Georgia’s brows furrow in confusion. “You only went out to dinner twice a year?” She’s not judging. She’s curious. Because she wasn’t raised like I was, where eating out was a luxury people in my neighborhood couldn’t afford.
“Yeah, it became a tradition. And she’s going to want to pay tonight, but…”
Georgia nods in understanding, her face falling. Damn it, I didn’t mean to upset her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think.”
“No, don’t be sorry. You didn’t know and you were trying to be nice.”
My phone dings with a message from Mom: I’m sorry, I can’t make it after all. Rain check?
I try to hide the text from Georgia, but she sees it before I can. “How far do you live from here?” she asks.
“About thirty minutes. Why?”
“Tell your mom we’ll be there in forty-five minutes.” She takes my hand and speed walks to my car. I do as she says and then pocket my phone.
After a quick trip to the grocery store, I pull up to my childhood home, hoping my mom had enough time to pick up. She’ll be embarrassed if we walk in on the place in less than perfect condition.
Georgia and I grab the bags of groceries she bought—without letting me see—and walk up to the front door. Before I can knock, Mom swings the door open. “I just got your text. What are you doing here?”
“The restaurant didn’t have any availability,” Georgia lies. “So, I thought we could make dinner here.” She holds up the bags. “I’m learning how to cook and have been dying to make Margherita pizza. We could all make it and hang out… I also brought a cake.”
Mom’s gaze flits between Georgia and me and then her eyes light up. “That sounds perfect.” Georgia walks inside, heading straight to the kitchen, while my mom and I hang back for a second.
She pulls me into a hug. “Happy Birthday. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“C’mon, you two,” Georgia yells. “If I have to make it all myself, I’ll be eating it all myself.”
Mom laughs. “I’ve only known her for a minute, but I can already tell she’s different…” Than Victoria, she means but doesn’t voice.
“She definitely is,” I agree.
When I step farther into the house, noticing how clean it is, she says, “Since the day you came over… that night…” Of the anniversary of my sister’s death. “I’ve been making some changes.”
“Really?”
“I saw how scared you were for that girl at the hospital and I didn’t want you to feel that way toward me.”
I take a look around again with new eyes and see just how clean the place is. “That’s good, Mom,” I tell her.
“I’ve also broken up with my boyfriend,” she admits proudly. “He wasn’t any good. I’m taking some time for myself.”
“Good,” I tell her again, kissing her temple. “I’m proud of you.”
The night is spent with delicious food and great conversation. My mom and Georgia hit it off, despite how different they are, and I know it’s because of Georgia. Because even though she’s worth millions, she doesn’t act like it. She’s real and sweet and doesn’t have a judgmental bone in her body, and fuck if tonight didn’t make me fall even more in love with her.
“You know,” she says, when we get home. “I saw in a movie once that the man gets birthday sex.” She waggles her brows playfully.
I halt in my place. “Butterfly…” Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
She saddles up next to me. “I like you and you like me…” Actually, I’m in love with her, but we won’t go there right now. “And we’re both adults. I don’t see why we have to wait.”
“Because you said you didn’t want to have sex until you’re in love,” I remind her.
“So, my plans changed.” She shrugs shyly.
I’m all about letting a woman make her own decisions, but the fact that she’s saying this right after that chick showed up to get her fake dick tells me she might not be thinking clearly.
“There’s no rush,” I tell her, taking her into my arms and placing her on the bed. “We have our entire lives to be together.” Before she can argue, I connect my mouth with hers, silencing her.
Georgia
“He won’t have sex with me.”
Mom snorts and Lexi laughs.
“I’m being serious. Because I told him I want to wait until I’m in love, he won’t have sex with me.” It’s been almost three weeks since Chase’s birthday dinner and he meant what he said about it not being a rush. That night, while he refused to let me give him birthday sex, he did get a birthday blowjob… But that was it. He won’t take things any further. We make out, give each other orgasms, but he always stops before we have sex.
I even tried to get him drunk the night of Lexi’s and my birthday outing, but he wasn’t having it. He did give me some amazing orgasms that night, before we fell asleep in each other’s arms.