Page 64 of Broken Boundaries

“What are you guys doing?” I ask from the doorway.

Jasmine and Harper are both standing on a table in our small break room with some sort of banner in their hands.

“Oh, it’s Aspen’s birthday today, so we’re hanging decorations,” Jasmine explains.

“Hmm. I don’t remember either of you hanging decorations for my birthday.” I know it’s Aspen’s birthday today. I saw it on her new hire paperwork and set a reminder in my phone. And if that wasn’t enough, Zach texted me yesterday to ask if he could bring her balloons while she’s working. I told him no because it would be a distraction. I hope that will keep him away. I have a feeling his presence would ruin her day.

“Well, maybe you’re not as important as Aspen,” Jasmine teases.

Harper laughs. “We’re trying to make her feel like she’s part of our family here.”

“Aaaand she hasn’t mentioned her birthday to me at all, so I thought it would be fun to surprise her,” Jasmine adds. I’m glad Aspen and Jasmine have become such good friends. She needs that.

“We got decorations and some cupcakes. And I got her a gift card to the boutique in town,” Harper says.

“I got her some new books from the bookstore. She goes through them so damn fast.”

“Oh, so I’m gonna look like the asshole who didn’t get her anything?” I say, moving to the coffee maker to pour a cup. I already got her something, actually, but I’m not giving it to her in front of everyone. I’ll stop by her cabin later and give it to her with the cake I made. Yes, I made her a cake. I couldn’t very well go into town and order something. There’s no doubt that it would get out that I bought a cake for someone, which I’ve never done.

“Don’t worry,” Harper says while rolling her eyes in my direction. “I wrote that the gift card is from both of us.”

I chuckle. That is something Harper would do. She takes care of everyone. I hope one day she can find someone who can take care of her for a change. “Always looking out for me.”

“Someone’s got to.”

“Where is Aspen, by the way? Isn’t she usually here by now?” I know she is, but I’m trying to play it off like I don’t know her entire schedule. Between the gifts, the cake, and always wondering where she is and what she’s doing, I’m starting to feel a little crazy. She’s always in my head, and I can’t decide if I want her there or not.

“We sent her to the coffee shop to get us coffees. We told her we wanted fancy coffees, not that black crap you drink.” Jasmine’s head nods in the direction of my cup.

“You’re having her run your errands on her birthday?” I ask.

“Well, how else were we gonna get her out of here long enough to decorate?” Jasmine asks as she rolls her eyes. “Now, either help us with these decorations or see yourself out.”

I have every right to tell her this is my ranch and I can be wherever I want, but after knowing Jasmine for so many years, I just laugh and put my cup down to help them finish decorating.

We manage to get all their girly decorations up and the cupcakes out on the table by the time Aspen is back, and the three of us shout “Happy Birthday” when she walks in.

The look of shock on her face is priceless. She jumps a little but manages to steady the coffees in her hand.

“Oh my god,” she whispers, and then she starts shaking, which is a strange reaction. Jasmine and Harper notice, too. They walk over to her and grab the coffees, and Jasmine wraps her in a hug as the tears start flowing. “How did you know?”

“I told you we were going to be best friends. Best friends know each other’s birthdays and celebrate them!”

Aspen pulls back and looks around at all the decorations. Her eyes land on me for only a moment before she looks away.

She wipes the tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying. It’s just that no one has ever done anything like this for me. I’m just overwhelmed, I guess.”

“Well, get used to it. You’re part of our family now,” Harper says, rubbing Aspen’s back to help calm her down.

Aspen walks over to the table to look at the cupcakes and the gifts. “This is too much. You guys didn’t have to do all this.”

“We wanted to,” Jasmine tells her sweetly. “Now come on. Cupcakes happen to be my favorite breakfast pastry, and we have presents to open!”

I clear my throat to grab their attention. “I’ll let you girls do your thing. Happy Birthday, Aspen.”

She smiles at me. “Thanks, Brooks.”

I nod before I leave the three of them alone, knowing I’ll celebrate her birthday with her later.