I awoke the next morning to an empty bed and a note from Alex:
Sorry I have to work. Have a wonderful day with you mom and I'll see you both later!
Love, Alex
P.S, happy 21st birthday, darling.
x
I smiled down at the piece of paper and ran my fingers along his cursive handwriting. Everything about this man screamed class and I loved it. I loved him.
On one hand, it was crazy that I did. We hadn't been seeing each other all that long but none of that mattered when he made me feel the things I did. Invincible. Beautiful. Worthy.
"Ebony?"
Mom's sweet voice filtered in through my bedroom door, inquisitive as ever. I'd given her a spare key last night and she was seemingly making good use of it.
"Come in!" I replied, sitting up.
She opened my door and came shuffling in, holding a bag of presents in one hand and a huge bouquet of flowers in the other.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart!"
"Oh, Mom! Those are gorgeous," I exclaimed, jumping to my feet.
I ran to her and sniffed the red roses, truly in awe.
"Aren't they? Unfortunately, they're not from me."
"No?" I asked, relieving her of the bunch.
I plucked the card from its centre and read through the small note.
I hope these brighten your morning.
Can't wait to see you later!
Love, Alex
x
"Wow."
"My thoughts exactly."
She shot me a disapproving look; the stereotypical Mom one.
"Mom!"
"Don't you 'Mom' me. I can't believe you kept your relationship a secret from me. We tell each other everything, Ebony. Everything."
"I know." And I felt guilty for having done so. "To be honest, I've hardly had time to register it myself. It was only supposed to be a fling. I didn't mean to fall in love with him."
Mom gasped, followed by a smile. "You love him?"
"Wellâyeah."
She grinned, encouraging me into her arms. "I was so worried my past choice in men had put you off for life."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Alex isn't like Dad, Mom."
"I know, baby."
"But he is Jason's brother," I added, sitting back down.
She joined me on the squeaky mattress.
"And is that an issue?"
"Not for me," I insisted. "But Alex does know about my past feelings for his brother and I'm concerned he still thinks they exist."
"So, I take it your feelings for Jason are gone?"
I nodded. "To be honest, I don't think they were ever real. Until I met Alex, I thought I knew what being in love was like."
Mom smiled.
"But I'm scared he thinks he's my second choice when really, he's my first."
"So, tell him?"
I wish things were that simple.
"He has a past, Mom. A truly awful one," I explained, not elaborating beyond that.
I respected his privacy.
"Everyone does, Baby. Even you do."
Good point!
"You'll tell him when you're ready. And in the meantime." She smiled. "Let's celebrate you turning twenty-one. I've booked us in for a spa day."
"Really?" A spa sounded pretty amazing right now. "Thank you, Mom. I usually hate my birthday but I'm so glad you came. I really miss you when you're not here."
"Me too, Eb," she replied, gifting me a precious kiss on the head. "Me too."
****
Having been massaged, exfoliated and cleansed within an inch of my life, I was finally ready to hit the bars with Mom.
"You look gorgeous, sweetheart," she stated, taking in my little, black dress and loose curls.
She, too, looked gorgeous in her teal dress and matching boots.
"Shall we?"
"Are we meeting Alex there?"
I nodded, slipping my ID, keys and lipgloss into my clutch. "Yeah. He's coming straight from work."
"What does he do again?" shr asked, fluffing her hair in the mirror.
"He's a family lawyer."
She paused mid-fluff, regarding me closely.
"What?"
"He's certainly got his shit together."
"Yeah, unlike usâwho are going to be late if this Uber doesn't hurry up!"
As I said this, an alert sounded on my phone, telling me our car was outside.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Born ready," she replied.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up outside a bar; it's entrance jam packed. Thankfully, the queue didn't take long to clear and as soon as we were in, I texted Alex.
Ebony: We're here! Where are you? xxx
Alex: Turn around, gorgeous. xxx
I did so in an instant and came face-to-face with all my friends; Jez, Cordelia, Jason. Hell, even Anna was here.
"Oh my God!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they all sang, lounged leisurely in what appeared to be a VIP section.
I couldn't believe it!
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Duh, celebrating," offered Jez, stepping forward with his arms out.
I hugged him in an instant and made my rounds, finally reaching Alex.
"You did all this?" I asked as we hugged.
"Hmm. Happy birthday, Ebony."
I loved hearing him say my name.
"Regretting it now, though. As stunning as you are in that dress, all I wanna do it rip it off."
I laughed and swatted him on his shoulder.
"My mother is here!"
"Oh, please. Your mom loves me."
He wasn't wrong there. Alex could literally take me on one of these tables and she still wouldn't bat an eyelid. Okayâmaybe she would but still, she approved.
"Later," I promised.
"Ebony, drink this!" instructed Jason, handing over a pink cocktail whilst offering my right cheek a kiss. "Happy B-Day!"
"Thanks!"
I took a sip and smiled, utterly impressed. "Ya know, it tastes better when it's legal."
Jason laughed and proceeded to drag us all towards the dance floor. There, we danced like no one was watching, even though I'm pretty sure everyone was because of how ridiculous we all looked. I threw some moves with Jez and Cordelia. Bopped with Anna and my mom and eventually ended up swaying side-by-side with Jason.
"Alex organised all this, ya know?" he slurred.
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah, I think he has a crush on you."
I laughed. "Whatever you say, Jase."
"No, really! Think about it. He organised this entire thing. He even insisted on everything being perfect. I've never seen him this dedicated before."
Not even with Chloe?
"I think he fancies you."
I laughed becauseâyeahâhe did.
And I fancied him right back.
****
Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!
I love these two and I can't wait to share the rest of what I've got planned for them.
I hope you're ready for some cuteness overload, fun times and of course, a pinch of drama! ;)