Page 4 of Remember Me

“So, what outlandish gift did Jake get you this year?” Kayla questions as she sips her drink.

I think back to the ass crack of dawn when he woke me up with his antics, and I can feel my lips curl up in a smile and my cheeks begin to warm. I wish one day we could wake up together instead of being just friends.

“He got me my usual coffee, a cupcake, and a beautiful bouquet of pink dahlias, but that’s his standard gift every year. He also got me tickets to see Riley Green in Nashville, which is a dream come true. He said there was another gift, but I couldn’t have it until later.”

“Hmmm, I wonder what that boy’s hiding. Riley Green, though? That man is sexy, the things I’d do to that moustache! His voice isn’t bad either,” Kayla snickers.

Alyssa smirks. “Agreed, I never thought I’d be into it, but it’s working for him, that’s for sure.”

To my surprise, I see my mom and Hannah agreeing too. Nothing brings a bunch of women together like a moustache-wearing country singer.

Before long, we’re called into our treatment rooms, where we’re pampered within an inch of our lives. If I could do this every year without getting older, I’d take it.

While I’m waiting for my toes to dry, I lie on the heated lounger with my Kindle in hand, ready to read Wren’s new novel. When she’s not training to be the next superstar CEO of her family’s business with her twin brother, Wyatt, she’s moonlighting as a successful author who published her debut novel last year. And it blew up! I’m so proud of her, and her books are just perfect. They’re full of banter, romance, and spice—and this one promises more of the same. I’m also her cover designer, so reading it will give me an idea of what to do for this one.

I’m so engrossed in my book that I don’t hear the others coming in and taking a seat next to me.

“Whatcha reading?” Alyssa asks as she tries to look over my shoulder.

“It’s Wren’s new work in progress. It’s so steamy, girls. We’ll definitely have to add it to our never-ending book club list.”

“Absolutely, I love reading about these sexy billionaires with their chiseled abs and V lines,” Kayla shimmies.

“Yes, because it’s not like you have a sexy ass husband who has chiseled abs and a V line,” Alyssa shoots her a pointed look.

A dreamy look takes over Kayla’s face. “This is true. Louis has very chiseled abs and the biggest d-” Alyssa covers Kayla’s mouth before she has a chance to finish her sentence.

“Eww, did you just lick me?” Alyssa removes her hand and looks at it in disgust.

Everyone starts laughing; these two are always doing stuff like this and it never fails to entertain.

Noticing the time on the clock, we all go to get changed and head to Hannah’s for the barbecue.

The guys are in charge of the grill and setting everything up, so hopefully it’s all done and they’re not just sitting around shooting the shit like they usually are.

Once we’re all dressed, we pile into the car service Jake hired for us and make our way back.

As we pull up, I look at all the banners and balloons on the door. Every year they make such a fuss about my birthday, and it always brings tears to my eyes that they care so much.

Walking through the front door, we’re greeted by a variety of Jake’s teammates’ dogs, and Bella also comes running over. Picking her up, I hold her close, remembering when Jake and I went to the shelter on my 21st birthday to pick her up. It was hands down the best day of my life.

Stepping out onto the patio, where I’m met with the shouts of “Happy birthday,” I reach Jake—who is wearing his “Master of the Grill” apron I gave him for Christmas one year—and give him a side hug.

“Hey, have a good time at the spa?”

“The best,” I say, smiling. “How was your day?”

“Well, while you were being massaged by some guy, who no doubt looked like Thor, we went for a round of golf before coming back to get started on your birthday feast.” Feast is one word for it, there’s plenty to choose from, even for a vegetarian like me.

“Well, I wouldn’t say Thor, more like…Captain America? But don’t worry, Jakey, no one holds a candle to you.” Booping him on the nose, he chuckles at my words. Did you seriously just boop him on the nose? Ground, swallow me now, please.

I’m saved by the crackle of whatever is cooking. With a quick squeeze and a kiss on my forehead, he lets me go to flip whoever knows what on the grill, and I take a seat at the long wooden table next to my mom and Hannah. Kayla is nowhere to be seen, and Alyssa is in deep conversation with Theo, no doubt about their next song choice for karaoke night at Shutout, a local bar the guys go to. They like to go there as it’s somewhere they can let loose and not be mobbed by fans. It’s actually a pretty cool place. I even feel comfortable going there—it's never too busy with people up in my personal space.

A flash of pink catches my eye, and I turn to catch whatever it was. It’s my little Bella, dressed in a pink sweater with pearls around her neck and a pink beret on her head. What the hell? Who did this? It doesn’t take long for me to see who the culprit is as Kayla comes running after her with a tiara in hand. “Bella come back, your outfit isn’t complete yet!” she calls across the garden.

“Ah, Kayla?” I take a deep breath. “What is Bella wearing?”

She looks at me like it should be obvious, but I have no clue what is going on right now.