27. MJ
MJ
M ac picks me up just before six, and I’m already waiting outside, too excited for whatever he has planned.
My parents were buzzing around the house like usual on a Saturday evening, but I feel a bit on edge.
Honestly, I’m always hopeful someone will throw me a surprise party, but I’m usually too afraid to get my hopes up.
The muggy air makes me thankful I opted for the short, flowy dress and sandals.
Seriously, it should be illegal to wear clothes during monsoon season in Arizona.
The rumble of an engine catches my attention and it’s quickly accompanied by the sound of gravel crunching under tires as I see Mac pull up in his Chevelle.
He parks and I walk to the car, ready to hop in and head out, but Mac gets out, running to the passenger side to open the door for me.
“Hi, baby,” he breathes, kissing my cheek as he holds the door open for me. I scoot into the car, noting the soft towel on the seat. He watches me buckle my seatbelt, buzzing with excitement. I can’t help but smile when he gets back into the driver’s seat.
“Hi, honey. How was your day?”
“Not too bad. Just busy at the shop, like always.” He pulls away from my parents’ house and heads to Main Street. Instead of turning left onto the freeway toward Cedar Bend, where I assumed we’d be going for dinner, he makes a right.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
Continuing down Main Street, Mac shakes his head but doesn’t answer. My mind swirls with possibilities. When he pulls into the shop’s driveway, my curiosity peaks. While I would love a night in, I hoped we’d be going out for my birthday.
I take a moment to shake the curiosity, trying to go with the flow and appreciate Mac’s ass in his clean jeans as he runs around the car to help me out.
His clean, dark jeans might be new, and I admire the navy Henley hugging his muscular arms. My eyes continue to peruse him, and I also notice he’s freshly shaved and his hair looks styled.
He put a lot of effort into his appearance for a night in.
Mac takes my hand and instead of heading into the shop, he leads me down the street back toward the center of town.
“Okay, seriously, where are we going?” I ask again.
Mac shakes his head, and I huff out a breath. My curiosity is going to get the best of me. We approach the building Blake and Austin took us to a few weeks ago where they want to open their restaurant and Mac knocks in a pattern— knock, knock, pause, knock, knock .
What the fuck ?
The door opens and Blake is standing there with his arm out, guiding us up the stairs.
Mac takes the lead, and I follow behind him, trying not to trip but also looking behind me to give Blake a questioning look.
He avoids my gaze, looking down at the stairs that creak beneath our feet the whole way up.
We hit the top of the steps and Mac pulls me in front of him just as Taylor Swift’s “22” starts filling the space.
My eyes go wide as I take in the room in front of me.
A row of tables lines the wall to my right, draped in a pink tablecloth and covered with plates of foods.
I guarantee Blake made mac and cheese and mashed potatoes—my favorite comfort foods.
There’s also chips and salsa, along with other snacks that I love.
Martini glasses filled with something pink cover another table.
Pink and gold streamers hung from the walls, and pink and cream balloons float along the entire ceiling.
My eyes roam across the space, and I spot Shannon standing with her parents.
Austin is with Beck, Sophie, and Noah by the large windows overlooking the creek.
Another table covered with a gold tablecloth near the far wall by the windows is stacked high with presents.
I turn to Mac with tears in my eyes and he smiles softly.
“Happy birthday, baby.” I throw my arms around him and kiss him, trying to put all the joy and happiness into the kiss. He groans, grabbing my waist.
“Come on, we can do more of that later.” He nips my bottom lip and then guides me deeper into the room.
We greet our friends, and Mac reveals how everyone pitched in to make the space as perfect as it is. I thank them all and then work around the room saying hi to ev eryone who showed up for me. One more reason I love Oakridge is the community. The good people who show up for those they care about.
Mac leans against a beam that divides the space, talking with Charlie and looking annoyed, but he catches my eye and winks.
I’m surprised to see Charlie here, but chances are, he wasn’t actually invited, and no one wants to take the time or energy to kick him out. He really is harmless, just annoying.
Noah holds Sophie from behind, his hands splayed across her baby bump as they sway to the music.
Beck smiles warmly at me from across the room and I motion for her to join me on the dance floor, but she shakes her head.
After a few songs by other artists, another Taylor Swift song blares from the speakers, and I yell for Shannon to dance with me.
She brings me a pink drink which tastes just like the one she made at Hal’s the other night.
“It’s your drink! Mac thought it would be perfect for tonight.”
I smile and sip the drink. We dance to a few more songs while more people show up. I say hi to everyone as they arrive, including Mac’s parents.
I’m dragging Mac by the hand to the dance floor when I catch my parents at the top of the stairs. I change our trajectory, still holding his hand.
“Mom, Dad! Can you believe it?” I ask.
My mom smiles warmly and shakes her head. “It looks great. Your friends did a great job.”
“Mac planned the whole thing.”
Mac opens his mouth to likely offer credit up to the others, but Shannon told me the truth while we were dancing. I give him a look and he stays quiet.
Mac lets me lead him back out on the dance floor just as Taylor Swift’s “Lover” starts playing. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he pulls me close, swaying us to the music.
He presses his lips to my neck and murmurs, “Are you happy?”
I nod my head vehemently. “So happy! Thank you for all of this.”
I feel his lips move again like he’s going to deny it was all him, but I shake my head. “I know it was your idea, you just relied on our friends to execute.”
He chuckles softly, his warm breath tickling my neck.
The party lasts a few hours, everyone eating and mingling.
It was nice to see my parents talk with Jim and Nancy.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen them together.
The night was perfect, full of laughter and good times with my friends.
People start to leave, giving me hugs, and birthday wishes, and I thank each of them for coming.
Pretty soon it’s just the Dream Team left. I look around the space, taking in the mess left over from the party and spy a box of trash bags on the back counter. Making a beeline for the bags, I yelp when I’m grabbed by the waist.
“Don’t you dare,” Mac growls in my ear.
“I just want to help clean up.”
“Nope, it’s your party. You don’t have to.”
“But—” I whine.
“He’s right. You two get out of here, we’ve g ot this,” Blake says as he approaches with Shannon and Austin flanking him.
“Are you sure?”
“Girl, get out of here already!” Shannon urges.
Mac squeezes my waist and turns my body toward the stairs.
I grab his hands, peeling them off me. “Just, one second. I promise I won’t clean.
” He nods and lets me go. Walking back to my three other friends I hug each of them and thank them for all of the work they put into my party. I really am a lucky girl.
With a smile I head back to Mac, and he guides me out of the soon to be restaurant and down the street to the shop.
I take the first step up to the loft when Mac leans in close and says, “Don’t forget, birthday girls get birthday spankings.
” He swats my ass, and I squeal and run up the stairs, collapsing onto his bed where he tackles me and makes good on his promise of birthday spankings.
July 28
My body feels heavy when I wake up on Sunday morning. Like, there’s a whole ass man on top of me heavy. I lift my arms up, wrapping them around Mac’s neck as he nuzzles into mine.
“Finally, you’re awake,” he murmurs.
I giggle as he mimics a vampire, nipping and licking the spot just below my ear. “Happy birthday, baby,” he whispers, trailing kisses down my neck. He tugs on the hem of hi s T-shirt I haphazardly threw on last night after round two. Or was it three?
“Off. Now,” he demands, still kissing my neck and jawline.
I oblige, reaching down and pulling his T-shirt off my body. My skin immediately pebbles as his hands roam my body freely. He palms my breast and slides his body down mine, leaving a trail of kisses on the way.
“Mac, where are you going?” I whine.
“I didn’t get any cake last night, so I figured I’d start today with dessert.”
He grabs the waistband of my purple underwear and gives them a tug. Oh. Lifting my ass, he pulls them off me and then proceeds to kiss down my navel, to the tops of my thighs. Mac slides his hands down my legs and his lips follow, leaving my skin feeling like lava.
Mac taps the top of my thigh twice. “Open up.”
He slides his hand along my inner thigh and my legs drop open, giving him full access to my now soaked pussy. He hisses.
“You’re already glistening for me.”
I bite my lip and moan, nodding. My heavy eyes watch as he slides a finger through the wetness he’s created and brings it to his mouth, sucking it clean with a groan.
He leans down again, kissing the inside of my thigh.
I squirm under him, moaning and writhing, lifting my hips to chase his lips as he ignores my throbbing clit.
“Mac, please,” I beg.