EPILOGUE
Today is a day I never thought would be celebrated.
My birthday. As sad as it is, I don’t know that I have ever had a cake on my birthday.
Last year I bought a lunch cake from commissary, but I don’t’ even know if that counts or not.
I guess it does, because it was good enough for me last year.
But I have never shared a cake or celebrated with anyone else on my birthday.
So, today will be an entirely new experience for me.
North and I get dressed separately. I dress in his room, and he goes off to South’s.
He wants our outfits to be a surprise even though we had picked them out together.
I have a slinky black dress that hangs on my curves like a glove, and he has a green button up paired with a dark pair of slacks.
I put some red lipstick on my lips and the closest green shade to his shirt that I can find in the tiny eyeshadow palette I have.
I have never been a huge fan of makeup, but I want to do something special for him and honestly, want to look extra nice for myself.
“Are you ready?” North knocks on the door and covers his eyes with his hands. I can’t speak at first. My mouth is dry, and I think I do not remember what words are. This man is even more gorgeous than I thought possible. Although, I think I still might prefer him in his cut.
“I am.” I finally answer once I know what words are.
“You are so fucking beautiful Delayni.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, North.”
He takes my hand in his, leading me out the door and out of the clubhouse.
I didn’t choose heels to complete my outfit, but wore my boots instead, knowing we would take his motorcycle to wherever we were going.
I don’t need anything fancy, in fact, I don’t like most of the food. It is tiny portions that is overpriced.
I don’t need any of that stuff as long as I have North.
* * *
After an amazing dinner we make our way back to the clubhouse.
I half expect a banger to be happening, even though I told North I did not want a birthday party.
Yet, when we arrive the lights are mostly off and only a few bikes are parked outside.
My first instinct is to worry that something is wrong, but I tell myself I am overreacting, when my hands tense around North’s stomach and he pats my hands to comfort me.
He isn’t on high-alert, and he would have known if something was worth panicking over a long time before I saw the missing motorcycles.
North helps me off his motorcycle, kissing the back of my hand before opening the door to the clubhouse.
When we step inside there are so many tea light candles lit that I can’t count them.
In the middle of the bar is a white two-tiered cake with the numbers two and eight on top of them.
They are lit as well, so someone here, had to be the one to set everything up for him.
Tears spring free. When they didn’t bring a cake out at the restaurant, I thought maybe it was something they refused to do, and I didn’t mention it to North. No biggie.
North leads to the bar by the hand and sings happy birthday to me. By the completion of the song, I am bawling while I blow out my candles. “I love you, Delayni.”
“I Love so fucking much, North!”
“Good, because I had something I wanted to ask you.”
“You do?”
“Mmhmmm.” North releases my hand, reaching into his pocket and gets down on one knee. My hand fly over my mouth as I gasp. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Of course, I will! I love you, North! Yes!” I scream. North slides the ring on my finger and lifts me into his arms. I cover his mouth with mine and kiss him, and then I kiss him again. More tears come and I kiss him through those, too.