“It’s just right around the corner. Pick up the pace. Use your arms.”
Between going deaf from the swish-swish-swish and my own heavy breathing, I don’t notice the thing right in front of my face.
I’m somehow completely oblivious to the scattered tables of food and drinks set out like a foodie magazine photoshoot. All around, twenty or so people stand in the middle of the park where Noah and I spent our first sunrise together.
But just as my mind catches up to my eyes, I see Evie dressed as the twins fromThe Shining, fake body attached to her and all ... then Chase, who looks like the Swedish Chef fromThe Muppet Show... Lee and the owners of the flower shop, all as witches ... even some girls from college I never see enough of, looking like the cast ofMean Girls.
“Oh my god, is that my parents?” I shriek.
But it’s drowned out as everyone screams, “Surprise!”
I gasp, claws covering my mouth as my shoulders jump, and I stutter a blink. Confetti explodes into the sky from little poppers in everyone’s hands, and it feels a lot like how my heart’s just burst.
My head shoots to Noah’s, who’s already pulled his costume off and is smiling at me big and wide.
“You planned a surprise party for me?” My voice is too high pitched because I’m bouncing between feeling ecstatic and wanting to cry hysterically.
Oh my god. He’s fucking amazing. He’s everything.
“I did. Happy birthday, killer.”
“This is ... oh my god, Noah.”
He’s already unzipping me as I start to bounce in place, repeating “Oh my god” over and over before I’m finally freed. I reach for him first, but he kisses me quickly and says, “Go. Everybody’s waiting.”
So I do. I run like the wind straight for everyone as they cheer before I’m engulfed in a giant group hug.
Nothing could ever top this.
Noah
Music’s playing while Goldie’s being passed from person to person, everyone wanting to catch up and relive her surprise.
She stops next to her dad, who seems to say something funny because her laugh fills the air, and it’s intoxicating. God, I love her. She really is like her name. This woman shines so bright I feel blinded by her but not by my nerves, because those are out in full force.
I take another sip of my drink, feeling my anxiousness double by the second. All I want is to ask her one tiny question, but that feels like launching a goddamn nuke. Because for the last hour, all I’ve been thinking about is how I could potentially fuck it all up.
What if I ruin her birthday? Or I say something fucking embarrassing in front of everyone and we never live that down? Every year on her birthday, someone will bring it up. Why would I choose this day?
In hindsight, this is feeling like I should’ve brought her sister in on the ground floor instead of letting a clown—Chase—lead the circus—me.
Fuck.
I take another sip, placing the flute on the bar before I turn around, belly up, and close my eyes for a second, trying to settle my nerves. But it’s an ill-advised move because just as I do, Chase whispers in my damn ear.
“It’s game time.”
“Fuck,” I rush out, rubbing my face once and letting out a harsh exhale. “I think your fake mustache touched my ear.”
Chase chuckles. “Sorry. My bad ...” I can feel his eyes on my profile. “Are you good?”
No . . . yes. No.
“Yeah ...” I nod, then take two more deep breaths. “I’m fine ... I’m ready to do this.” My face meets Chase’s. “I got this, right? What’s the worst that could happen?”
He straightens out the collar of my navy suit jacket, eyeing me cautiously. “Yeah ya do, buddy. You’re just gonna go out there, drop to a knee, and commit your life to one woman until death. It’s a beautiful thing. Unless she says no.”
I know he’s kidding, but somehow, my body doesn’t get that message because I feel my pulse quicken.
