Page 128 of The Outsider
“It’s Claire’s birthday,” she said, like I was stupid. “Her twenty-eighth, in case you didn’t know.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know when my wife’s birthday is. I just don’t know why you care, since you barely show up at the best of times.”
Asha dismissed me with a wave of her hand. “I don’t have to explain why I’m here for my best friend’s birthday.”
“Best friend?” I repeated with a dark chuckle. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
She turned her nose up at me, her mouth forming a thin line. I didn’t actually want to fight with Asha today, so instead ofsaying something else that might push her buttons, I asked, “Speaking of Claire, is she still asleep?”
“Nope,” Asha replied. “She’s out there.”
She gestured towards outside. On a one-hundred-acre homestead. Helpful.
Thankfully, I heard the back door open in the hallway, and Claire entered with a basket full of eggs. It was still chilly in the mornings, so her cheeks were pink, and her pretty red hair was windswept. She looked, as usual, like a painting—too soft and ethereal to be real. She gave me a sweet smile, green eyes bright, as I approached.
“Hey, beautiful,” I said, dropping a kiss on her lips. “Happy birthday.”
She smiled wider, then set down her basket and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down for another, longer kiss. She slipped her tongue past my lips, making me groan softly and hold her closer.
“Thank you,” Claire replied after we broke apart. “But I’m more excited about the wedding next month.”
“Why not both?” I asked, touching her cheek. “We’ve got lots to celebrate. You still want to go to the spring festival today?”
She nodded emphatically. “I’ve never been to a Wastelander festival before.”
“Pretty sure it’s like any other festival.”
She giggled. “I know that. It’s just different for me, because I’m the outsider here.”
I kissed her again. “Not anymore. I think I’ve totally corrupted you into a Valley girl now.”
“You mean converted?”
“That’s what I said,” I teased, grinning at her. “Time for your present.”
Claire frowned. “Present? You already got me a horse.”
“That was a wedding present,” I insisted. “This is a birthday gift. Totally different thing.”
“John,” she scolded, eyebrows raised, but it was half-hearted. “You’ve already gotten me plenty.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
I led her into the kitchen, where Asha had vacated the table and gone off I-didn’t-give-a-fuck-where. So much for needing to be there for her best friend’s birthday.
I picked up the small package I’d left on the counter and held it out to Claire. She took it, shooting me a curious look before unwrapping the brown paper.
A blue hooded cloak spilled out of the package. Made from velvet using a wool-linen blend, I special ordered it from Nimkii months ago. I went with blue since it was Claire’s favourite colour, and Claire had told me everyone always put redheads in green. It was probably the softest fabric I’d ever felt.
“Oh,” Claire gasped, holding it up to examine the adjustable ribbons at the neck. “How did you—why did you—”
She looked up at me with watery eyes. The next thing I knew, the air was pushed out of me by one of Claire’s signature bone-crushing hugs. I gasped, then chuckled weakly, stroking her hair.
“You like it, then?” I managed to get out.
She let me go, pressing a hard kiss against my lips.
“It’s beautiful,” she said in a near-whisper. “I love it. Thank you.”
