“We decided not to jump out at you and yell surprise.” Cole laughed as he took me from Matt and pulled me into his chest for a brief hug.
“Good idea.” I agreed. “How did you guys even know? I had forgotten myself.”
“It was on your paperwork when you arrived so I marked it on the calendar.” Keira explained as she and Grant approached next to give me a hug.
“We got you a cake, and there’s presents!” Evie squealed as she ran in next to hug me. I bent down and pulled her in tight, never passing up an opportunity to hold the little cutie. “Can I help you open the presents? Pretty please?”
“You certainly can.” I agreed with a smile.
“Yes! I’m going to sort them all out for you, ok?” She asked excitedly, bouncing around before me.
“Ok Sweetie. Thank you.” She hurried off toward the dining table, her pigtails bouncing on her shoulders as she went.
When I stood again Kade and Kyle were both before me, relaxed smiles on both of their faces. It was a beautiful sight to see after so many weeks of seeing them both stressed and exhausted.
“Happy birthday Love.” Kade was the first to pull me into his arms and I went happily, having not seen him for almost two days. He had been working round the clock on leads on The Shadow, and so he had barely been home. I missed him so much, but I knew he needed to be working, doing everything he could to find little Hailey.
“God, I hate how long it is since I saw you Kade.” I sighed as I took in the feel of his arms around me, and his scent surrounding me.
These men were like an addiction to me. I hated to be without any of them, and when I had to be, I just desperately needed them back, feeling like a piece of me was missing without them close.
“I know. Me too.” He pulled back and kissed my lips just briefly, but even that was enough to have the butterflies in my stomach all aflutter.
“You really forgot it’s your eighteenth birthday today?” Kyle laughed as he too pulled me into his side for a half hug. I clung to his neatly pressed white button down and cuddled into his side happily.
“I know. It’s stupid. Just with all that’s happened, I didn't even think about it.” I explained honestly.
“Did we overwhelm you with all of this? You look pale?” Of course Kyle noticed. He never missed a thing.
“No, not at all. This is all great Kyle. It’s been so long since I got to celebrate a birthday. I’m just glad you didn’t all jump out at me.”
“Here brains, for that headache.” Cole declared as he appeared behind me with a glass of water in one hand, and two of my pain pills in the other.
I glanced up to Kyle, knowing he would be scowling down at me as he assessed me in his own very over protective way.
“I’m fine Ky. Just the start of a headache.” I told him with a sigh. I turned to Cole and took the meds and water with a grateful smile.
“Do you need to lie down for a while? We can hold off on dinner.” Kade offered.
“No, of course not. I’m fine.” I threw back the pills with a gulp of water, then smiled over to them all reassuringly. “I’m good guys, honest. I’m excited to celebrate now I’ve actually remembered it’s my birthday.” I reached up onto my tip toes and placed a kiss on Kyle’s jaw, hoping to settle him somewhat, then turned and headed into the kitchen to see if Keira and Matt needed help with whatever they were cooking.
I was exhausted and my head pounded, but the family had worked hard to make my birthday special for me, and I was damned well going to enjoy it. There with all of them, and my over protective, loving guys surrounding me, I actually had something to celebrate and I was determined to make the most of it.
***
“So, how are things going with you and my brothers? Are they driving you insane yet?” Xander asked with a mischievous look on his face. He and Simon had arrived just in time for dinner, both strutting in fully suited and immaculate, looking like the middle page spread in some men’s magazine despite the fact they had both been working all day.
We had all eaten a huge spread of mexican food Matt had whipped up, and it had been amazing. Everyone had been happy and relaxed and not one mention was made of The Shadow, or any of the drama surrounding us all. We’d just laughed, smiled and had fun, and it had been just the reprieve from real life that I needed.
Then I was told I had to open presents and again I was overwhelmed with beautiful gifts from everyone. The guys had all clubbed together and bought me a beautifully dainty, silver Cartier watch, which was engraved with all of their names, along with mine around the edge on the back of the face. I had instantly fallen in love with it, and was delighted when I put it on and the bracelet had already been adjusted to fit me perfectly.
Xander and Simon bought me a set of nineteenth century ‘History of Mathematics’ books that I was enthralled with right away. I had no idea where they had gotten them, or how, but I knew they must have been expensive as they were originals, printed in 1878.
I was desperate to lock myself away and begin reading them, but I knew it would have to wait.
So I was, instead, sat with Xander in the lounge, chatting and drinking tea. He too had been working crazy hours lately and I hadn’t seen much of him at all. He was my closest friend, and I had missed him a lot.
“Of course not. “ I replied to his question, but he just stared me down knowingly.
