Haley blinked and looked over, wondering how long she’d been trying to get her attention. “Yeah? Sorry, I was enjoying the moment.”
“I’m glad you’re relaxing. When is your birthday?” Claire was leaned against Grady like he was a comfy armchair.
“December 8th.”
Grady frowned. “The last few years, it seems you always had other plans, so I haven’t gotten to celebrate with you in forever. We are definitely doing something this year.”
Sitting up a bit, Haley bit her cheek as she remembered. “Last year actually wasn’t so bad. The year before, Nate threw a party for me. All of our friends, his coworkers, a few clients he was courting. I entertained seventy-five people I either didn’t know or didn’t care for, ate three bites of perfume-flavored white cake—which I hate… okay, I’m not dwelling. But I had too many of those.”
Sophie asked, “Then what made last year different?”
“Nate was going to take me out to this swanky club, undoubtedly so he could schmooze and mingle. But there was a blizzard in DC, and he got stuck there overnight. So, for the first time in my adult life, I sent the staff home, ordered pizza, and curled up in my pajamas on the couch in the living room and watched football.”
Chuckling at her back, Finn’s scruffy chin rubbed over the top of her head. “I remember that day.”
“It was the beginning of the end for Nate and me, or at least, when I started to realize I had forgotten who I was. Foolishly, I should have grabbed a firmer hold of that epiphany and done something with it. It wasn’t for another month that I caught him with Mariella. Bitch. And she’d given me perfume that birthday. Should have known then; it was the same stuff she wore.” Scowling, Haley took a deep breath. “Sorry about that. Someone, anyone, please talk about something else. Sophie, what did you do for your birthday last year?”
Sophie leaned back and nuzzled into Asher. Raising his eyebrows, Asher grinned. “Me.”
From across the fire, Zane chucked a hunk of grass at him. Whacking it before it hit him in the face, Asher didn’t lose the grin.
The crew joked and chatted, thankfully moving on from Haley’s sad history. She needed more good stories. It would take time, but she was building more and more each day.
Finn nuzzled against her. “If we’re still doing what we’re doing by the time your birthday rolls around, let’s do something fun. No stress, no weirdness. Whatever you want.”
His hands still rested on her thighs under the blanket. She moved her hand over his and slid his hand higher.
Groaning silently, he gently caressed, whispering, “Let’s head home.”
Chuckling, she shifted her backside against him and whispered back, “May want to tame that first.”
Stilling his hand, he fixed her skirt and swallowed audibly. “Talk about anything else.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you when I first saw you. Last year on my birthday, they stopped you on the field and interviewed you.”
“My hair was longer then. And I had a beard. Zoe says I looked like I was going for that broody movie star look.”
“I liked it. A lot. Actually, I dreamed about you all night that night. Woke up that sex drive I’d lost.”
“That is a good birthday. Was dream me as good as reality?”
She shrugged. “Meh.”
Pinching her side, he growled, “Okay, let’s get going. I want to hear everything dream me did.”
Laughing, she sat up and turned. “Might take a while. You helped me get through my divorce.”
Groaning, he folded the blanket and held it in front of him while Haley picked up the rest of their stuff. He waved with his free hand. “Happy birthday, Claire. Night guys.”
17
Gauntlet
Whywasshesonervous? Haley smoothed her denim skirt and ensured that her top was wrinkle-free. She checked the mirror and reassured herself that her hair didn’t look as frazzled as she felt. Accepting that she was what she was, she hopped out of the car.
The house was pure adorable. Cheerful blue siding, bright as the summer sky, and was accented by charcoal gray trim and white window frames. No annuals this year, but the established perennials declared the curb appeal was timeless. Fine gravel was lined by solar powered lights that accented a welcoming path; the concrete steppingstones guided her to the front porch.
Reaching the front door, she took a steadying breath before ringing the bell. Zoe appeared seconds later, swinging open the door. “Haley, I’m so glad you came. Come on in.”
