a warm blush to spread across my face. “I knew how bad you wanted that dress. You can wear it tonight. Cain told us about that restaurant you”ve been dying to go to,” he says, holding out the box.
My heart swells with gratitude as I take the box from his outstretched hand.
“Thank you so much,” I say as my voice fills with emotion. “You three are too good to me.” With a smile, I place the dress back in the box, feeling incredibly lucky to have them in my life.
Nate nudges my shoulder, suggesting, “Maybe you could pull a sick day and we could all spend the day together. After all, it is your birthday.”
Mike, standing beside us, crosses his arms and looks unimpressed. “No, she had last week off. I can”t cover for her anymore, I”m afraid,” he says firmly.
Cain rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disbelief.
“Mike is right. I have coursework to catch up on and I can”t afford to take the day off. I can”t wait for this evening, though. It”s going to be fantastic,” I reply with a smile.
Mike and Nate express how they can’t wait for this evening and leave the kitchen to get ready for work.
Meanwhile, Cain stands motionless, his face emotionless as he stares at me. I feel slightly nervous under his gaze, but try to shake it off with a giggle. “What”s up?” I ask, hoping to break the tension in the air.
“I”m not very good with birthdays and special occasions. I never really celebrated mine while growing up,” Cain admits, sounding apologetic.
“It”s alright, Cain. I completely understand,” I say, moving closer to him and wrapping my arms around his neck in a comforting embrace.
“I know that you got me the beautiful necklace, by the way,” I add, flashing him a grateful smile. “How did you know?” he inquires, sounding a little surprised.
“You’ve always liked something around my neck,” I explain, smiling at him playfully.
He grabs my ass with both of his hands tightly, making my body jolt up, and lets out a deep laugh.
I strolldown the college hallway behind Mike. He turns his face to the side and my eyes are drawn to his impeccable appearance. He looks dashing in his snug, white shirt with his hair, which has grown long enough to be tied back, adding to his allure. A hint of stubble on his face catches my attention. Damn, I am so horny today.
He strides confidently into the classroom. I follow closely behind, feeling slightly nervous. Rae gives me a warm greeting and extends a purple gift bag my way. Without warning, she bellows out, “Happy Birthday, bitch!” causing the attention of the entire class to turn towards us. I feel my face turn red with embarrassment. I take the gift bag from her and thank her while trying to keep my cool. I open the bag and I notice a pleasant fragrance emanating from it. I find a beautiful perfume bottle inside and I can”t help but exclaim, “Rae! You really shouldn”t have. This perfume is so expensive!”
Mike suddenly interrupts our conversation, drawing everyone”s attention to me. “Is it your birthday, Tessie?” he asks, a smug look on his face. Feeling confused and caught off-guard, I confirm that it is indeed my birthday. Mike then leans on his desk and rallies the class to sing Happy Birthday to me, causing my face to turn bright red with embarrassment. As much as I try to hide it, I can feel everyone”s eyes on me, making me even more uncomfortable. While I thank everyone for their kind wishes, I can”t help but feel a burning sense of anger towards Mike for putting me in this position. I vow to get him back later, but for now, I just want to disappear into the background. I look back at Rae who is singing loudly and proudly.
I pull out the chair beside Rae”s computer and thank her again for the thoughtful birthday gift. With a smile, I reach for my phone and open the group chat, composing a quick text.
Me
I hate you, Mike. xx
Nate
Oh no! What has he done? Xx
Me
He got the whole class to sing Happy Birthday to me. I was so embarrassed. Xx
Nate
The whole class?! xx
Me
Yup. Don’t worry I’ll get him back later. He can watch while you and Cain fuck me. He won’t get anything, hehe. ;) Xx
Cain
I like the sound of that.
I raise my gaze from my phone screen. Mike”s class is in full swing and my attention shifts to Mike, who is sitting at his desk. Just as I look at him, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.
Mike
Oh, shh. You’ll be begging for me… x
Me
Yeah. Yeah. We’ll see. Xx
Mine and Mike’s eyes meet, and he winks at me with a smile. I can”t help but feel a flutter in my stomach. I put my phone away and focus on my coursework.
Rae turns to me and speaks softly, her voice barely audible above the chatter of the crowded college cafeteria, “What are you doing tonight for your birthday? I”m thinking drinks.” My stomach churns with guilt and I know I”m about to lie to her again.
“I”m going out for dinner with family,” I explain, trying to keep my tone casual and carefree.
“Oh, ok. Do you wanna go out this weekend and celebrate?” Rae”s eyes light up with excitement and hope.
“I”ll have to let you know, we have plans with family this weekend,” I reply, already feeling the weight of the lie bearing down on me.
“Tess, is everything ok? I never see you anymore outside of college.” Rae”s expression is one of concern and I feel a pang of regret for avoiding her.
My heart sinks and I want to tell her the truth, but I can”t. I hate lying to her. I knew the trio would never let me out of their sights.
“Yeah, everything is fine. I”ve just been super busy, that”s all. We will do something soon. I promise.” I force a smile, hoping to appease Rae”s concern and alleviate my guilt.
“I understand, babe,” she says, her voice gentle and understanding. “What if we go to the local bar at lunchtime? It can be my treat since it”s your birthday, after all. I could invite Archie and his friends. He found me on social media and we have been talking since. He’s a nice guy.” I feel myself stuttering slightly as I try to respond. “Uh, sure,” I manage to say, my heart racing with nervous anticipation.
In a hurry, I quickly reach for my phone and start typing a message in our group chat, hoping Mike will notice it amidst the flurry of messages.
Me
Just to let you know, Rae wants to take me to the local bar at lunchtime as a birthday treat. She and Archie have been speaking on social media and she”s going to invite him, too. x
Cain
Say you can’t go and you want to stay at college. Period.
Me
I can’t! I will get loads of questions! I’ve said yes now. It’s only lunch.
Nate
What time are you going? And where? x
Me
It will be at lunchtime, so in about an hour. The bar down the road from the college. x
Nate
I will be there. I’ll sit at another table. x
I glance up and my eyes fall on Mike. He is furiously typing away on his phone, sitting at his desk. His face is contorted with anger and frustration and his fingers seem to move unnaturally fast.
Mike
I will join Nate and be there too. x
Cain
Watch her, you two.
Me
Are you always going to be this protective over me?
Cain
Yup. Thought you would have established this by now.
Me
It would be nice to breathe, you know.
The clock strikesnoon and my stomach grumbles in anticipation of lunchtime. I glance at Rae, who seems equally eager to escape the classroom. For a moment, I relish the freedom of not being watched by one of the trio. However, I know my respite will be short-lived once we enter the bustling bar nearby.
I tell Rae that I had bumped into Archie at a charity event and hope she wouldn”t ask too many questions about that night. I lie, saying to her that I went with my mom because I don’t want to tell her about Cain.
We make our way into the bar and the warm, welcoming ambiance immediately embraces us. Archie greets us with a smile and leads us to a well-lit table where his friends await. While we settle in, I notice Nate and Mike standing by the bar, deep in conversation. Rae leans in and whispers, “Oh, look, Mike”s here, too. I wonder who that hottie is with him.” Sensing my concern, I quickly reassure her that he”s probably here for lunch, just like us. As we make our way to the table, I can”t help but notice that we”re the only two women among a group of eight men. My eyes dart over to Nate and Mike, who have now taken a seat at a nearby table, their conversation still going strong.
Archie leans back in his chair and asks me, “So, Tessie, how did you find the charity event then?” I respond, “It was lovely, thank you for asking. Where”s the menu? I”m starving.” I try to change the subject. Everyone starts grabbing the menus and scanning through the options, trying to figure out what they would like for lunch.
Archie”s voice echoes, “Tessie, you just disappeared without saying goodbye.”
“Yeah, I was so tired. Sorry,” I say, trying to brush off the uncomfortable moment. In an attempt to deflect the attention away from myself, I ask, “What”s everyone getting to eat, then?” The group discussion shifts to food as everyone chimes in with their preferred options.
A friendly waiter approaches us with a warm smile and a notepad in hand, ready to take our orders. I lean towards Rae and quietly ask her to keep my birthday a secret from the rest of the group, to which she nods in agreement.
Shortly after, the waiter brings over our drinks, carefully balancing them on a tray. Some of Archie”s friends opt for cold, refreshing beers despite having classes to attend later. Rae and I decide to stick to soda.
Archie”s friends begin bombarding me with questions. Initially, they seemed harmless enough–basic small talk about where I work and how I know Archie. However, things quickly took a turn for the personal. They wanted to see if I was single, where I lived, and if I had any plans for the weekend. I couldn”t help but feel a little uneasy about the whole situation, especially since they weren”t asking Rae, who was sitting right next to me, the same questions. It left me wondering if there was some sort of ulterior motive behind their line of questioning.
Out of nowhere, I hear a ping from my phone and notice a notification for a group message. Curious, I quickly open my phone to see the message.
Mike
Stay calm. Don’t give them too many details. xx
Me
I don”t understand why they ask me so much personal stuff and not Rae. xx
Cain
What the fuck is going on? Need me to show up?
Nate
Nothing, it”s ok.
The atmosphere at lunch turns sour as the conversation shifts to Dan. The group expresses their concern about Dan”s absence, wondering aloud if anyone has heard from him lately. Archie”s gaze meets mine as they discuss, portraying an emotionless stare that hints at knowledge or suspicion of something beyond the surface. We both sit there staring at each other, not even blinking.
He knows. I know he knows.
The tension in the air is tense.
The conversation drones on and I rack my brain for a way to change the subject. Suddenly, an idea strikes me. I reach for my glass of soda and tap it lightly with my finger, hoping to create a distraction. The glass slips from my hand and tumbles to the table, spilling its contents all over the surface. In an instant, the table falls silent as everyone rushes to help clean up the mess. Pretending to be mortified, I apologize profusely.
Archie stops glaring at me and he grabs napkins.
I swiftly turn my head toward Nate and Mike, scanning their expressions for any sign of approval or disapproval. To my relief, Nate flashes me a quick thumbs up and a silent wink as if to say, “Well done.” It”s a small gesture, but it fills me with confidence and reassurance.
Finally, the long-awaited food arrives at the table. The delicious aroma of the freshly cooked dishes spreads across the room, making everyone”s mouth water in anticipation. Hungry and
tired, everyone eagerly tucks in, savoring every bite of the delicious meal. The thought of the college day ending can’t come sooner.
I sinkinto the plush sofa and I let out a sigh of relief that the long college day has finally come to an end. The thought of the upcoming evening fills me with excitement and I push aside any lingering thoughts of the day’s events. Nate and Cain are still at work, as usual.
Suddenly, I hear a noise from the bathroom and head towards the hallway to investigate. To my surprise, Mike emerges from the bathroom, his damp skin glistening in the light, clad only in a white towel.
He stands there with a sly smirk, his eyes lock with mine. He lets the towel drop to the floor, drawing my attention to his massive cock. He looks down at it, still grinning. I lean up against the door frame to confront him. “You know you’re in my bad books, right?” I state with a hint of warning in my voice.
He looks at me curiously and asks, “What do I need to do to be in your good books?” As he speaks, he raises both eyebrows, places his hands on top of the door frame towering over me. His skin glistens in the light and his physique is impressive, a well-defined V-shaped torso leading down to his lower body.
His cock nearly touches me as he leans forward. He smells fresh and clean.
I want him so badly, but I didn’t want him to know that.
I turn my head away in a playful manner, rolling my eyes and flashing a flirty smile at him before I saunter off. As I walk away, I hear him let out an exasperated huff and storm off to his bedroom.
I make myself comfortable on the sofa and turn the TV on, but to my disappointment, nothing good seems to be on. Suddenly, Mike walks into the lounge, dressed in gray sweatpants and a plain, white t-shirt. He sits beside me and gently places his hand on my thigh. I feel a shiver run down my spine and I turn to him with a question on my mind.
“Mike,” I ask, my voice quivering slightly.
“Hmm,” he responds, looking at me curiously.
“Why did you choose me?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Choose you? What do you mean?”
“Why did you pick me at the club? Why did you decide to save me from that drunk guy?” I clarify, hoping he understands what I mean.
At my question, he removes his hand from my thigh and looks away.
“I’ll be honest with you. From the moment I saw you in college, you caught my eye. You seemed uninterested among the girls who were always looking at me, which made me curious. Fate brought us together when our classes joined, and that very night, I had a dream about fucking you. I couldn’t get you out of my head from that moment on. I know it sounds silly, but I knew I wanted you,” he explains.
He admits he couldn’t take his eyes off me when we were both at the club. His attraction to me was intense and he couldn’t help but imagine all the things he would have done to me that night. Despite his strong desires, he recognized that acting on them would have been highly inappropriate and unprofessional.
“I discovered your address on the college system. I want to make it clear that I didn’t follow you or engage in any kind of stalking behavior. However, I admit that I would occasionally drive by your neighborhood. It was a coincidence that I happened to drive past you that night. But I’m grateful I did. I saved you. I’ll always save you. It’s amazing how fate works sometimes and how we all came together. I wouldn’t want to change a thing,” he explains further.
I hold him close and my heart fills with warmth and tenderness. He leans into my embrace and I can feel the weight of his emotions. His voice quivers as he says, “After everything that happened with my family and the army, I always felt the need to save someone. I felt like a failure. There were so many lives I could have saved. It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that I couldn’t prevent the tragedies that occurred. However, you were the one person I managed to save. It sounds stupid, I know...”
I hold Mike close and reassure him that he doesn’t sound stupid. I express my gratitude for having him, Cain, and Nate in my life.
Mike mentioned the army and I wanted to ask questions. However, bringing up the topic might not be appropriate, as the trio is sensitive about it.
“Cain is obsessed, Nate is smitten, and me,” his voice trembles. “I just –”
Before he can finish, the front door echoes and Nate calls out in a loud voice, “Shout if you’re fucking!” With one hand over his face, he peaks over it and glances around. Then he adds with relief, “Oh good, you’re not fucking.” Nate walks over to the sofa and leans in for a tender kiss. “You better go get ready, baby,” he reminds me with a gentle smile.