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“Let’s go,” Amanda says, and we head out of the farmhouse like a wild girl pack, ready to take on the world.
The party is at The Rooftop, specifically the rooftop bar. It’s not open for the public yet this season, but they allowed it as an option for tonight, weather dependent. Thankfully, we’re in the midst of a warm spell, so they didn’t need to have it in the entertaining space downstairs. That space is gorgeous, but spending this slightly chilly spring night on the rooftop sounds much better.
Because no one in the friend group has any chill, someone hired a limo to drive us from the farmhouse to downtown Ida, where The Rooftop is located. Can’t say I’m not enjoying it as I sip champagne and laugh with Dani.
The limo pulls to a stop and the divider comes down. “End of the line, troublemakers.”
Everyone laughs.
“Thanks, Bobby.” Hyla knows the driver because I swear she knows everyone.
“Anytime! Have a good night, ladies.”
Then the limo door swings open, and my tall, dark, and handsome man bends down, looking in.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He extends a hand and I take it, way too giddy. It’s not my birthday, and the party hasn’t even started yet, but I’m having a fantastic time.
As soon as I’m out of the limo, he pulls me to the side and kisses me before I’ve even gotten a look at him.
“Well hello, baby daddy,” I say, eyes dancing as I smile up at him.
He does that smolder thing, then shakes his head a little and kisses me again.
I could live in his kisses.
That doesn’t even make sense, but it’s how I feel. I get lost in him, how our tongues tangle together and the heat of our bodies flush together. The physical embodiment of our love.
When he sighs against my lips and reluctantly pulls away, I’m breathless, caught up in my love for this man. Who looks like sex on a stick! I want to whistle as I take him in. He’s wearing a dark blue sweater over an untucked light gray button down with deep blue denim jeans.
“You look so damn handsome,” I say, running my hands up his chest, the fabric of the sweater soft to my touch.
“And you are stunning.”
“Hey, if you two are done sucking face, we’re going to head up,” Joel calls.
Without missing a beat, Miles flips him off as I laugh. I hadn’t even realized the girls exited the limo, and it pulled away. I was too wrapped up in Miles.
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Miles yells, and Joel nods. Everyone disappears into the building and I look up at Miles. “Sorry. I needed another minute.” Then he presses his lips into mine again, stealing my breath and my heart and probably my soul while he’s at it.
When he lifts his lips off mine, I smirk at him. “Don’t ever apologize for that.” Then I turn toward the building. “Come on, stud.”
He jogs over and wraps his arm around me, leading me inside and to the elevators.
“It’s nice going up after everyone else,” I say as the doors pop open. “We get the elevator to ourselves.”
The look he gives me is almost predatory, so is the way he boxes me in, putting a hand on either side of my head and leaning down to kiss me. Thank God the girls insisted on lip stain rather than lipstick or we’d both be a mess.
“If only I could stop it and have my way with you right here.” He nips at my lip, then steps back, looking totally casual as the doors open.
I fight the urge to fan myself, then straighten my dress and take his hand as he leads me off the elevator.
I’m surprised to find that we seem to be the absolute last ones to arrive. Everyone in our lives seems to be here. I look around at the crowd as we walk in, smiling at all the familiar faces. Even a few that surprise me. Like Miles’s little sisters, who I didn’t expect to be here since they don’t have much interaction with the friend group. Then I spot Miles’s grandparents and a weird tingle rolls up my spine. No one mentioned they were in town, and Katie would have mentioned it. I swallow, looking around again as I realize all eyes are on us. Not Joel or Rae—who is no longer wearing the birthday sash.
My heart beats harder as I try to make sense of what’s happening, when Miles tugs on my hand, pulling me to face him. His eyes are bright and full of love.
“What’s going on?” I breathe.
His lips curve up into a mischievous smirk—but it only lasts for a second before that smile softens. He cups my cheek, looking into my eyes. “You’ve lost many things in your life. You’ve sacrificed and let yourself come last to take care of others. But you deserve to come first. You deserve all the big, beautiful things. Let this be the first of many more to come.”
