She rolls her eyes. “If you don’t get out of here we’re going to end up having sex on the floor and I don’t have time for that. I need to get this done so we can get to the cabin.”
By cabin she means Xander and Thea’s second place. They got it to be a place for all of us to go in the summer for the lakes and in winter for snowboarding.
Thea got the wild idea to host my birthday there.
My birthday is not something I really like to celebrate but all these fucking girls seem to like to throw parties, and since I’m a sucker, here I am.
I throw on some clothes, grab my wallet and keys, and kiss Nova on the cheek.
“How long should I stay gone?” I ask, knowing if I come back too soon she’ll send me back out for another meaningless errand.
Her lips purse. “An hour.”
I sigh and slip out the door.
I can’t believe I’m twenty-eight years old. Another two and I’ll be thirty.
When the fuck did that happen?
I head down to my truck and drive around for the next hour. I don’t bother picking up the eggs because I know we have enough.
When I get back, Nova’s finished with the cake. It appears to be chocolate cake with chocolate icing.
My favorite.
With Happy 28th Birthday Jace scrawled sloppily across the top in some kind of blue gel icing.
Someone else might look at this cake and think it’s a mess but to me it’s the most perfect fucking cake I’ve ever had, all because my girl made it for me, and the love and thought behind it is what means the most.
I hear the shower running, so I open the bathroom door and step into the steamy room.
Nova’s humming a song as she showers.
I shove my jeans and boxer-briefs off and yank off my shirt.
I open the shower curtain and slip in behind her.
She jumps, startled by intrusion, and moves to cover her perky breasts.
“You scared the crap out of me,” she scolds.
I chuckle. “Sorry.” I bend to place a kiss on the freckles that dot her nose.
I love those fucking freckles.
She turns back to the water, rinsing the shampoo out of her hair.
I watch the soapy water cascade down her body, licking my lips in appreciation.
Nova’s so fucking beautiful, and smart, and sarcastic, and talented, and perfect.
I’m one fucking lucky bastard.
I place my hands on her wet waist and her eyes flick up to mine.
“I love you.”
Her smile grows. “I love you—”