Birthday
Everyone is still in a strange state of unease, but we agreed to try and shove it aside for the birthday girl. Noah and I are keeping to ourselves, Wyatt and Darren have been keeping to their bus, even Warren has been unusually quiet in the midst of everything that went down with Noah and me. Admitting I had feelings for Mel probably wasn’t my brightest idea, but it’s alleviated a bit of the ache I was carrying around with me. Hopefully, it’s a start to getting her out of my system. Last night, before I went to bed, the two of them were arguing because Mel didn’t tell Noah about her birthday, but it didn’t last long, so I’m guessing they worked it out.
“Good morning, Princess,” I say as Mel makes her way into the kitchen. She’s just like me and goes straight to the coffee pot before replying. Once she’s set with her cup and makes her way to the couch, she finally responds.
“Good morning. Do you know too?”
“Don’t be so moody about it,” I reply while pressing send on my phone. I had a text cued up and ready to go for when I knew the cat was out of the bag that we all know about it being her birthday.
I sent her a link for “Happy Birthday” by New Kids on The Block, and when the notification on her phone goes off, she eyes me suspiciously.
She laughs when she hears what it is and puts her coffee on the table. As her fingers fly rapidly over the keyboard, I wonder what in the world she could be sending me in response. Grabbing her coffee once again, she leans back in smug satisfaction right when my phone dings.
Princess: It’s not a big deal…
The link she attaches is so appropriate for her attitude—Aaliyah’s “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number”. Too bad she’s just using the title to get back at me because the lyrics are suggestive as fuck and I could only wish she meant them for me.
“You guys haven’t, like, planned anything for today, have you?”
“What did Noah say?”
“I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings if he did. I’m just not a birthday person, Sawyer. Not since … well, you know …”
“I know, but birthdays are for celebrating, Princess. I promise if there’s something planned it can’t be too over the top. We’re driving through the middle of nowhere today. We could do a commemorative group selfie at a rest stop if you want to.”
With a waggle of my eyebrows, she bursts into laughter.
“That’s totally gross, but thanks for thinking of me.”
“You sure? I mean, I bet we could find a urinal cake to sing Happy Birthday around.”
Tears are streaming down her cheeks, and my heart is bursting with pride knowing I made her laugh hard enough to cry.
“Oh my God, stop. It’s a hard pass on the urinal cake, but I can get you one for your birthday if it’s something you’ve always wished for.”
“Don’t you dare. Chocolate for me, and vanilla for Noah. Never marble, that’s just a cop-out.”
She gazes at me with those gorgeous hazel eyes of hers. “The plot thickens. Another way you two are different.”
“Another one? Fill me in. What other ways are we different?”
Blushing, she shrugs. “I’m still trying to fill in the gaps, but this is what I know so far. You’re more intense, and Noah is more laid back. Noah is an open book, and you’re cautiously guarded. But where I feel like Noah probably makes friends easily, you don’t, and the ones you do have you’ll protect fiercely.”
“That’s it?” The words come out soft because the truth of the matter is, she nailed us perfectly.
“For differences, for now. The two of you are more alike than different.”
“How so?”
Tucking her feet beneath her, she gives me a sweet smile. “You both have an immense love of family. You’re both giving of your time and attention to anyone. Neither of you treats anyone as less than. I’ve seen you both out there helping with gear and setting up mics and stuff when you have the time. You spend time with the drivers.”
“Noah gets a bit carsick at the big window.”
“It happens to the best of us. Belle isn’t a fan either, but that’s beside the point. The two of you let me crash on your bus and into your life with open arms. I know it’s for the book, but none of you guys have treated me like an outsider, and I truly appreciate it.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret. Each of the other people we interviewed all felt like outsiders. Princess, you’re the only one who felt like a part of us from the moment we met. The five of us agreed in minutes, and that rarely happens. We were about to scrap the book.”
“Really?”
“Really. Maybe we felt the Triton in you from the get-go. This tour wouldn’t be the same without you. You’re part of us now. That’s why Warren outed your birthday. All birthdays are celebrated in some way on our buses.”
Noah steps out of his room, and that’s my cue to go to mine for a bit. Space between us all is important right now, and we’ll be together enough tonight.
“Thanks, Sawyer,” she says, catching sight of Noah and greeting him with a beaming smile.
“Anytime. I’ll see you later, I’ve got some calls to make.”
“You got me a cake?” Mel squeals as Mac sits it on the table.
“We did, but I wasn’t sure about the flavor. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with vanilla and strawberries,” Noah replies, and she kisses him sweetly.
“It doesn’t matter what flavor it is, it’s the thought that counts, and it’s cake. I mean, is there actually a bad flavor? As long as it has frosting, I’m in.”
Darren high-fives her as Wyatt pours another round of tequila shots. We’re all pretty fucking lit. We spent the past couple of hours eating pizza, drinking, and shooting the shit. It feels good to be hanging out without any stress. Even Noah and I have been getting along like nothing ever happened.
Warren begins to put candles on the cake, and Mel gasps. “No … no, no, no. We’re not celebrating my birthday, so no candles.”
“Take a look around, Princess. I think this entire day has been a birthday celebration for you. Besides, if there are no candles, you don’t get a song.”
Darren fist bumps me. “Exactly, and who wouldn’t want our four fine asses, plus Warren, Mac, and Ryan, to sing Happy Birthday to them?”
“Come on, Mel, Joey and Iris would never forgive me if I didn’t sing their little girl Happy Birthday,” Warren cajoles.
“Maybe you can even wish for some O’s since Noah still hasn’t given them up,” Wyatt teases, and she promptly turns scarlet.
“Oh, he’s given me the O’s all right, he just hasn’t given up the D yet.”
Holy shit, I’m not sure if we’re laughing because Noah is practically purple he’s so embarrassed or because Mel is shitfaced and has completely lost her inhibitions.
Noah pulls her to him. “Anticipation.”
His husky tone has her biting her lip and her eyes fluttering closed as she nods in agreement. She looks so fucking hot in this moment. I seriously don’t know how Noah does it. If she were mine, I’d be sexing her up every chance I got. Life is too damn short to miss out on good fucking. Anticipation my ass.
While Noah has Mel in a lust-filled daze, he starts us off singing. By the time we finish, she couldn’t be smiling any wider if she tried.
“Thank you, that was beautiful.”
“Yeah, we’re not too bad when we try,” Wyatt teases.
Warren grabs some plates and forks and hands Mel a knife. “Ladies first.”
Mel cuts the cake like a pro, and when we all have a piece, Noah looks at it in frustration. “What the fuck?” he says, picking at the middle.
“Lemon?” Mel guesses as she bites into it.
“Oh, fuck no,” I say, spitting mine into a napkin. This shit is nasty. “It’s pineapple. Who the fuck puts pineapple in a cake?”
“What’s wrong with you? This is the bomb diggity. We have pineapple cake at my grandma’s all the time,” Darren says, scarfing his piece down in record time and reaching for another.
“I’m sorry, Mel, this isn’t what I ordered,” Noah apologizes sincerely. I feel bad. He was so excited to do this for her, and it backfired on him.
“It’s no big deal. The great thing about cake is that it pops open. Just scrape out the inside and eat the rest. As long as there’s frosting, the rest is details.”
We all follow suit except for Darren. In turn, he takes his fork and scoops all the unwanted pineapple filling off our plates and heaps it on his piece. Nasty fucker.
“That’s wrong on so many levels.”
“Your loss, Sawyer,” he says with his mouth full.
Wyatt turns his attention to Darren. “Why haven’t you ever asked for a pineapple cake then?”
“Because banana is where it’s at, but pineapple is a good second.”
“Of course.” Noah laughs. “How could we forget his banana obsession?”
“Name one thing banana doesn’t taste good in!” he retorts, and we’re all at a loss for words. “Mmhm. See? Banana is the best.”
“It’s better in chocolate cake though. Banana in vanilla cake isn’t as good,” Mel points out thoughtfully.
“Truth. Tell your girl Belle that for me.”
Mel laughs. “I’m afraid Belle is an ice cream cake girl to the core, no matter how hard I try to convert her. She says it’s the best of both worlds.”
“Also true,” Darren muses. “But I still prefer them side by side and not together.”
I texted Belle earlier to let her know we were having a small celebration for Princess and she never texted back. I reach down into my pocket for my phone and realize I left it in my room. Darting in to grab it, I see the flashing light as soon as I walk in. After taking a seat on my bed, I check the messages.
Slammed Chick: She doesn’t like her birthday, tread carefully.
Slammed Chick: Did she kill you?
No, she didn’t kill me. Sorry, I forgot my phone in my room.
Her reply is immediate.
Slammed Chick: I talked to her earlier, so I don’t want to call again. How is it going?
Good except they filled her cake with pineapple instead of strawberries.
Slammed Chick: As long as it’s got frosting, she won’t care.
Haha! You know her well – that’s exactly what she said.
Slammed Chick: Did you guys get her presents?
Just tequila, pizza, and cake. Didn’t want to push it.
Slammed Chick: Good call. Be careful; drunk Mel can be pretty unfiltered.
So we’ve seen, but it’s not the first time. Remember Sully’s?
Slammed Chick: That’s right you’ve already met Mel the lush. Good. Who is keeping an eye on her in Vegas?
Vegas. I’ve been trying not to think about that trip since it falls on the anniversary.
That would be Noah. I’ll be otherwise engaged.
Drowning my memories in vats of alcohol and maybe some pussy.
Slammed Chick: K as long as someone is with her. Vegas is one of her favorite places.
I can only imagine. She seems like the kind of girl who would hit the tables and the strip clubs with you.
I’ll pass that info along to Noah, although I’m pretty sure he’s got plans for them already laid out.
Slammed Chick: The romantic type, huh?
The forever and ever type. She’ll be in good hands.
Slammed Chick: Are you?
In good hands?
Slammed Chick: No … the forever and ever type.
Are you asking as a reporter?
Slammed Chick: WTF? None of our texts are EVER me being a reporter. We’re building a friendship here. Can’t you tell we’re bonding?
Friends … are we friends? We text often enough, and she is Darren’s girl. It’s only a matter of time before he admits he loves her.
Honestly hadn’t thought about it that way, but I guess we are. The answer is maybe if I ever found the right woman. As of now, I’m more of the single forever and ever type.
Slammed Chick: I’ve always felt the same, but Darren makes me wonder things I never have before. Not saying he’s it for me by far but he’s not a bad start.
If anything he’s a good distraction?
Slammed Chick: Never. He’s a good person, and we have a lot of fun together, but I wouldn’t lower him to the title of distraction. When it all ends I hope we’ll come out of it friends. I’d miss him if not.
Friends … there’s that word again.
Do you and Mel have other friends? Like, people, you hang out with on the regular?
Slammed Chick: We have each other, and that’s enough.
Touchy subject?
They’re just like us. A couple of loners who keep outsiders out. No wonder we all seem to understand each other so well.
Slammed Chick: No … yes … maybe. We’ve been through a lot and the last person we had in our circle let us down. In a way, it’s why I’m good at my job. I value trust, and I do my best to earn it and guard it. That’s why your phone number and your secrets are safe with me.
Their loss, you’re cool people.
Slammed Chick: Tell that to Eli.
Interesting.
Eli Watts was the only person they let into their world. I knew Mel was broken up over what happened with them, but I didn’t realize how deeply embedded he was in her life.
Maybe someday I will by rubbing my new friends in his face.
“Sawyer! Picture time, come back!” Drunk Mel bellows from the other room, and I can’t help but laugh.
All right I gotta go. Guess it’s picture time, and before you even say it, someone will forward one to you.
Slammed Chick: See you know me so well already. Told you we were friends.
After reading her text, I change her name in my phone. If we’re friends, she deserves a bit more respect than what I was giving her.
Later Belle.
Belle: Talk soon, Sawyer.