26. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Happy Birthday to Us
Luke
A fter Thursday night, I’ve counted down the minutes to tonight when I get to see Kaden again. The complete 180o I’ve done in the relationship department in a few months has shocked me to say the least. I’m approaching The Garden, very excited to see the surprise on his face when I show up. He text me around eight to tell me he arrived, and he’ll talk to me later when he gets home. Dakota and Gabe have already text and are on their way, too. I wanted to get here ahead of Dakota and Jackson so I can feel Kaden out before we get thrown into answering a hundred questions about us. It’s not that I don’t want them to know about Kaden and I seeing each other, but we haven’t spoken about telling anyone besides his friends and Gabe. I don’t want to assume anything.
I walk into the bar looking around for him, spotting him on some couches with Faith and a couple guys I recognize from the pictures Kaden posted on his social media account over the weekend from their trip to Atlanta.
I can’t say I wasn’t a little jealous of them. Especially the one with blonde shaggy hair and a septum piercing. Ender is his name according to the tag on a picture of his arms wrapped around Kaden, kissing him on the cheek during the concert. In another picture of the three of them he is blatantly staring at Kaden with too much affection for my liking. I love Gabe like a brother, but I don’t look at him like Ender was looking at Kaden. I shove those thoughts down as I approach the group.
“Hey there,” I say, leaning down behind Kaden brushing his ear with my lips.
He startles, turning around to look up at me.
“Holy shit you scared me.” He jumps up, greeting me with a smile. “What are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.”
“I wanted to surprise you.” My hands as if on autopilot latch onto his hips pulling him in close, laying my lips on his forehead with a soft kiss.
“Ummmm what is going on here?” Faith interrupts our embrace. I forgot she was here for a second.
“Faith, you remember Luke. From the Christmas party we went to?” Kaden ignores her question.
“Of course I do. How could I forget Jackson’s hot as fuck older brother. My question is how did this happen?” She motions her hand between Kaden and me. I guess he hasn’t told her anything.
“Story for another time.” Kaden brushes the topic off and introduces me to his other friends. “Guys this is Luke. That’s Ender and Connor,” he says pointing from one to the other.
Ender, not looking happy to see me, gives me a slight wave and goes back to drinking his beer. I give him a ‘hey’ and a nod.
Connor stands from his seat extending his hand, I mirror his action. “Nice to finally meet you.” Then cups his hand to the side of his mouth leaning towards Kaden and says, “He’s hotter in person,” loud enough for all to hear.
Kaden and I laugh in sync at Connor. He reminds me of Gabe. The two of them together should be a fun time.
As if summoned, Gabe strolls up behind me clasping my shoulder. “What’s so funny there, brother?”
“I was telling Kaden how hot Luke is, seems it runs in the family.” Connor reaches his hand out to Gabe. “Connor, nice to meet you, gorgeous.”
“Gabe, likewise.” Gabe chuckles and gives him a wink. They’re very much alike.
“Connor can you stop hitting on everyone for, I don’t know, 30 minutes maybe? Is that possible?” Kaden jokes at his friend’s blatant flirting with us.
“Timer starts now, then all bets are off.” Connor checks his watch. We all share a laugh, except Ender. Surprisingly, his sullen expression has changed though, and his eyes track Gabe leaving the group instead. Interesting.
“I’m going to grab a beer, you want one?” Gabe asks as he walks towards the bar.
“Yeah, thanks.” I call after him then take a seat with Kaden on the empty couch, laying my arm across the back behind his shoulders.
“Jackson text. They’re on their way.” Faith announces, face in her phone as Dakota arrives.
“What’s up, guys? Cousin, you decided to join the land of the living.” He chuckles taking a seat next to Faith, staring at my arm around Kaden.
Faith scoots away from Dakota so their legs are no longer touching. Dakota notices, “Hi Faith.”
She smiles with pursed lips, wincing her eyes in what seems like disdain. Poor guy has no shot with her, but I commend his persistence.
He moves on to introducing himself to Connor and Ender. Connor conspicuously checks his watch and looks at Kaden who shakes his head at him. I decide I really like Connor. I can see why Kaden is friends with him. His antics should make for a good time tonight.
Gabe returns with my beer in hand and glances toward Ender, noticing him for the first time. Gabe moves with purpose, sitting right next to him on the third couch in the squared space we have taken over.
Everyone joins in the conversation, getting to know each other. My hand behind Kaden, having a mind of its own apparently, moves around the nape of his neck, thumb drawing circles on his warm skin. He leans into it, giving me that comforting feeling that he wants the connection as much as I do.
“Oh, my Goddesses! What are you all doing here?” Lanie screeches from behind us. As soon as I turn, I see Jackson’s eyes set on my hand, then dart to mine. Kaden jumps up to give his sister a hug causing a distraction.
Lanie introduces Jackson to Kaden, formally. Jackson makes his way to me as Lanie goes around the group handing out more hugs and cheek kisses.
“Happy Birthday, brother.” My eyes flash to Kaden as his find mine. The look on his face tells me I might be in trouble.
“Thanks, man. Here to celebrate hers though, not mine.” He nods getting the point, our typical greeting of hands clasps at our chests and pats on the back.
Lanie joins us giving me the strongest hug imaginable from such a tiny woman, and a look that conveys she knows everything I thought she didn’t. “Nice to finally meet you, Luke.”
“You too, Lanie. Happy Birthday.” Jackson hugs her from behind pulling her down on the fourth couch, she giggles as they complete the gathering of new friends all around.
“Times up! How dare your family have genes to pass on like this? Is everyone in your family beyond fuckable? Geez” Connor announces, his eyes staring in amazement moving from Jackson, to me, then to Dakota. He leans around Ender to question Gabe, “Are you really in the family? Because those genes spread to you, too.”
“For Christ’s sake, Connor will you control your hormones tonight, please?” Ender speaks up finally.
“Hush yourself. Let me ogle them in peace.” They begin to bicker like siblings. The rest of us laughing at them.
We resume conversation like we’re all old friends. Our animated group is all that exists around us. My mind rejoices at the feeling of connectedness to all the people around me, even the ones I only met tonight. Besides my aunts, Jackson, and Dakota, Gabe is the only one I’ve had that with for the longest time. I barely see my parents for reasons I don’t care to think about right now. I want to focus on the here and now.
We share stories, laughing at each other’s mishaps and shenanigans we created as teenagers. Gabe, Kaden, Ender, and I wind up debating who’s hockey team is heading towards the finals. Gabe being a Canadiens’ fan and Ender a Bruins’s fan, known rival teams, get into a petty argument that looks more like foreplay if I’m being honest.
Watching their bantering, I look over at Kaden and my heart stutters seeing the vibrant smile across his face from spending time with friends. He catches me staring at him and coyly smiles.
I lean into his ear, “Come get another drink with me.” He nods as I get up and extend my hand to help him off the couch. I see Jackson’s eyes on us from my periphery. I’m sure I’ll be answering some of his questions later.
I lead Kaden to the bar. Making space for him next to me, we face each other. Our eyes meet and I immediately feel his seductive gaze pull me into his orbit. Taking hold of the back of his neck, I complete the connection of his lips to mine, rendering the invisible threads tethering us together useless.
The kiss is gentle, savoring it before we remember we’re in public. I pull away and see the bartender glance our way, nodding to acknowledge him.
“Hey guys what can I get you?” He’s tall and covered in tattoos with a neatly, cared for beard.
I order our beers while Kaden’s hand finds its way under the hem of my shirt, latching onto my side above the waistline of my jeans. When I turn back to face him there’s heat behind his eyes.
“You need to control those eyes of yours, otherwise I’ll be dragging you out of here like a caveman and fucking you bare over the hood of my truck.”
His Adam’s apple’s reflexive movement is obvious as he swallows hard, no doubt visualizing the scene I created for him.
Kaden doesn’t get a chance to respond when Faith joins us. “Please someone get me a dozen shots of Tequila so I can make it through the rest of the night.” Her eyes bounce from Kaden to me, neither of us looking away from each other.
“Jesus Christ, you two need to stop eyeball fucking each other over here before the whole bar catches the contagion and starts a massive orgy.”
Faith’s raunchy comment catches both of our attention.
“Why are you so on edge, Faith?” Kaden asks about her foul mood.
“Nothing, it’s not important. Can you order me a couple shots, please?”
I oblige her request when the bartender comes back with our beers. I see Dakota at the other end of the bar looking our way over the shoulder of the other bartender.
Kaden and Faith chat while we wait for her shots. She downs them back-to-back when they arrive.
Dakota enters our mini circle with two drinks in his hands. He hands one to Faith, “I got you a drink. I asked for something fruity. Thought you would like it.”
Faith looks down at the open cupped drink then back up to Dakota. “Did you roofie this?”
Dakota’s shocked expression matches both mine and Kaden’s. He is stunned in silence, retreating both drinks still in hand.
“Faith, what the fuck?” Kaden says to her.
“What? He keeps hovering over me. What am I supposed to think?”
“I can assure you, Faith, Dakota would never roofie you. He is the most harmless person I’ve ever met. And I’m not saying that because he’s family.” I try to reason with her, not understanding why she would jump to that conclusion.
She looks from me to Kaden and then away, staring off into seemingly nowhere.
Kaden shakes his head letting me know it’s not something to get into right now.
Dakota returns with a sealed bottle of water, handing it to Faith with an apologetic look. She takes it without opposition. Dakota walks away without a word, returning to the couches where our friends remain.
“I’m going back over there. I’ll see you in a few.” I kiss Kaden’s cheek and leave to check on Dakota.
These two have the weirdest encounters. It’s confusing as hell but hopefully Kaden can figure out what’s bothering Faith.
I miss him already.