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“Why do you keep going if you don’t want to?”
“Because she was a good friend in college.” The waitress places our fried pickles on the table, and she immediately plucks one to pop into her mouth.
“Yet she’s a shitty one now.”
“I’m only giving her another chance, and considering she doesn’t reach out often, what can it hurt?”
“I don’t want to hear about you complaining when she does something to piss you off or annoy you then,” I warn her. I’m not sure why, though. Last time, she didn’t want to talk about it and never did, but she was still in a sour mood that I had to deal with.
“You wouldn’t listen to me rant if I needed to?” she asks, sounding completely skeptical.
“Not about her.”
“Yes, you would.”
Maybe I would, but I’m not telling her that.
Today is my thirty-third birthday. Brittany and I are lying in bed, breathing heavy, but completely satisfied. We should get up because we need to start getting ready for work here soon. I glance over at her.
“Was that my birthday present? Can we make that an annual present?” I ask. She woke me up about two seconds before she lowered her mouth on my favorite body part. Just when I thought I couldn’t take much more, she stopped to lower herself on me. Surprise morning sex on my birthday might just be my new favorite thing in the world.
Brittany laughs. “It was one of your presents, and maybe. No promises.”
“We need to get up.”
She flings the covers off of her and onto me, getting out of bed. “Then let’s get it over with. By the way, once you turn forty, I’ll officially call you old just because I can.”
“Just know that it’ll return twofold once you get that old, so you may want to extend it to like eighty or ninety,” I call after her, making her laugh.
This is the first birthday in a while that I’ve spent with someone. After work, we’re going out with Ben and Melissa to eat and then it’ll be bowling time. It should be fun. What I know at this point is that all my birthdays should start this way. While Brittany is in the shower, I get a phone call from Dad and Amy, who sing “Happy Birthday” to me.
After my shower, I come out of the bathroom to find Brittany is sitting on the bed with a large rectangular present in front of her. “What you should know about me is that I’m a terrible, uncreative gift giver,” she starts. “I think you’ll like it, but overall, it might be a crummy gift, which is part of the reason I woke you up like I did. Remember that if you’re bummed by my gift.”
“I’m sure that whatever it is, I’ll love it.” I lean down to give her a quick kiss. “I’m assuming I get to open it now?”
“Yes.”
I rip the wrapping paper and smile when I see what she got me—new kitchenware by a famous chef. I’ve been wanting to get myself a set, but haven’t gotten around to it.
“Well? Do you like it? You talk about it every time we go to the grocery store, so I figured it’d be a good gift. Ben and Melissa told me gifts were overrated and I should just give you sex, but that didn’t seem right, so I had to get you something. You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”
“Will you shut up for a minute?” I interrupt. Her mouth instantly closes. “I love it. Thank you.” I lean down to kiss her.
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you.”
She grins. “Open the box.”
I tug on the lid, ripping the tape, and open the box. On top of the styrofoam i
s an envelope. I grab it and glance at a still-grinning Brittany. “Another present?” I ask.
She nods. “Open it.”
The envelope isn’t sealed, so all I have to do is lift the flap. I pull out a piece of paper and open it. My eyes quickly scan the sheet. “You…how did you do this? Is this for real?” Wow. I can’t even believe it.
“Yes, it’s for real. I figured two months is far enough out to get everything situated with work. You’ve always wanted to go, and I wanted to be the one to make it happen.”
