My thumb flicks it over, and on the back are mine and Finn’s initials.
“Do you like it?” he asks as he brushes a hand down the back of his head.
I’m nodding like a woman gone mad. “Like it? Finn, I love it. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Not too cheesy, huh?”
I beam and press onto my toes to kiss him, wrapping a hand around the back of his neck. “You should know by now I love all the cheesy stuff. I might not know a lot about romance, but I’m the cheesiest romantic at heart. Thank you.”
Finn releases a breath of relief. “Okay. Good.”
“Put it on me?” I hand him the necklace and turn around. It doesn’t take him long to tighten the clasp as the locket rests in the centre of my chest, and I twiddle it between my index finger and thumb.
“There,” he whispers in my ear. “Let me see.”
I turn back around to face him, and he brushes my dark hair from my chest, his thumb grazing over my jaw sensually as he stares down at the jewellery. “Yeah, it looks really good on you, sunshine.” He drops his hand to the locket before popping it open with his thumb. “And you can put some pictures in here. I thought we could take one tonight and put it in. I mean, only if you want to. If it’s too soon, then I totally get it.”
My chest warms, and I release a quiet laugh. “Too soon? Absolutely not.”
I wrap my arms around him once more, and he buries his head into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. “I’m so glad to see you today,” he murmurs into my shoulder.
My fingers gently drag through the back of his hair. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He squeezes me tighter. “It’s been a tough week, but I didn’t want anything to ruin your birthday.”
“Nothing could ruin my birthday when you’re here.”
We pull away from each other, and my cheeks burn from how bright I’m smiling. It’s inevitable with Finn around. He’s my rock, and I’m his.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone.Ever.
Finn greets my friends, and we sit and play games. I watch Finn as he has a couple beers but doesn’t go much further than that, something that takes me by surprise. But an hour or two later, I’m the one who’s drunk and stumbling about like an idiot on her birthday.
I head outside for some fresh air, and Finn stands in front of me as I lean back against the brick wall. My hazy eyes watch him as I press a hand to his chest, my fingers bunching in his hoodie.
“You look so sexy tonight,” I slur.
Finn chuckles. “You think so?”
“I know so.” I bite down on my lip. “What do you say? Birthday sex?”
He sucks in a breath and shakes his head, and I immediately pout. “Sunshine, you’re far too drunk, and I take consent very seriously.”
“But I know what I want.” I kiss his chin. “And we’re in a relationship. It’s different.”
“It’s not,” he says as he cups my cheek. “Enjoy your night, and if you’re feeling up to it, we can do it in the morning, and I’ll make you feel better.”
I slump back into the wall with a huff. “Why are you being gentlemanly?”
“Because I am not taking advantage of you, Maya. I mean it.”
My heart thumps because I want to be frustrated—sexually, of course—but he never has bad intentions, and it makes me even hotter, and it’s driving me mad.
“Finn,” I whisper as his eyes slowly drag over my face.
I love the way he looks at me. So much tenderness. He sees me. Every part of me.
“Yeah?”
