16. Chapter 15 #2
“—Happy birthday to you.” The song finishes and Raegan sets the cake in front of me. A look of pride covers her face and her eyes twinkle. “Make a wish.” She claps her hands and pure love shines from her eyes. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s love shining out.
What do I wish for? I break the connection with Raegan and look at the cake. I don’t want to sound like a love-sick fool, not that anyone will know what my wish is. I’ve got too many wishes to wish for. Get drafted… Kiss Raegan again…
What happens if I do get drafted? Will she come with me? I can’t think about that. I have a birthday wish to make. I wish… I wish for another kiss. Yeah, I am a love-sick sap.
My ribcage expands as I suck in a breath. Then blow it out. The sparklers waver, then light back up. Robert, Riley, and Izzy all snicker. I look at Raegan, a playful grin covering her face. “Do I have to let them die out on their own?”
She giggles and nods yes at me.
“Do you not want me to get my wish?” I give her my best puppy dog eyes. I get a full throated giggle in return.
“I think there’s still a chance of you getting your wish. Don’t worry.” She smiles at me like she knows what I wished for.
After the sparklers burn themselves down Raegan hands me a knife and spatula, then sets a plate next to the cake. “You get to cut your own piece, and then I’ll do the rest.”
The knife is heavy in my hand as I search for the perfect spot to take my slice from. Neat handwriting on the top says Happy Birthday, Austin. I want a piece with my name on it.
I look up at her, “Did you make my cake?”
Her lips split into a grin, and she nods her head as she hums, “Mhmm. I did make it. The cake and the icing.” She twists her hands like she’s nervous. “Do you like it?”
“Well, since you’re asking…” I can’t resist teasing her. “I do like it. Thank you for making it for me.” If I could, I’d kiss her right now, just for taking the time to make and decorate a cake for me. I finally find the slice I want and smoothly slide the knife through the cake and cut my piece.
“Mom and I’ll get the rest cut. You can go ahead and eat.” I don’t want to eat without her, but I can’t help but take a dollop of icing as she carries the cake back to the café’s front counter.
I’ve been eyeing the table containing several presents.
It’ll be nice to get a few things, but having this time with friends and family is all that I really need.
Izzy gets me a cowboy hat, and Raegan's dad gives me a lariat that’s all my own.
It’s almost as if they think they can turn me into a cowboy and keep me here.
The cowboy gifts are nice and all, but baseball is my thing.
Jaimie disappears and brings Raegan a small box. It’s just the right size to hold a baseball. Curiosity and excitement tingle up my spine. The two whisper excitedly before Raegan hands me the box. Carson, Brantley, Jesse, Chrissy, and Jaimie all gather around.
“This is a gift from our little group.” Raegan gestures to our friends gathered around. The box is a little heavy. I gently toss it from hand to hand. It’s got to be some sort of baseball.
I slide a thumb under one end of the wrapping paper.
Making quick work of the paper, I’m left with a square white box.
No words or symbols on it. The flap opens easily, and I grin up at Raegan.
I turn the box and allow the plastic case to slide out.
A signed Chipper Jones baseball. Already in a display box.
“For real?” A ball signed by Chipper isn’t cheap. Back in the day my dad would’ve given me a gift like this. But those baseball themed gifts stopped a few years back. The fact that all my friends pooled their money to get this for me… It means a lot.
“We thought you’d really like it.” Carson steps forward and claps a hand on my shoulder. “I remembered you talking about going to games when you were younger, and you’ve mentioned Chipper Jones multiple times. So I thought this would be a cool gift.”
I grab each of the guys in a bro-hug. “Wow, guys. I don’t even know what to say.
Thank you.” I’m not sure if I should hug the girls or not.
But, Raegan doesn’t seem to care, she wraps her arms around my waist and her head hits just beneath my chin.
I resist the urge to bury my nose in her hair. I could stand this way forever.
She pulls away and I feel chilled without her. Her blue-gray eyes collide with mine and a smile that makes my heart flip crosses her kissable pink lips. Lips that I would’ve kissed had we been alone.
Now that all of the celebrating is over people start to leave. Chrissy and Jaimie just wave at me, and the guys all slap me on the back. I lost the bet, so after watching Raegan take down decorations for a few minutes I begin to collect the trash.
The bag is filled so I tie it off. “I’m going to take the trash to the dumpster out back.” I walk through the storage room at the back, past the stairs to the apartment overhead, and out the back door.
Snow. Not what I expected to see tonight. And especially never in Texas. Snow here is about as rare as it is in Atlanta. I have to make sure that Raegan sees it. I call her name and she comes running.
Her footsteps slap across the floor as she jogs to the back door. “What is it?”
A delighted gasp escapes her mouth as she catches sight of the flurries. “Snow!” She exclaims as she rushes out into it. She twirls, her arms outstretched, her tongue sticking out.
My heart starts doing its own dance against my ribs. The light outside the back door casts a halo around Raegan, and I stand transfixed.
I slowly move forward, the door slamming behind me. I toss the trash into the dumpster and tap Raegan on the shoulder to bring her out of her snow daze. I have an idea.
“Want to dance in the snow?” My hands begin to sweat and my pulse races. Raegan squeals and puts her hands on my shoulders. We sway to our own song, her face snuggling into my neck.
Her breath comes in little puffs across the bottom of my chin. My arms tighten around her waist as her fingers tangle in my curls.
She lifts her head and her eyes catch mine, our bodies touching, but not completely pressed together. You could slide a thin Bible in between us. Her eyes flit back and forth between my lips and my eyes.
Her tongue darts out, swiping across her lips, and her eyes darken. I’m taking my chance and making my birthday wish come true. I close my eyes and press my lips to hers.
Nothing else exists around us. Just us, and the falling snow.
Her fingers, spinning in my hair.
My hands on her waist.
And our lips, touching.
Her lips move under mine, and she shifts, deepening the kiss. I open my lips so that I can taste her. My pulse is thumping in my throat. Her nose brushes mine as she moves her lips, pressing a kiss on the corner of my mouth.
I don’t want this to end. But I know the lines we’ve drawn, and with all my strength I stop rubbing circles on her waist and pull my mouth from hers.
She stares up at me, lips parted and rosy from kissing. Her eyes are kind of sleepy. The pulse beating at the base of her throat begs for my lips, but I use every ounce of self control I have and pull away. I bite my lip and rub the back of my neck. I want this. Every day. With her.
She slips her hand into mine, and without a word we head back inside.