Chapter 38
Cake isn’t the only surprise.
One month later
Addy
I scan the room. The streamers are hung. Balloons are tied to every surface. A big banner with Happy Thirtieth Birthday written on it fills one wall. And the cake is on the table. There’s nothing else to do.
I wring my hands. I hope Gage likes his birthday surprise. He usually doesn’t do much for his birthday.
But he’s also never had a family. A family who wants to celebrate his birthday with him.
I check the time. Mom and the kids should have landed by now. I offered to pick them up, but Mom is renting a car. She doesn’t want to ruin the surprise any more than I do.
The front door opens. Here goes nothing.
Gage saunters into the living room and screeches to a halt.
“Surprise!” I rush to him and throw myself at him. He catches me. He always does. And he always will. “Happy birthday!”
“I thought we were meeting later for dinner.”
“Nope. I lied. I wanted to surprise you. ”
He grins as he takes in the room. “This is definitely a surprise.”
“You said you’re not much for celebrating birthdays but you have me now. And I will celebrate every single one of your birthdays with you.” As will my family. But he doesn’t know about them yet.
“Thanks, songbird.”
I beam at him. “You’re welcome. There’s also steak and potatoes.”
“You cooked for me?”
“Yep. I enjoy cooking for you.”
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this for me.”
My nose wrinkles. “My schedule isn’t that busy.”
He kisses my nose before setting me on my feet. “Isn’t Juliet recording another one of your songs this week?”
“Her schedule changed. She’s recording next week.” Because I asked her to. Turns out Juliet is a complete romantic. When I told her what I had planned, she immediately offered to help.
Speaking of plans. I grasp Gage’s hand and lead him to the table. I pick up the card and give it to him. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“I don’t need anything. I have you.”
I snatch the card back. “I guess I’ll keep this then.”
His chocolate brown eyes fill with curiosity. “What is it?”
I bat my eyelashes at him. “I thought you didn’t want it.”
“But you went to all the trouble to get me something. It’d be rude not to at least find out what it is. ”
He has no idea all the trouble I went to. Mom and my siblings arriving soon is not the only surprise of the evening.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want to be rude.”
I giggle. “Admit you’re curious and I’ll give you the card.”
“Fine.” He huffs. “I’m curious. Are you happy now?”
I wrap my arms around him. “Ecstatic.”
He squeezes my hips. “I’m glad. I know it hasn’t been easy getting used to living in a city or being away from your family.”
I snort. “Away from my family? Between the messages from Otis asking me everything under the sun about the NFL, the complaints from Penelope about how Mila is driving her crazy, and the messages from Mila driving me crazy, I haven’t noticed.”
“They’re your family and you love them.”
“Of course, I love them. I’m legally and morally obligated to love my brother and sisters.”
“You are full of shit. You miss them.”
I do miss them. But I’ll be seeing them soon. I check the clock. I want Gage to open his surprise before they come.
“Tick tock. Do you want to open your present or not?”
I offer him the card. He rips it open. His brow wrinkles as he reads the card.
“An address change? Why is my present an address change from you?”
“Read my new address. ”
I bite my lip as he reads the card. He’d better be happy with his present. After all the whining and complaining over the past month.
His gaze meets mine. Those chocolate brown eyes I love to gaze into when he sinks into me twinkle with delight. “You’re moving in here?”
My nose scrunches. “Not exactly.”
“But the card says your new address is here in my apartment.”
“First of all, this isn’t an apartment. It’s a penthouse.” It’s crazy big and luxurious. I thought I’d hate it, but after I got used to how opulent it is, I liked it. The oversized standing tub in the bathroom doesn’t hurt either.
“And secondly, I’m not moving in. I’ve moved in.”
“Moved in? How?”
“I might have had a little help from Nolan, Tanner, Brock, and Corbin.”
“Those assholes. They didn’t tell me.”
I pinch his side. “They weren’t supposed to. It’s a surprise.”
“You seriously moved in here? You’re living with me? No more living in your apartment across town?”
I scowl. “You act as if my apartment is in another state. It’s not that far.”
It is that far. I still haven’t gotten used to driving in the city, so I usually take the bus. I need an hour to make it to Gage’s place from mine. And if it’s late at night? Gage won’t let me go home. I am not riding the bus late at night, according to him .
Gage lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder. I pound on his back. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to our bedroom to celebrate you moving in.”
“We’re supposed to be celebrating your birthday.”
He pats my ass. “We can do both at the same time. Or we can celebrate all night long.”
“Don’t you have to be in bed by nine?”
I’m not joking. The big, strong football player has a bedtime of nine. Apparently, athletes need their sleep and they are serious about getting it.
“It’s my birthday. I’ll make an exception.”
He carries me toward the staircase leading to his – er, our – bedroom. But the doorbell rings before he reaches it. He keeps walking.
I tap on his shoulder. “Doorbell, Gage.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
The doorbell rings again.
“And now?”
“Still don’t hear anything.”
“Gage, sweetheart, you need to answer the door.”
He sighs. “Is this part of your surprise?”
“Yep.”
“Fine.” He whirls around toward the door. “But I’m kicking my teammates out in an hour. We have a celebration to attend.”
“Deal. We’ll kick your teammates out in an hour.”
He sets me on my feet before opening the door. Mila barges inside. “I need to pee. ”
Mom sighs. “I told you to use the restroom at the airport.”
“I didn’t need to go then.”
Mila hops from foot to foot. I point down the hallway. “Bathroom’s first door on the right.” She rockets toward it.
Mom frowns after her. “I apologize now for the mess she’s going to make.”
Gage’s mouth gapes open. “What’s happening?”
“Happy birthday! Surprise!” Otis shouts.
“Yeah, surprise.” Penelope holds up her e-reader. “Where can I plug this in?”
I wrap my arm around Gage’s waist. “I flew our family in for your birthday to surprise you.”
He scowls. “I’m paying you for the tickets.”
“Nope. This is your birthday surprise.”
“I thought you moving in was my birthday surprise.”
“It’s your thirtieth birthday. You get more than one surprise.”
He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s getting more than one surprise every year from now on. He’s lived through twenty-nine years without a family to celebrate his birthday. I have a lot to make up for.
A door bangs open. “There’s cake!”
Mom sighs. “We better eat the cake before someone steals all the frosting.”
“I don’t steal frosting.” Mila grins, showing off her teeth coated with chocolate frosting.
Mom hurries after her. Otis and Penelope trail behind her .
“Don’t worry,” I whisper to Gage. “I made another cake for the two of us.”
His eyes flare. “I can’t wait to lick chocolate frosting off your naked body later.”
I shudder. “It’ll have to be much later. Mom and the kids are staying for the weekend to watch your game on Sunday.”
“It’s a good thing I soundproofed your studio.”
“You better not get frosting on any of the instruments.”
“I make no promises.” He winks.
“Gage, Addy!” Mom hollers from the kitchen. “Do you want coffee?”
“There’s champagne in the fridge!”
“Champagne!” Mila shouts. “I want to try champagne.”
“We better get to the kitchen before Mila finds the bottle.” I grasp Gage’s hand and start for the kitchen but he draws me into his arms.
“Thank you, songbird.”
“I’m glad you like your birthday surprises.”
“Not for the surprises. For sharing your family with me. For loving me.”
I melt into him. “I love you, Gage Edwards. Football star or not. You’re stuck with me until your dying day.”
“And I’m on your team, Addy Price. Always and forever. You’re my songbird, and I love you.”
His lips meet mine and I open on a sigh. I will never tire of him touching me, kissing me, loving me. I thought I didn’t have time for love .
I was lying to myself. I was too afraid to fall. Afraid a man would abandon me the way Dad abandoned Mom. But Gage proved me wrong. He showed me he’d never abandon me. He’d always choose me.
“Mom! They’re kissing again!” Mila yells.
Gage wrenches his lips from mine and buries his face in my neck. His body shakes with laughter.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight as he laughs. This is the man I get to hold tight every night for the rest of my life.
When he blew into my life, all I wanted to do was push him away. I’m glad he didn’t let me. I’m happy he showed me how it feels to have someone on my team.
Thanks for reading!