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I pull him to his feet, glance around to make sure no one is watching, then lick my tongue between his pecs and pull him down for a kiss.
We’ve been working out in the corner of the gym, out of the way of everyone else. And only the last grappling session bordered on PG-13, but Carl will still kick us out if we get carried away. It’s happened more than once. Judging from the hard length pressed against my stomach, we better scoot before Carl sees us.
We get home just in time to log in to the family chat. Jacob takes over the singing, his high-pitched voice and five-year-old enthusiasm no match for anyone else’s microphone.
“Do you guys have plans for later?” Mom asks, smiling at the two of us from our seat on the couch, my laptop plugged into Julian’s TV so we can see everyone easier. My parents weren’t happy when I moved in with Julian when my lease was up, but he won them over when he and Liam joined me in Oklahoma for New Year’s last winter.
Colin and Reid echo the question, smirking. They’ve never let it go that Julian’s shirt has been inside out not once, but three separate times that we’ve logged into the family chat.
“My friend Sophie has a celebration planned,” I explain between making silly faces at Ada in the screen. Her screech of amusement blasts the speakers, but I don’t care. I still don’t want babies of my own, but nieces and adopted teenagers are right up my alley.
We chat for a while, Julian, Grady, and my dad hogging the conversation with predictions about University of Oklahoma’s football prospects this fall. Bianca rolls her eyes when they ask her about certain players.
“There are thousands of students on this campus, Grady. I don’t know any of the football players personally. They don’t take upper-division history classes.”
“So where are we going?” Julian pulls me in for a kiss as we finally leave the meeting, my parents waving and Ada blowing kisses.
“We’re going to that winery Sophie was telling us about. Everyone else is meeting us there.” With lots of encouragement from Julian, I’ve been putting in an effort to be less of a recluse. Lauren, Sophie, and I have regular happy hours, and Julian and I double date with Carl and his wife often.
I’m still happiest at home with Julian, though.
By the time we get out to the winery, about an hour’s drive from Portland, my stomach is grumbling. “They better have food.”
Julian glances across at me before turning back to the road. “How do you not know? Didn’t you arrange it?”
“I didn’t. Sophie did. She said she would take care of the venue and a party as long as I got the birthday boy there at the right time. I have no idea what she planned.”
Julian laughs. “You know, last time Sophie invited us on a surprise outing, we ended up in Vegas for their wedding.”
I point out the wooden sign directing us up to the vineyard, and Julian turns onto the dirt road before he speaks again. “I don’t see an airport around here, so I don’t think we’re being whisked away on a surprise getaway this time. What’s the name of this place, anyway?”
Shrugging, I flash him the invitation Sophie sent me as he parks in the gravel lot. “I don’t know. There’s no name on anything. Sophie just gave me the address.”
“You made it!” Sophie is framed in the doorway of a beautiful wood building. A wrap-around porch spans from one side to the other, bistro tables and chairs dotted along it. Enormous windows take up two-thirds of the building on this side, matching ones on the opposite wall so I can see through the building to the other side, where a majestic view of rolling hills and acres of vines is visible.
Attired in a floral maxi dress, her hair braided and pinned to her head like a crown, Sophie looks like the queen of summer. “Happy birthday, Julian! Come inside, have a glass of wine.” She leans in to give me a hug, the wineglass in her hand making it difficult, then gives Julian a hug as well. “Almost everyone is here already. Did you guys have a nice morning?”
Julian smirks. “Yes, we did. Frankie was teaching me how to use the new espresso machine in our place.” If by “teaching him to use it” he means he sat me on the counter and ate me out while I attempted to instruct him in the fine art of tamping the grounds, then yes.
“Then we ate breakfast.” Julian winks, and my cheeks go hot remembering exactly what we ate for breakfast, when my bra went missing. “…and went to the gym.”
Sophie pokes me in the side. “I love how pink you still get, Frankie.”
“I can’t help it! I will blush whenever Julian hints we had sex until the day I die, okay?” She and Lauren tease me, but I know it’s out of love. I’m not into reading romance novels like they are, but whenever they find one they think I might like—usually ones with aliens or magic, but light on the steamy scenes—they pass it my way.
We follow Sophie inside to find the small gathering of our friends already drinking. Most have wine, but Theo and some of the other guys have bottles in hand.
“Happy birthday!” There’s a chorus of shouts as we enter the building. Glasses and bottles are raised and toasted, and even though it’s only lunchtime, a server pours everyone another round.
“Isn’t this place gorgeous?” Lauren sidles up to me, clinking her glass to mine.
“You’re here! When did you get in?” I throw my arms around her for a quick hug.
“We got in late last night.” She waves to her boyfriend, who’s chatting with Theo and Julian by the beers.
“Do you know what Sophie’s planning?” I ask quietly. “Julian and I are super grateful, but this seems a little over the top, even for her.”
Lauren laughs under her breath. “She didn’t tell you? Oh, this is going to be great!”
