27. Cole
CHAPTER 27
COLE
“Why are we at Cree’s?” I ask when Zoey parks her car outside of the darkened house. “I thought we were going to dinner?”
All I want to do for my birthday is take my girl out and then go home and make love to her until we’re both exhausted.
She reaches over, squeezing my thigh. “I told you, I left my coat here the last party they had. You know, the one you dragged me out of.” She smiles.
I never knew you could feel a smile, but I do hers. It lights up the darkest parts of me.
“Right,” I sigh, reaching for the door handle. “I’ll go with you.”
The house is dark, but Cree’s car and Murray’s—who also lives here—is in the driveway.
Zoey slips out of the car, tucking her keys into the pocket of her tightly fitted black jeans. She looks incredible in those and a lacy top with a leather jacket. Since she has that jacket, I have no idea why it’s pertinent that she gets her other coat tonight. I could easily pick it up tomorrow for her.
She doesn’t bother knocking on the door, instead reaching for the knob and swinging it open.
Before I can ask her how she knew it would be open, lights turn on, blinding me, and there are shouts of, “SURPRISE!”
Several people pop those confetti things and blue and white pieces of paper float through the air, landing on me, Zoey, and the floor.
Teddy stands in the center of our friends holding a sheet cake that says Happy Birthday Cole with the Avengers on it.
I’m definitely surprised, that’s for sure.
“Wow, thanks, guys.”
Zoey smiles up at me, her eyes questioning. It’s obvious she was worried about this plan, no doubt executed by Teddy. I jerk my head in a nod, letting her know it’s okay. Sure, I was looking forward to dinner just the two of us, but this is nice too. These friends of mine are practically like family and who knows where I’ll be celebrating my birthday next year.
Someone cranks up the music, drinks are brought out, and we dig into the cake. As the night wears on there are even root beer floats.
“Isn’t this great?” Teddy asks, dancing around Zoey and me with a Zombie Dust in his hand. The golden retriever energy radiating off of him is astronomical. When someone finally captures his attention, and he falls in love it’ll be something to see.
“You did a fabulous job.” Zoey moves her body languidly against mine and I bite back a groan. She’s turning me on and there’s nothing I can do about it, except maybe drag her out of here to the bathroom for a quickie but she deserves more than a quick bathroom fuck. “The streamers are great.” She waves her hand at the ceiling where blue and white streamers are taped across the entire length.
“Maybe I’ll go into party planning,” Teddy muses, shaking his hips to the Shakira song. “You know, if I don’t get my inheritance and I’m barred from the family business.”
“What is your family business?” I ask. He never says much about it.
“Mostly just being a lazy prick bastard and letting others do the hard work.”
I don’t think he’s talking about the business.
He moves away and Zoey wraps her arms around my neck, the two of us slow dancing like two middle school teenagers to the cover of Time After Time by Quietdrive.
“Are you sure this is okay?” She rubs her thumb back and forth against my neck.
“Best birthday ever.”
She beams and stands on her tiptoes. “Don’t worry, when we get home, I have something else planned for you.”
“And what’s that?” I arch a brow, my hands lowering from her waist to her ass.
“You. Me. A bubble bath. And chocolate syrup.”
“Chocolate syrup, huh?”
“Yes.” She smirks. “You’re going to lick it off me, and the bubble bath is for easy clean up.”
I lower my mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. One of our friends whistles. Teddy yells, “Ew, get a room Mom and Dad!”
“You’re perfect,” I whisper in her ear.
She shakes her head firmly. “No, I’m not. No one is. We all make mistakes and do and say things we wish we wouldn’t have. Perfection is a construct to force us to try to fit in, but I don’t want to fit someone else’s mold. I just want to be me. Imperfect, me.”
I press my forehead to hers. “I like imperfect you.”
“I like you, too.”
Across the room I catch Mascen pulling Rory onto his lap on the couch. She giggles, curling into his body and he whispers something that makes her blush.
I had no idea a year ago that Zoey would come crashing into my life.
And I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.