Chapter 24
D espite my aching stitches and aching heart after the tumultuous evening with my parents, the rest of my night with Devin was absolute bliss.
I was still sore, so he heated up the dinner that we never got to eat in the oven and brought it into my bedroom. We set up a little picnic on my bed, where I gave Devin the details of my surgery and how it went. He especially enjoyed the fact that I’d been shouting his name in the recovery room when I woke up from anesthesia.
“I still wish I could’ve been there with you,” Devin sighed.
“You’re here now.” I grinned, ruffling his hair as I shoved another bite of food in my mouth.
After dinner, we settled on the comfy L-shaped couch in the living room. It was a hand-me-down with sagging seats, but it was incredibly plush and comfortable. Perfect for cuddling with my boyfriend under a knit blanket while we watched Creatures chip bags and overturned cracker boxes were scattered across the table, with various crumbs making their way onto the floor. Between the snacks were random cards, game boxes, and d6 dice. I was glad Sam wasn’t upset for us making such a mess.
“It’s already past ten. Before we break out the Jackbox games, anyone want dessert?”
We all nodded eagerly.
“I brought some baklava that my mom made.” I pointed to the tin-foil-coated tray on Sam’s kitchen island.
“That sounds delicious,” Sam replied as he opened the fridge, rifling through the shelves. “But first…we all had something else in mind.”
Sam pulled a large object wrapped in a shopping bag out of the fridge, and I noticed that Kathy was digging through one of her kitchen drawers. She pulled out a lighter and a few candles just as Sam revealed what was inside the bag: a beautiful chocolate cake with “Happy Birthday Avery” written in pink frosting.
“Guys!” I exclaimed. “You didn’t have to do this!”
“It was Devin’s idea,” Cassidy laughed.
My twenty-seventh birthday was the following week, and Devin and I had plans to do a celebratory dinner date at a sushi restaurant. I hadn’t expected a celebration during our game night, but as Kathy lit the candles and everyone began singing, I felt incredibly grateful.
For my friends. For my health.
For Devin.
He rubbed my shoulder as I stared at the lit candles, admiring the faint orange aura they gave off as they danced under the airy ceiling fans. Everyone insisted I make a wish, so I closed my eyes, dug deep into my mind, and wondered what I should ask for.
I could’ve done something silly, like wishing for a million dollars or to live to be a hundred. But then I reflected over the past few months. I’d finally gotten a diagnosis and treatment for my chronic health issues. I was on the path to mending my relationship with my parents.
And, of course, I now had a partner. Something I’d wanted for a long time.
I peered over at his face next to me, admiring the way his choppy black hair fell over his brows as the faint light of the candles danced in his pupils.
He smiled at me. I smiled back .
Then I knew my wish. I wished for this feeling of contentment, of having my life be complete, to last as long as possible. To remember this moment regardless of what the future held.
I blew out the candle, leaving only a faint plume of smoke trailing off a bent wick.
A small chorus of claps echoed from the table as my friends eagerly gathered around to grab a slice of cake. It looked delicious, with molten-black sponge cake and thick mocha frosting. And this time, I was able to happily consume an entire piece without my stomach feeling like it was about to explode. As we all collapsed on the couch in a sugar coma, I placed a hand over my abdomen. I could feel the texture of the pink scars below the fabric of my dress, but for once, I wasn’t in pain.
Sam turned on the television, and we managed to get a few rounds of Jackbox games in before everyone got too tired. It wasn’t even midnight, but most of us were either in our thirties or rapidly approaching it. My ability to stay awake into the early hours of the morning was waning as I got older.
Devin and I had taken separate cars, but he still insisted on walking me out to mine. I happily agreed, lacing my fingers through his as we trudged across Sam’s dewy lawn in the darkness.
“Uh, Dev.” I paused once we approached the sidewalk. “My car is that way.”
“I know.” He grinned, and I could tell he was up to something. “Hop in the car with me for a minute.”
“Dev, we’re not—”
“What?” He raised a dark eyebrow. “And I didn’t mean that . But if you do want to stay the night…”
I crinkled my nose, a teasing smile on my face. “I suppose I could. I don’t have work tomorrow.”
“And Critical Games doesn’t open until noon on Sundays,” Devin replied, slipping an arm around my hips and pulling me closer. I giggled as my chest pressed against his, the curves of our bodies palpable beneath the fabric of our clothing. “Follow me back to my place. I’ll give you your gift there.”
“Gift? My birthday isn’t until next week.”
“Yes, but I wanted to give it to you tonight so you could use it at C&C tomorrow,” Devin gently pushed me toward my car. “C’mon, follow me back to my place.”
Devin lived twenty minutes from Sam’s house, and the whole time, my mind swirled with guesses as to what my gift could be. It would have to be something C&C related…I wondered if he got me a new book, or painted a miniature for me.
No matter what it was, I was excited about any gift from him.
It was only my second time at Devin’s townhouse, but this time I remembered exactly how to get there. I smiled as I approached the front door, hoping that this place would become even more familiar with time.
“Alright.” Devin paused once we made it to the kitchen. He pressed his hips against mine, and I propped myself up on his kitchen table. This made us both the same height, making it much easier for Devin to wrap his arms around me and kiss me until I melted in his arms.
Just as I was ready to slide my fingers down the waistband of his jeans, he pulled away and grabbed a small, wrapped object out of his pocket. It was about eight inches long and very thin, almost like a pencil case, and was topped with a tiny red bow.
“Happy birthday, Avie.” He handed the gift to me.
I gave his lips another quick kiss. “ You are my birthday present this year.”
“Well, hey.” He grinned, pressing himself tighter against me. “Now you get two presents. C’mon, open it. ”
I tore off the shiny red paper, revealing a black metal case. I flipped it over, and there was an image of a small red dragon wrapped around a d20 die on the front.
Wait a minute.
This is a dice case.
I pried the top off, now very curious about what was inside. I had at least half a dozen dice sets, but one of the rules of being a C&C player was that you could never have too many dice.
And as soon as I saw the rainbow sheen reflected off them, my heart leapt.
“Devin!!” I exclaimed, lifting the d20 out of its foam inlay. These weren’t regular dice. They were made of prismatic glass, meaning they were clear dice that reflected light in an intense rainbow of colors.
I had always wanted prismatic glass dice. They were beautiful.
And also expensive, which made my cheeks flush.
“How did you know I wanted these?”
Devin shrugged, a coy smile on his face. “I cast Mind Read on you while you were sleeping in bed with me.”
“Dev…”
“Just kidding. I asked Cass.”
I laughed at my boyfriend’s ridiculous sense of humor. “This is an incredible gift. You really didn’t have to do this. I know these aren’t cheap.”
“Avie, I run a game shop,” Devin chuckled, pressing his palms against my thighs as he stood between them. “I have ways of getting these things.”
“Well thank you.” I kissed him again. “This is honestly one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had.”
“You know what would make it better?” Devin slid his hands further up my thighs.
I grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt, lifting it over his head. I ran my fingers over his chest as my stomach swirled with anticipation. “Oh, I already know.”
“Excellent.” Before I could react, Devin swept me off the table and into his arms, jogging as quickly as he could into his bedroom.
“Dev!” I shouted as we both collapsed on the bed, a heap of laughter and tangled limbs. I let out a deep sigh as he hovered on top of me, his legs pinning down my own.
“By the way,” he asked. “When is your first post-op physical therapy appointment?”
“Tuesday,” I replied. “I’ll be going once a week.”
“Good. That means we can start practicing after our date night on your birthday.” He squeezed my breasts through the fabric of my dress. “But tonight, let’s just focus on getting you more comfortable.”
“What about you?”
“I mean…” He grinned and jabbed a thumb behind him. “The shower is that way.”
I laughed, sweeping him up in my arms. His hands were already working their way up my dress, and I welcomed them with eager anticipation.
Because with Devin, I had nothing to fear.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
He was mine. I was his.
And my sexual issues would never change that.