“What did you wish for?” he asked.
A kiss from you.
I smiled. “Nothing. It’s hard to make a birthday wish when you don’t have a cake.”
He shook his head, and studied me for the longest time. “You deserve better.”
I know.
A smile traced his lips. “Well, we can fix that right now. Stay right there and close your eyes.”
My pulse quickened. What was he up to? I did as instructed, and closed my eyes. Hot cup of cocoa in hand, I eagerly anticipated what was to come. I heard clanking and commotion coming from the kitchen.
“Okay… you can open your eyes,” he called out.
When I finally did, he was standing in the kitchen with a chocolate cake on a platter, fifteen candles lit up.
I wanted to cry. I sat my cup of cocoa on the coffee table and rose to my feet, a hand splayed over my heart. No one had ever done anything so amazing for me.
He positioned the cake carefully at the center of his small kitchen table. “Make a wish.”
I took a seat at the table.A kiss from Gavin. I blew out the candles, but two were stubborn and refused to be extinguished. I blew a second time, exasperated.
He clapped enthusiastically, and at that moment, the most beautiful thing in the room was his smile.
“Let’s eat,” he said, handing me a knife. “Sorry, it’s just a store-bought cake. I’m not much of a baker.”
I was quick to cut the first piece. I couldn’t wait to eat it. “I love store-bought cakes. They’re the best… and chocolate is my favorite.”
His smile was coy. “Good. I’m glad you like it.”
We both indulged in not one, but two pieces, delighting in the moist cake, heavy chocolate icing, and chocolate sprinkles. I licked my lips as I finished my last bite. I caught Gavin studying me as he often did, like he couldn’t believe I was sitting in front of him, another live human being.
I caught you, handsome.
He practically bounced off the chair when he got up from the table. “I’ve got another surprise for you.”
“Really?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He had another surprise. My brain was too excited to even fathom what this second surprise could possibly be. When he came back, he was holding a large wrapped gift in his arms, complete with pink bow.
A lump lodged in my throat, threatening to break me apart. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so touched… so happy. I didn’t care what was in the box. It was truly the thought that counted.
I tore into it as soon as he handed me the big box, and ripped the pretty wrapping with all my might. When I got to the plain brown box, I needed help to rip off the packing tape. When I finally dug into the box, I was greeted by a shiny sphere shape, black and pink. It took me a second to realize it was a snowmobiling helmet. I reached in, giddy, and pulled it out. My heart was beating a mile a minute.
“Does this mean…” I’d been begging him to take me for a ride on his snowmobile but he always said he only had one helmet.
He smiled wide. “Yep. You finally wore me down. I’ll take you for a ride.”
I bounced off my chair, and jumped up and down like a five year-old girl. I hugged him and didn’t waste a second in trying on the helmet. I slipped it over my head eagerly. It was a snug fit.
He stood over me. “Hold up,” he said, and helped me with the clasp. I suddenly felt claustrophobic and I closed my eyes, telling myself to snap out of it. This meant I could ride along with him on his adventures. It meant everything.
“Will you let me ride it?” I teased.
He secured the helmet. “Uh… why the hell not?”
“Really!”
He grinned and pulled the visor down.
