ME: I just… don’t. And no, before you ask, there’s no unresolved childhood trauma there. I just think it’s pointless, and I don’t need to hear about how I kept my mother in labor for thirty-nine hours before my fat head made its entrance into the world.
IVY: You don’t have a fat head.
ME: I thought you would focus on the thirty-nine hours of labor thing.
IVY: If you mention that again, this will be your last birthday.
IVY: Actually, if that happens, this will be your last birthday.
I snorted and sat back up, quickly exchanging my towel for some boxers.
ME: Duly noted. I’ll be sure to have words with the baby.
IVY: I doubt it’ll listen to. It’s a girl.
ME: You don’t know that.
IVY: I absolutely know it.
ME: How do you know that?
IVY: *taps temple with finger*
ME: If you say so.
IVY: I do.
IVY: Now why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?
ME: I just told you. I don’t celebrate it. It seemed ridiculous to tell you.
IVY: Hmph.
IVY: I just put it in my calendar. Now I won’t forget.
ME: Great. I can’t wait until next year.
IVY: I’m not sure I can top your sister. Judging by the hall, I bet your apartment looks fun.
ME: It looks like a party store threw up. It’s awful. I hate it.
IVY: LOL she’s just trying to be nice.
ME: It doesn’t suit her. And now she’s living here forever, I’d rather she didn’t.
IVY: She’s moved in?
ME: Long story. I’ll tell you later. Want to get dinner tonight?
IVY: Like a date?
ME: If you want it to be.
IVY: It’s your birthday. It’s up to you.
ME: …Then it’s a date.
IVY: See? You just coerced a date out of me for no reason other than it’s your birthday. How can your birthday be bad?
ME: You’re right. You might convert me yet.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - KAI
I put the truck into park in the lot outside Bronco’s and got out. The bar was lively, with music pounding out through the windows, and the chatter and laughter of everyone inside screamed into the evening as the door swung open and a family left.
I caught the door before it closed over and stepped inside. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the rich scent of the amazing food filtered through the air and assaulted my nostrils.
Oh, God. I was so fucking hungry.
I scanned the room for Ivy. I knew she was here because she’d been working, but her shift was over at seven-thirty and it was a little past that already.
I jolted as someone pressed their body to my back. Two small hands reached up and covered my eyes, and the second the scent of strawberry shampoo hit me, I knew it was Ivy.
“Guess who!”
“Santa?”
She giggled. “Nope.”
“Tooth fairy?”
“Nope.”
“Someone who’s going to get kissed very publicly if she doesn’t let me go?”
She quickly dropped her hands and stepped back.
I laughed and turned around. “Wow. Way to give a guy a complex.”
She jutted out her lower lip. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”
I took a step closer to her and dipped my head. “Well, since everyone here thinks we’re married…” I pulled her against me and closed my lips over hers.
She squeaked, but she softened against me in a second.
“Hello, darling,” I muttered.
“Hello, sugarplum,” she shot back dryly, moving away. “Happy birthday!” she added, extra loudly.
Two seconds. That was all it took for everyone in the immediate vicinity to turn to me and begin the rigamarole that was birthday wishes. Before I knew it, I had half the damn bar offering me them, and I was half expecting a rendition of the song to break out.
“If there’s a cake, I’m going to kill you,” I said under my breath.
Ivy laughed as her parents joined us and repeated the whole happy birthday thing. By the time her mom had kissed my cheek and her dad clapped me on the back and they’d both been called back to work, I was so tired I was ready to turn around, walk out, and go to bed.
“Come on.” Ivy grabbed my hand and tugged me through the bar.
“Did you have to tell everyone it’s my birthday?”
“Yes.” She threw a grin over her shoulder. “Ta-da!”
I stared at the huge group in front of me. Anna, Josh, Colton, Tori, Kinsley, and Holley were sitting at the table, all of them grinning and wearing party hats. Holley tugged on a string of a balloon, diverting my gaze up.
Yep.
Two huge foil balloons—one a two, one a nine.
I turned to Ivy. “My sister put you up to this, didn’t she?”
“I did not!” Anna protested.
Ivy shook her head to agree with her. “Nope. I did it. It’s punishment for not telling me when your birthday was.”
I ran my tongue over my lower lip. I really did hate birthdays, and while I knew she’d definitely done a part of this to punish me, something about the look in her eye told me she’d done it because she genuinely cared.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her into my side. “Well, it’s not the worst thing a guy could do on his birthday.”
Ivy rolled her eyes and sat down. “You changed your tune.”
I took the empty chair next to her. “I’m trying to be grateful.”
Josh snorted. “Yeah, you’re doing a shit job. Hey—ow!” He reached down under the table, and I glanced at Kinsley who was smirking.
Tori laughed and grabbed a menu. “Yeah, yeah, can we do this in a minute? I’m fucking starving, and I’m about to waste away.”
Colton looked her up and down. “No, you’re not. Ow!” He did the same as Josh had a moment ago, and I looked at Kinsley again, but it was Tori herself wearing the smug smile.
“Whoops,” she said through gritted teeth, a fake smile plastered on her face. “I guess I didn’t see your shin there.”
“Your toes found it just fine.”
Holley rolled her eyes. “I hate to break up the inappropriate hate foreplay going on here, but I agree with Tori. I’m hungry. I’ve been at the store taking stock with Saylor all day.”
Kinsley looked at her. “I’ve been there, too, you know.”
“Where is Saylor?” I asked, turning to Ivy so they could continue their conversation.
She shrugged one shoulder. “She said something about a date, and since I organized this last minute, she couldn’t change her plans.”
“Something about a date?” Josh asked, peering over the top of the menu. “She tells you everything. She wasn’t more specific?”