Levi and Ivy are standing on the other side in ridiculous party hats.
“Happy birthday!” they shout in unison.
“Thanks,” I say as I’m scooped up by Levi and spun around. He sets me down, and Ivy latches onto me. “Let me see the ring!” I say as I grab her hand. I haven’t seen her since the engagement, and she didn’t even know I was there.
“You can talk about that later. There’s a surprise for you in the kitchen,” Griff says from the doorway.
“You’re still here?” I ask him as he reaches out to hug me.
“We’re all skipping to head Chicago early,” Con says as he wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses the top of my head.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Come on, I’m hungry.” Levi leads the way down to the kitchen where a tray of cinnamon rolls from Delores, Victor’s amazing chef, is waiting for us.
We eat and catch up, Levi and Ivy describing the proposal and being so clearly in love. I love listening to each of their versions and then telling them what Griff and I saw. Ivy and I head upstairs when we’re done with breakfast; she thinks I’ve probably not packed enough for the long weekend. I roll my eyes but follow her anyway, there’s no point resisting.
She lifts my suitcase and starts pulling things out and tossing them on the bed. “No, no, no, hell no!” She stops on a pair of ratty sweats and looks at me incredulously, “Seriously?”
“What?” I snatch them back. “They’re for lounging around Z’s penthouse. Trust me, he’s seen me in worse.”
“Just when I thought you had turned a corner in your fashion choices,” she shakes her head and walks to the closet. “I’ll get you sorted for this weekend.”
Half an hour and an extra bag later, we’re sliding into black SUV that’s idling outside the townhouse for us. Ivy and I take the back, Con and Griff sit in the middle row, and Levi takes the front passenger seat.
I take a minute to look at Connor who is currently glaring at his phone, swiping quickly through a document of some sort. I notice Griff and Levi share a look while Con’s distracted. I give Levi a ‘what the fuck’ look, and he shrugs back at me, feigning nonchalance.
It’s bullshit. I can read the concern all over their faces. I send a text to both of them, informing them we’ll be discussing this on the plane. I watch Connor close out the document he was reading, and when he looks up at me, his eyes shutter and hide away the emotion. He smiles and mouths, ‘I love you.’
If you loved me, you wouldn’t be lying to me.
“Damn,” Z whistles when he walks into the guest room where Ivy and I are getting ready. “You two just get more beautiful every time I see you.”
“Z!” I launch myself into his arms. “Oh, ick. You reek.” I push away, but he pulls me in again.
“Deal with it. I need my Lil hugs before Connor hogs you all night.” He steps back and looks me up and down, “and he definitely will with you looking so fine. He’ll be mean mugging everyone who looks at you longer than a second.”
“Facts,” Ivy pipes in with a hug for Z. “So good to see you again!”
“I’m excited to meet Marcus,” I wiggle my brows at Z.
Marcus is a PE teacher at the elementary school we went to together. Z isn’t publicly out as a gay athlete, although most of his teammates know, so they have to be careful. They met while working on the community center we opened in early September. Marcus volunteers after school, but I have yet to meet him.
“He’ll be at the club. I’m gonna hit the shower, so I don’t hold us up.”
“Okay, let’s finish your makeup and hair,” Ivy pushes me back to the bathroom. She’s wearing high-waisted black pants and a cropped white cashmere sweater with sky high heels that I couldn’t even stand in. Her hair is in its wild naturally curly state, exactly how Levi loves it. She looks stunning.
“You look so gorgeous, Ivy,” I tell her honestly.
“Thanks, babe!” She gestures at my navy halter dress, “As do you. I love you in any shade of blue. Now sit your ass down.” She works her magic on my face, doing all the girly stuff I’ve never bothered to learn.
A short time later, we walk into the living room and find the guys all sitting around watching a baseball game. Four sets of eyes zero in on us. Connor stands up and gives me the most intense look I’ve ever gotten from him.
“You guys go ahead,” he tells everyone without taking his eyes off me, “we’ll be right behind you.”
“Right,” Levi chuckles. “You can’t hold her hostage all night, Con.”
Connor grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the bedroom we use when we visit Z. “Watch me,” he says over his shoulder.
He closes the door with a quiet intensity. “I love you so much it fucking hurts. This love is a beautiful agony that I want to suffer for eternity.” He moves toward me with fast, deliberate steps but cups my face gently. “Let me show you how much I love you tonight. I know we flew here for here for your birthday, but you’re going out for your bachelorette tomorrow night.” He drops to his knees before me. “Let me worship you.”
His eyes are the green of a forest at midnight, deep, dark, and mysterious. His fingers are creeping under the hem of my dress, lightly dancing over my thighs. I can’t say no to him with the unspoken desperation in his gaze.
I reach behind my back and untie the halter of my dress. It flutters down my legs, and I’m left standing in my heels and black lace panties. He reaches up and pulls my panties down my hips and thighs. He grasps
