Chapter 50
CHAPTER FIFTY
“You really aren’t going to tell me what’s going on?
” Harlow leans back and turns her head toward me as I pull in front of the barn at Dad’s.
I grin and shake my head, turning the car off and hopping out of my SUV.
I’ve been planning this for over a month, and I am not going to wreck the surprise this close to the finish line.
Years ago, the barn was an actual working barn, but since my parents stopped keeping animals other than chickens and barn cats years ago, they converted it into a space to host large gatherings for friends and family.
We use it annually during the Fourth of July party our family hosts out here, and we’ve had a few other large gatherings over the years.
It no longer smells like a working barn either, which I appreciate.
I am the least outdoorsy of my brothers and enjoy things like air conditioning, indoor plumbing, and proper chairs.
I open Harlow’s door before reaching in to take her hand and help her out. “It’s clearly something for your birthday, so just roll with it, Lo.”
“I’m not one that usually rolls with things, Ryan.” She tries to look serious, but she is grinning so hard that her dimples are visible even in the soft moonlight. It’s a gorgeous evening in May and the perfect time to celebrate my girl.
“I will only say that it is long overdue.”
Her eyes slightly narrow at that, but I don’t give her long to try and guess as I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her along to the main door. I open it and step back to look at Harlow, who stopped a few feet away.
“Happy birthday, baby.” I nod at the doorway, encouraging her to walk in. She bites her lip before reaching out and taking my hand, tugging me along as she walks through the doors.
The moment she crosses the threshold, the lights are flipped on and a chorus of “Surprise!” rings out through the space.
Thankfully, I’m behind Harlow, so when she staggers back in shock, I can catch her.
Not only is my entire family here, but her colleagues, Christine, Tara, Mason, and Kelly are standing with Walker and Vivian as well.
The true surprise guest is on the side of the group, and I know that Harlow hasn’t noticed her yet.
“Happy birthday, girl,” Aisha calls out and Harlow cries out in shock as she rushes into her friend’s arms.
She finally leans back but keeps holding on to her friend. “What are you doing here? How are you here? You were just in London!”
“We were, but that one coordinated this without a hitch.” She nods to me, and I extend my hand to finally meet Aisha in person.
“It’s nice to finally put a face to the many text messages. I’m Ryan Callahan.”
“Oh, no, sir, we do not shake hands after what you pulled off tonight.” Aisha pulls me into a hug before patting my back.
“Good job, Ryan. Seriously, this is amazing. Oh! I’m being rude!
” She steps back and reaches for a man with dark auburn hair and glasses holding a bouquet of white hydrangeas.
“Ryan, Harlow, this is my fiancé, Dr. Edmund Allen. Eddie, this is my dear friend, Dr. Harlow Lane, and her very sweet boyfriend, Ryan Callahan.”
“Fiancé?!” Harlow almost yells the word as Aisha raises her left hand.
“Yes! As of two days ago, and I would have called, but I knew we would see you, and honestly, I never thought I’d get to tell you news like this in person!”
“Happy birthday, Harlow. It’s lovely to finally meet the infamous Dr. Lane.” Eddie extends the bouquet to my girl who is grinning so wide her cheeks will hurt later, but it is so worth it.
She takes them with one hand as she reaches for Aisha with her other.
“Thank you! More flowers, and these are just as lovely as the ones you sent me for Valentine’s Day.
” Aisha’s eyebrows scrunch slightly, but before she says anything, Harlow turns to Eddie.
“It’s nice to meet you, but how did you get from engaged in London to standing in a barn in Tennessee?
” Harlow inspects the antique style ring on Aisha’s hand.
“That’s where I come in,” Wells calls out from the bar, raising his drink in a toast.
“What?” Harlow looks back to me.
“Well, I’ve been planning this for the last four weeks, give or take, and I knew I wanted Aisha to be here, if possible, but she was scheduled to be in London.”
“And he mentioned it to me once on the phone,” Wells adds after walking over to join our conversation.
“Clearly meaning to invite me as well, I thought they could just tag along because I’d be coming from London.
No biggie. I apparently like having friendly hitchhikers. ” He clasps me on the back with a grin.
“I would have paid to fly them over,” I respond as Wells gives me a little shake.
“No way, man. This worked out great, and I think we actually saved a tree or something by carpooling.” He winks. “Plus, you know I want to be around as much as possible.”
Harlow looks around and sees Wells’s sister in the crowd of friendly faces, tucked under my brother Jack’s arm. Tinsley Sinclair may be an international country pop star, but around us, she’s just Tinsley.
And she’s also why I notice the extra security without needing to look for it. Jack and Wells insisted, and I was more than happy to comply with whatever needed to happen for her to be comfortable being a part of everything, and of course, to be here to celebrate Harlow.
My brother Liam arrived an hour late, but I was just happy he could make it at all. Harlow and Liam have been friends for years, which is still so crazy to me how small their world is.
Liam gives her a brief hug before I pull her out of his arms, making both of them laugh. “Happy birthday, Whiz Kid,” he tells her as he hands her a gift bag.
“I thought I said no gifts.” She looks accusingly at me then Liam. I gave her a brand-new top-of-the-line Kindle e-reader earlier in the evening.
“It’s a family trait, none of us listen when people tell us to do things,” Finn chimes in with a grin on his face.
“I’m starting to see that,” she deadpans as she mock glares at me.
“Go on, open it up. Let’s see if it fits.” Liam smirks as Finn hands him a beer.
Harlow gives him a quizzical look before unwrapping the present.
If my brother gave my girl jewelry—I don’t care what his spy-guy training all included—I will punch him in the face.
Thankfully, his gift did not require a violent response.
“Ryan told me his plan for his gift and thought you could use some accessories, but full disclosure, Sophia told me everything to buy.” Inside the gift bag is a new Kindle case that looks like the Pride and Prejudice cover, a wireless charging station, and a gift card for her to buy some new e-books.
“How did she know the exact cover I would have picked? I love it!” she cries out and gives him another hug.
My jaw flexes, and I barely hold back my growl at her in his arms again, which only makes my brother laugh.
“Calm down, Ry Guy. She’s your girl, I know, but she was my friend first,” Liam tells me with a pointed look, and he’s right. I don’t have to like that he knew her first, but I do like that he’s in her corner. She may have been born into a shit family, but she has us now.
“And I don’t know if my sisters or Ryan explained how this all works, but you’re one of us now, so even though you’ve had my number for years, if you need me—if you need anything—you can call me or any of the members of The Brigade.
Walker already knows how this all works, and Sav formally added you to the group chat, but I wanted to remind you.
We’ve got you, no matter what, Whiz Kid. ”
“Stop with the fucking nicknames.” I half-jokingly punch his arm as everyone laughs at our antics.
But I’m not fully joking.
And judging by the gleam in Liam’s eyes, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Little shit.
The entire evening ends up being a gift to me.
I don’t think Harlow stopped smiling for more than thirty seconds all evening.
She laughed as she ate her favorite foods from the buffet, danced in her seat when she ate her all-time-favorite vanilla bean ice cream cake, and cheered on the dance-off between Finn and Wells.
It was perfect.
“I want a photo of everyone together. Is that okay?” she asks me as things start winding down.
“Whatever you want, Lo.”
And I mean it. She can have anything, because she is everything to me.
Everyone grabs their drinks and one of the security guards appears from the shadows to stand on a chair and take the photo. Harlow says something to Tinsley in her ear, but she shakes her head before saying something back, kissing Harlow’s cheek, and walking over to stand next to Jack.
“What was that about?” I ask as she comes to stand next to me.
Harlow lowers her voice so only I can hear her. “I just told her I wouldn’t be offended if she wanted to step out of the photo for privacy. The gift was her being here, and I don’t have to share that for it to be true.”
“What did she say to that?”
Harlow gives me a small smile. “She said she’s done enough hiding in her life and isn’t interested in holding back sharing joy with the people she loves for a moment longer.”
“I love that. And I’m all for more joy.”
“You bring me all the joy, Ryan. Thank you for this evening. It was … it was beyond any birthday party of my dreams.” I know she never really had a proper birthday party, not one that was for her, anyway, instead of being put on to showcase how connected and wealthy her parents were.
“You have it backwards. You are joy incarnate, Harlow. I love you. Happy birthday, baby.” I kiss her forehead as we are told to face the security guard who is now standing on a table to take a photo of the group. I wrap my arms around her and pull her tight as she leans up and kisses my cheek.
“Everyone smile and say Harlowwww,” Savannah instructs the group.
“Harlowww!” the crowd cries as the guy takes the picture.
“One more, if you don’t mind,” I call out as I hand my drink to Finn.
Harlow looks at me expectingly, but she still didn’t see it coming.
I pull her flush against me, dipping her back before kissing her as our friends and loved ones cheer us on.
She tastes like a combination of vanilla bean, champagne, and total bliss.
Today was perfect for my girl. I just didn’t know yet how much I’d need to cling to the memory of it.