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“No, I'm not leaving,” I finally manage.
Her jaw drops, but it quickly closes as she finds her words. “You have to. You're a fucking cop, Gabe! Surely, you know that if I ask you to leave, you have to go.”
Ryan's anger doesn't scare me. I pluck her fingers off the doorknob and close the door. “You're letting all the cold air in.” This time, it's her who is stunned speechless, so I lead her back to the couch, pulling her into my lap once more. Once my arms are securely around her, I say, “Now, tell me what's going on.”
Her eyes search mine, much like I did earlier. I don't know what she's looking for, but she slowly starts to relax into me, resting her forehead on my shoulder, resigned. For a long time, Ryan doesn't say anything, and I don't push her. When she does speak, her voice is strained.
“I didn't even know what a birthday party was until I started school and a kid's parents brought cake to class for a party. I mean, I knew that there was a certain day of the year that I was born, but celebrating it was completely foreign to me. I never had a party or presents or anything like that. My grandmother would always take me out or we would go shopping around my birthday, though. She would never say that was why we went. I think she wanted to, but she wasn't one to go against my parents even if she disagreed. She and my mother didn't have the best relationship, and she probably didn't want to make things worse.
“Anyway, it sort of makes sense because my parents bought me whatever I wanted throughout the year. They were always really busy with work too. Besides, sharing a birthday with Halloween meant I got to dress up and go trick or treating, so it worked out. Long story short, I didn't tell you because we don't celebrate birthdays. Not in a traditional sense. We give each other birthday cards with a bit of money inside, and that's it.”
My heart tears for her. How fucked up is her family? I don't understand why they wouldn't do something for the day they were born. I kiss the top of her head, feeling a tear fall onto the bare skin between my neck and t-shirt.
“Are you satisfied now?” Her voice is monotone.
“That you talked to me? Yes.” An idea forms, but I decide to change the subject. “Why did you pick a saloon girl costume?”
Ryan laughs, not expecting that. She sits up to look at me. With the pad of my thumbs, I wipe away her silent tears. “I love watching old TV shows like Bonanza, The Rifleman, The Big Valley. You get the gist. So that's what I wanted to be. How hot was I? Well, I was before I was wasted.” She chuckles.
I make a show of looking at my watch on my wrist. “You're always hot, Ryan. I need to go.”
She frowns. “Dinner with your family?”
“Yeah,” I lie. Well, sort of. I'm supposed to go, but I'm going to cancel. “I'll text you when I leave, and you can spend the night at my place?”
“I have class tomorrow.”
“I have work,” I deadpan. C'mon, Ryan. Don't let me down. “Besides, I thought you wanted hot sex?” I smirk.
She laughs, playfully hitting me in the arm. “Fine. I guess I could come over. Better make it worth my while, Officer.” Ryan gives me a swift kiss.
“I will.”
After our goodbyes and a heady kiss, I leave for my secret mission. I run around town like a crazy person, searching for everything I want. Two and a half hours later, I examine my handiwork back at home. Ryan should be here any moment. Speak of the devil, I think as I hear a door shut outside. I walk out to greet her, so this can work just as I want.
“Hey, Gabe,” she grins, hoisting her bag over her shoulder. Her hair is down, and she's changed since I saw her earlier. She's now wearing jeans, an orange v-neck sweater, and a scarf hangs loosely around her neck.
“Hey,” I greet, taking her bag from her. “I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” She asks, confused.
“Yep. Close your eyes. I'll lead you inside.”
Her eyes close instantly, but she says, “What have you done, Gabe?”
I place my hand over her eyes, just to be sure she doesn't peek. Her eyelashes tickle my palm. “Close your eyes,” I repeat. When the fluttering stops, I place my free hand on the small of her back, leading her towards the door. “Two steps right in front of you,” I tell her. She walks up the steps. “Reach for the door, please.”
Ryan giggles and blindly sticks her hand out to find the doorknob. I instruct her until her fingers curl around the knob. She opens it and then steps inside.
“Ready?” I'm suddenly nervous of what her reaction will be.
“Yep.”
> My hand falls away. I step next to her to see what she thinks. Her lips part as she takes in her surroundings. My house has been transformed. There are streamers hanging from the ceiling from the kitchen into the living room, balloons floating everywhere. In the middle of the kitchen, a seahorse piñata, which took forever to find, is hanging. There's a cake sitting on my table with chips and Happy Birthday plates waiting to be used along with two of those cone hats kids wear sometimes. Ryan steps further into the house and towards the living room, seeing a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey and more party favors. On my end table, there are bubbles waiting to be blown, silly string, and even a mini pool set.
Ryan swivels to face me, awe written over her features. “What's this?” She asks softly, carefully.
I shrug nonchalantly. “I wanted to give you the birthday party you never had.” This seems like such a dumb idea now. No way Ryan will go for this. But she slowly starts to smile.
