Chapter 41

It’s officially been twelve days since I saw Easton after he recklessly flew home to see me. While he’s been away, our days have been full of random, missed phone calls, FaceTime, and sex-toy play, where he’s at the controls.

At any minute, Easton will walk through that door to me after what feels like an eternity.

I’m holding a chocolate cupcake with a candle I haven’t lit yet. I’m wearing a black party dress, which he picked out, along with the black pendant necklace and earrings Easton gave me on our first date. With the room semi-dark, I feel like I’m center stage, and in a way, I am.

“He’s late,” I whisper, glancing down at my phone, then tuck it inside the pocket of my dress.

He’s never late, so while I’m tempted to text him, I won’t. This is another one of my bad timing things—or at least that’s what my subconscious says.

As the knob turns, I light the candle. When his blue eyes meet mine, I see the fire burning behind them. That smirk I love so damn much finds his lips and e drops his briefcase on the floor and moves toward me in four long strides.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he says, his face being lit by the cupcake.

“Make a wish.” I hold it up for him.

“It came true just now. I’m home, and you’re here,” he says, kissing me first.

Easton closes his eyes and grins before blowing it out.

“Did you make it a good one?” I ask.

“Fuck yes. The best one,” he says, wrapping his arms around me.

I keep the cupcake in my grip as I hold on to him with my other arm. I laugh as the kiss deepens, and moments later, Weston enters.

Easton turns and glares at him with a huff. “We just spent three weeks of fun together. What do you need?”

“Your wife texted me,” Weston says, turning to me. I did text him because I needed them both in the same room at the same time. “What’s the emergency, Lexi?”

I give him a cheeky grin.

“SURPRISE!” All their friends and family members jump out from behind the couch and the kitchen, and several walk down the stairs.

They both roll their eyes, a perfect mirror image.

I wrap my arms around Easton. “Surprise! Maybe my timing isn’t as shitty as I thought.”

“Oh, it still very much sucks. You were lucky this time,” he says, swinging me around as I laugh. He takes a bite from the cupcake. “I missed you.”

“I missed you so much,” I say, whispering in his ear. “This will only last for two hours.”

“Good. But thank you for this. No one has ever been able to surprise us,” he admits.

This makes me smile. “A rule breaker. A heartbreaker. And now a record breaker? Who’d have thought it was possible?”

He laughs against my mouth, and it’s hard to pull away from him, but somehow, we do.

The only time he’s not touching me is when he hugs his sister. Billie squeezes me the tightest though.

“Glad you’re keeping this one,” she tells Easton, and he gives me a warm smile.

“Me too,” he says, but his eyes don’t leave mine.

The intense eye contact nearly brings me to my knees. I love it when he looks at me that way.

It’s now that I wish I hadn’t thrown this party. I’m greedy, and I don’t want to share him with anyone, not with how much I missed him. But he needed this. My heart lurches forward and I swallow hard as the silent conversation streams between us.

The room fills with chatter and he says hello to those who make it a point to give best wishes for his birthday and our wedding.

There were a few moments when I didn’t think I could pull this off. Carlee helped with cakes and decorations, and Brody gave me a list of who he believed should be invited. Without their help, I’m not sure it would’ve been possible. Surprisingly, every person I’d invited showed up.

I glance around and find Carlee chatting with Philip, the guy whose Jeep we borrowed. She’s laughing her ass off, and I wave her over. After a minute, she excuses herself.

When close, she lowers her voice. “He’s more country than us.”

She’s from a small town in Texas too. It’s called Merryville, and they celebrate Christmas year-round.

“I know. Oh, I want to introduce you to someone,” I tell her, then turn toward Weston.

Immediately, he stops his conversation with Easton.

“This is my best friend, Carlee. She helped me plan this,” I say.

He gives her a smirk as their eyes meet. It’s like magic. And I finally understand what everyone sees. I witness it on Weston’s face.

“Hi, Carlee. Weston Calloway.”

He holds out his hand, which she takes. He kisses her knuckles and she laughs.

“It’s so lovely to meet you finally. You’re iconic.”

Weston chuckles and smirks. “That’s what they say.”

“Oh, please tell me more,” Carlee says, watching him over her champagne glass.

I notice the sparks, and I think maybe I’ll play matchmaker for once.

Just as I’m about to say something, Easton grabs my hand and pulls me through the living room, saying hello and smiling at those we pass. I see the desperation in his eyes as he leads me outside to the balcony. There’s no one out here but us as he crashes his lips against mine. My eyes flutter closed as our tongues swipe together. I taste the chocolate cupcake on his lips and get lost in him, in us.

“Fuck, I missed you.” He pulls me into a hug, and I breathe him in. “Thank you,” he continues.

“For what?”

“For giving me something to look forward to. The light at the end of the tunnel.”

“You realize you were late to your party.” I hug him, kissing his chin.

“Ah, you’re right.” He smirks.

I run my fingers through his messy hair, admiring how fucking beautiful he is. “I can’t wait to see what you drew while you were gone.”

A chuckle releases from him. “They’re all of you.”

Billie opens the door and steps out. “Want to come in and blow out the candles so we can leave you two alone?”

“Yes,” he says, grabbing my hand and practically dragging me inside.

On the counter, there’s a chocolate cake with an elegant E and a vanilla one with a W.

“Stand behind the cakes so we can take pictures,” Billie says, pulling out her phone.

I’m thankful she speaks up and snaps some photos because I’m too caught up in the moment, seeing everyone around with smiles. Every single person in the room is someone. Every single person has a want, a wish, and a dream. And at the end of the day, at our core, many of us are the same.

I fold my arms in front of my body, watching Weston try to dunk Easton’s head in the tall cake. Carlee stands beside me.

“Are they always like this?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say. “Always.”

“Ahh, that’s cute,” she says as Weston meets her eyes with a smile playing on his lips.

We sing “Happy Birthday” to them as they wrap their arms around one another and sway to everyone singing off-key but me.

Easton clears his throat. “So many people I appreciate are in this room. Wow. Thank you for attending this surprise party and welcoming us into the next decade of our lives. I hope it’s better than the last,” he says, meeting my gaze. “I’m certain it will be.”

“Yeah, thanks, Lexi. No one has ever surprised us together before, so kudos.”

“I threatened everyone who RSVP’d,” Billie says from the back of the crowd.

Laughter fills the room.

Afterward, Easton helps me cut slices for our guests, and everyone gets a piece of both. An hour later, we’re telling everyone goodbye until the only people left in the penthouse are me, Easton, Carlee, and Weston.

“I hope you have a great birthday,” I tell Weston.

He pulls me into a tight hug. “So, what was the emergency?”

I playfully smack him as Easton peels his brother’s arms off of me.

“Don’t like that,” he says.

I laugh, taking a step back. “Don’t want to make him jealous.”

“Fuck no, we don’t,” Weston says. “Thanks again for everything.”

“Carlee gets a lot of the praise,” I say. I think I see her blush.

Weston turns his attention to her. “Would you like to be walked out?”

“Sure,” she says. Then, she turns and gives me a hug and Easton a handshake. “She’s jealous too.”

“Don’t tell him my secrets,” I say.

“Not a secret,” Weston adds. “I’ve witnessed it.”

“Goodbye, you two,” I singsong, gently guiding them toward the door.

Then, Carlee and Weston leave together. Easton locks up, his mouth on mine the moment the deadbolt slides into place.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen my brother genuinely smile in twenty-one days.”

“Really? Shall we play matchmaker?”

He chuckles. “Hmm. Maybe. But I think he’s secretly seeing someone.”

“Oh,” I say. “I didn’t realize. Maybe I’ll calm down on that then.”

Seconds later, Easton’s arms are under my body, lifting me in his arms and carrying me upstairs.

“You smell so damn good.”

“You do too,” he says as he nudges open the door and sets me on the bed.

“Are you ready for your birthday present?” I ask.

He nods, unzipping my dress, and I stand before him in the tiniest set of lace lingerie, something I picked up for him.

“What I’ve always wanted,” he says, his eyes drifting down my body. “Best gift ever.”