by Low, JA
“Do not ruin your makeup,” Emma says, but her eyes are glassy too.
“All I want to say is… I love you all…” raising my glass, “… and I’m so thankful you’re all in my life.” My lips turn up into the biggest smile. “To the next thirty years, bitches!”
The girls all holler, and we clink our glasses together.
“Watch out, boys,” Emma adds, making us laugh.
“Is it safe to come in.” Whirling around, I see EJ standing in the doorway. “Happy birthday, sis.”
Feeling emotional, I hurry over and pull him into a hug.
“No crying,” Emma yells.
“You look beautiful.” EJ looks down at me with loving eyes. “I have something for you.” He pulls out a small box, which is black gift-wrapped with a gorgeous bow on top, from his pocket and hands it to me.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
EJ shrugs and doesn’t reply.
Opening up the beautifully wrapped present, a black velvet box appears. Looking up at EJ. I wonder what’s inside while he urges me to continue. Flicking open the black box, my world stops. How? I don’t understand. The tears which fall down my cheeks are unstoppable. “I don’t…” I’m completely lost for words and can’t finish the sentence.
“I remember Mom telling you she was going to give you this ring on your thirtieth birthday like Dad gave it to Mom on hers.”
Gently, I pull the gorgeous pink diamond cocktail ring out of the box and hold it up to have a closer look. Mom and Dad met in college and didn’t start making serious money in his business until after we were born. The first big purchase was this ring that my mom had eyed at a jeweler on Rodeo Drive one weekend. He surprised her with it a short time later, and she wore it everywhere and for every occasion. It was always on her hand. Launching myself back into my brother’s arms, I have no idea how I can thank him for such an incredible gift.
“Hey, no crying,” EJ warns.
“Thanks, EJ. Thank you so much.”
“I’d do anything for you, kiddo.” He reaches out and wipes away my tears with his thumb.
“Shit! I’ve ruined my makeup.”
“We can fix you up in no time,” Emma tells me.
* * *
“Why am I outside?” I ask Emma.
“I have a surprise for you.” She jumps up and down as a large, white peacock chair comes around the corner, covered in flowers flanked by four hunky men in tuxedos who are holding it.
“What the…” I stare at it and pull my eyebrows together. “No. Ems. No,” I repeat this over and over again as they come closer.
“You should be a queen on your birthday.”
I get the sentiment, but this is more than a little crazy.
“I’m going to look weird.”
She waves my misgivings away as the men place the contraption on the ground. “Jump on.”
“No,” I state while shaking my head adamantly.
“Come on... it’ll be fun. Don’t be a spoilsport,” Emma pushes.
“For whom?” I argue back, but Emma simply rolls her eyes. “They can’t lift me.”
“Please! They probably bench press two of you,” Stella mentions.
Thanks, traitor.
“Get in the chair, Chloe. Arrive at your birthday like a goddamn queen.” Emma pushes me toward the chair, but I’m not convinced. I step onto the platform and sit in the chair like I have any sort of choice right now. The men grab each corner and lift. My nails dig into the plush velvet, while my heart thunders in my chest.
They better not drop me—I don’t need any more public humiliation today.
Music starts, it’s “Firework” by Katy Perry. Oh my God, this is so embarrassing.
We enter via the downstairs door directly into the party, and when people see me they start hollering and clapping. I feel a bit like an idiot.
Just go with it, Chlo, your friends are trying to give you a fun birthday.
So, I push aside my embarrassment and start to wave at everyone I pass, while the men move me through downstairs and out to the back garden where they finally place me down. As they do, mini fireworks go off around me from little canisters scattered throughout the garden.
Seriously?
I sit there as my girlfriends take a million photographs of my embarrassment.
“Get closer,” Emma orders the men. “Pick her up.” One of them grabs hold of my body and pulls me into his arms while my friends laugh and giggle as they make me pose with them.
Thankfully, after a short time, the spectacle is over, and I can mingle with my friends.
“I’m going to kill you,” I berate while pointing at Emma, who simply laughs.
Looking up, I notice Noah, but he doesn’t look happy at all. There’s a deep scowl, and honestly, he looks like he’s clenching his fists at his sides.
I wonder, what’s the matter with him? Hope it’s not work.
“Happy birthday!” EJ bursts out laughing.
“You knew about this?”
“Maybe. But I was sworn to secrecy. There were some choice words directed at my manhood if I told you. I didn’t want to mess with that.”
“Hopefully, there are no more surprises.” His eyes widen with untold secrets. “There’s more?” He zips his mouth shut and chuckles.
Oh my God, what more could they possibly have planned?
Before I know it, I’m surrounded by my friends wishing me a happy birthday.
That’s when I notice, out of the corner of my eye, that Logan has spotted Lenna from the back garden and starts to make his way over to where she’s standing. I watch as Lenna notices too, placing her drink on the table beside her. She smiles and laughs and then makes her excuses to the people she’s with and leaves. With Logan following not far behind her, they disappear around a corner toward the main entrance. What’s going on between them?
Sneakily, I follow after them, but they’re gone by the time I step out into the front courtyard.
“You just missed them.” Noah’s gravelly voice surprises me in the darkness. He’s leaning against the brick wall playing around with his phone, a beer sits loosely in his fingers.
“Something’s going on with them.”
“I know,” he says, then gives me a small smile.
We’re alone, the party going on inside without us. Noah looks delicious as always in his tuxedo.
“Happy birthday.” He leans in kissing my cheek, his soft lips making connection with my skin making it tingle. Slowly he pulls himself away.
“Thank you.” For some reason, I’m feeling nervous all of a sudden. “Are you having a good night?” Hopefully, no one’s caught his attention. I noticed earlier that he had a group of women surrounding him, which isn’t that unusual.
“It’s been interesting.” Taking a sip of his beer, his plump lips wrap around the edge of the bottle, and I wish they were wrapped around something else. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows the liquid. How come I find that action sexy?
“How so?”
“Your entrance.”
Oh, that.
“The girls organized it as a surprise. Honestly, it was way over the top.”
“Didn’t think it was you.”
Should I be offended by that statement?
“What? Can’t I enjoy four hot guys?”
Noah raises his brow. “If that’s what you’re into.”
“It’s my birthday. They don’t call it dirty thirty for nothing,” I reply, placing a hand on my hip which is pushed out to the side in defiance.
Noah stares me down, contemplating his words carefully before he speaks, “Guess, I’ll leave you to it.” Pushing himself off the wall, he steps off toward the street.
“Noah…” Grabbing his arm, I stop him, and the next thing I know he’s spinning me around and pushing me up against the wall.
“You’re driving me crazy, Chloe.” I swallow down a large lump that’s formed in my throat. Those emerald green eyes which are
staring at me flare with desire, and he says, “I…” but stops and says, “Fuck.” He pushes away from me, dragging his hand through his light brown hair looking almost in agony as he paces the sidewalk, then he turns and stares at me.
“You look so fucking beautiful tonight, Chloe.” The need is written across his face as he attempts to get out what he wants to say. “I…” He’s stumped for words again, but then realization hits him, and he yells, “Fuck it!”
Noah grabs my face and kisses me. Strong palms cup my cheeks as his mouth does incredible things to mine. My hands grab his waist pulling him to me, feeling his hard plains against my softer curves as our kiss intensifies.
The world around me ceases to exist, while everything falls away as his kiss consumes me.
21
Noah
Seeing Chloe being carried in by those four guys, something sank in the pit of my stomach. I knew right away what it was—jealousy. Pure and simple jealousy.
Watching her in their arms as they held her, while her friends laughed and joked while taking pictures, I wanted to step over and rip their filthy hands from her body.
She looked spectacular in a dress which is nothing but a scrap of fabric, yet strikingly elegant at the same time. My eyes zeroed in on her delicate cleavage, transporting me back to this morning, where I wanted nothing more than to motorboat the shit out of those voluptuous gems.
Instead, I had to watch as she was introduced to single man after single man, each one of them vying for her attention. Watching her laugh and talk with them, their grimy hands touching her, their filthy eyes looking over her like a prize, yeah, that’s when I realized I’ve got it bad.
I couldn’t stand it any longer, I needed some fresh air and silence. I thought it would be rude to head home. So, I hid out in the front courtyard amongst the greenery.
I wasn’t expecting her to come rushing out after Logan and Lenna. I’m glad she did, but my intention was never to make a move like I have.
Jealousy is a crazy thing when it’s bubbling away under the surface waiting to rear its ugly head.
Now my lips are on hers. Her hands are gripping my hips, pulling me closer to her, pressing my hardening self against her soft curves.
She feels like heaven.
I don’t want to stop.
We should stop.
Anyone could see us.
Do I care? I don’t think I do. Even if it’s EJ?
A tiny moan falls from her lips, and I don’t think I would even care if EJ caught us right now even with the ass whooping he’d give me because it would be worth it for this moment with her.
“Chloe. Chloe,” a female voice calls out into the night halting us.
Both of us are breathing heavily.
“Shit,” Chloe curses. “I have to go. That’s Stella.” She pushes away from me and hightails it around the corner without a second glance. Fuck. Letting my head fall forward, it hits the solid wall. I’m an idiot. Giving her a couple of moments, I walk back into the party, so I can see what’s happening.
“Noah.” Ewan catches me off guard. What the hell is he doing here?
“Great to see you again.” I reach out to shake his hand.
“Chloe looks wonderful tonight, doesn’t she?”
Did she invite him?
Is he here for her?
Shit. I thought she wasn’t interested in him.
“Yeah. She does,” I answer a little distracted as I watch Chloe take a seat on her throne again, her girlfriends all around her, smiling and laughing.
“Ariana’s hot.” He grins, looking over to where she’s standing with her friends. “Chloe mentioned I should give her a call. We’ve been chatting for weeks now, but tonight’s the first time meeting her.” He seems nervous. I never thought I’d see this burly lumberjack of a man ever crack a sweat, but here he is looking like a wreck.
Women, they can make a grown man terrified as fuck.
“They’re a wild group of friends.”
“I think I’m starting to see that.” His eyes are firmly transfixed on Ariana as he talks.
“Happy Birthday” starts playing, and we all join in singing.
In walk two near-naked men carrying a three-tier birthday cake with sparklers on top. A huge smile falls across Chloe’s face as she sees the cake.
Or is that smile for the two men bringing it to her? Stop it.
Having a secret kiss under the cover of darkness doesn’t make her mine.
When the sparklers die down, everyone gives her a round of applause. She sticks her finger out and runs it through the icing with a cheeky grin on her face. She brings her finger to her mouth, her eyes close as her plump lips wrap around her finger, sucking the sugary goodness right off of it.
Fuck me dead! That’s hot.
All of a sudden, music pumps through the room loudly—stripper-like music. One of the men tells her to sit on the chair, and the other does some kind of manly twirl. Her eyes widen. She looks a little taken aback.
Realization registers on her face about what they’re doing, and she smiles. She fucking smiles. Her friends are hollering as the other two men join their friends in dancing around her like she’s some kind of queen and they’re her offerings. She’s clapping and laughing as they dance, while hands touch her, caress her, the men all vying for Chloe’s attention.
Honestly, I want to walk over and punch every single damn one of these Neanderthals for touching what’s clearly not theirs.
She’s not yours either, Stone.
Looking over to where EJ’s standing, hoping he might put a stop to this craziness, but instead he’s laughing and clapping along with everyone else.
What the fuck? Turning back, I see her slapping their asses, giggling, her face fully flushed with enjoyment written all over it.
I can’t watch this.
Turning, I make my way through the audience and out the front door again, sucking in a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down.
“You’re leaving so soon?” Logan asks.
“Yeah. We said happy birthday, no point in staying.”
My brother eyes me suspiciously. “Guessing you didn’t like the half-time entertainment?” I ignore him, but he doesn’t stop. “Are you jealous?”
I give him my best don’t be fucking serious glare, which makes him laugh.
“You are. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be leaving the party. Fucking hell, Chloe must have a magical pair of tits if they have made you go gaga over her.”
I turn and pin my brother against the brick wall. “Don’t be so fucking disrespectful.” Anger fills me while Logan raises his brow and bursts out laughing. I let go of him and rake a frustrated hand through my hair.
“Don’t talk, I know the spiel you’re about to give me.”
The laughter falls from my brother’s face. “Of course, I still believe that. But… you surprised me with your reaction just then.”
“You were testing me?” I’m feeling a little shocked by his confession.
“Of course. You’re as bad as me when it comes to women. But when one walks into your life and knocks you on your ass, well…” He shrugs, tucking his hands into his suit pants.
“Someone knock you over?” He ignores me. “Lenna perhaps?”
He turns quickly, his eyes full of anger. “I know we have the whole twin thing happening. I can deny it till I’m blue in the face, and you will still know I’m lying.” Oh, shit, it is Lenna. “All I’m saying is, it’s complicated.”
“And?”
He just shakes his head. “When I want you to know, I’ll tell you.”
“Are you fucking serious? After all the shit you’ve given me over Chloe, and now, I find out something’s happening between Lenna and you, and you’re telling me to butt out. You’re a damn dick.”
“Fine. Want to hear how I fucked up?” I’m not following. “I broke our agreement. I fraternized.” I’m surprised he’s confessed that to me.
“And?”
He runs
his hand through his hair. “And… nothing.”
My eyes narrow, I don’t believe him, but I can see he’s not going to tell me anything else.
He starts to walk away then stops but doesn’t turn around. “If you think there’s something real between you and Chloe…” he spins around and looks directly at me, “… just make sure you’re certain before doing anything.”
“Logan…” My brother looks a defeated.
“We’ll chat soon. I promise,” he tells me before jumping into his car.
Have I been so wrapped up in Chloe that I’ve missed what’s been going on with everyone else?
22
Chloe
After the cake-cutting chaos, I lost Noah in the crowd, and before I knew it, I’m downing one too many shots and having the time of my life. Dancing, laughing, hanging with my girls, minus Emma, who’s disappeared somewhere.
Even through my alcohol haze, I can’t get Noah’s kiss out of my mind. The way he pushed me up against the wall, the way his lips commanded attention from my own, his hard body pressed against mine. Honestly, I would have let him do anything to me in that moment and wouldn’t have cared if the world was watching.
I look out amongst the crowd again double-checking, but he hasn’t reappeared.
Stella catches my attention from my peripheral, a slight frown has formed on her face as she watches EJ and some redhead dancing together. I elbow her which makes her jump, an embarrassed blush tints her cheeks.
“He’s not worth it.” I love my brother, but I hate that he’s oblivious to the crush Stella has on him. He has no idea each woman he hooks up with chips away at her heart. I get why she won’t say anything—she loves her job.
I wish she could be honest with her feelings for him. Like you are with Noah? Okay, subconscious, you have a point there.
“My brother’s an idiot.”
Stella just shakes her head. “It’s not his fault. He has no idea. I’m the one with the problem,” she confesses. “I need to get over it and stop torturing myself.”
