Everyone was crammed into my apartment with the lights off, hushed. “She’ll be coming up the elevator any second.”

I had just read Myla’s text saying she was walking into the lobby. I was shocked that Brayden and I had pulled this surprise off, but somehow, with the help of our friends and teammates, we had been able to do it.

I heard the ding of the elevator and the front door opening. I flicked on the lights as everyone yelled “Surprise!” when Myla walked in.

“What the hell?” she exclaimed, throwing one of her leather gloves at me and the other at her brother. “What did you two do? Is this why I wasn’t allowed to go into the garage this morning, Bray?”

He wrapped his arms around his sister. “It’s your twenty-first birthday; can’t your brother and boyfriend surprise you?”

“Thank you.” She hooked her arm around my waist. “This is amazing, guys.”

“Let the party begin!” I popped a bottle of Moet, pouring Myla a glass. “And for your first legal drink, some bubbly, my lady.”

She sipped from her flute and her eyes got wide. “Holy shit! Is this what heaven tastes like?”

I kissed her forehead. “I think heaven tastes like s’mores with candied bacon on them, but we can chase it down with champagne for sure.”

Ushering Myla around, Brayden and I made sure she was introduced to everyone at the party.

A cute girl walked in, looking around. “Excuse me,” Brayden said before trotting over to her.

“Who’s that?” I whispered to Myla.

The excitement on her face was contagious. “Karla. She was my nurse when I had my accident. She and Brayden have been dating on and off for a few months. I’m glad she came.”

I glanced over to see Brayden go in for a quick kiss and I couldn’t help but be excited for him.

Sean and Jessica were taking a smoke break out on the balcony when I took Myla by the hand and took her out to meet my best friend of all time.

“Sean, this has been long overdue.”

He hugged Myla. “It’s so nice to finally meet the person I have heard about nonstop for what feels like forever.”

Jessica started laughing. “And then Sean keeps filling me in so I feel like I know you already.”

Myla and Jessica started to hit it off. “Ok.” Myla got her serious face on. “McBee, how the hell do you get your liquid eyeliner so fucking perfect? Half the time I stab myself in the eye with that shit and then it looks like I have been crying for a week with weird clown makeup on.”

Jessica hooked her arm with Myla’s. “How about I show you? I don’t leave home without my makeup essentials.”

Myla bounced a little before kissing me on the cheek. “Be back in a minute, we’re going to take over your bathroom.”

“It’s not like your stuff hasn’t already started to cover the counter, babe,” I called back to her.

Sean nudged me. “Great party, man. Myla seems great.”

I took in a long breath, looking through the sliding glass doors at my teammates and friends mingling and dancing, having a blast. Jordan was even doing a flaming bottle flare demo with a few of the bartenders she brought with her.

“Should I be worried that Jordan is going to light my place on fire?”

Sean tensed his shoulders, throwing his hands up. “I think you have maybe a twenty percent chance of that going horribly wrong, but that’s what insurance is for, right?”

I gulped down the rest of my glass of Moet. “You’re right. When you’re right, you’re right.”

Sean cocked his head, furrowing his brow. “You all right? You seem nervous.”

I pulled a black box out of my pocket and his jaw dropped. “I’m not going to ask her tonight, but I am going to ask Brayden’s permission, and I figured showing him the rock would help him agree to it.”

“So, you have to tell me—what’s it like?” Jessica was fixing up my eyeliner while I sat on the bathroom counter.

“What’s what like?” I asked, trying to hold as still as possible.

She pulled away to check out the first eye. “Sleeping with Gavin. I bet he’s incredible.”

I got instant goose bumps from even thinking about the morning sex we’d had to ring in my birthday. “It’s complete and total ecstasy. I really don’t know how else to describe it. The way he growls when I’m pleasing him—gah! It’s just so amazing. I never thought I would be able to feel so much from one man, ya know?”

McBee’s face lit up when she finished her masterpiece. “Hearing a guy moan because of you is the sexiest compliment ever.”

“I really couldn’t agree more.”

Jessica narrowed her gaze. “Is it just me or did it get really quiet all of a sudden?”

I hopped off the counter, ready to go investigate. “Yeah, it did.”

As it turned out, walking into an awkward silence was the least of my worries. Brayden came up next to me and said, “You might want to go see if Gavin is okay. Some chick walked in and he marched her right out into the hallway.”

I rushed out the front door to see a woman crying and Gavin yelling at her. “After all these years you pick tonight of all fucking nights to come to my fucking home?”

“Gavin, please, I’m sorry!”

I stood in silence, trying to figure out what was going on.

“It’s way too late for that. Just because my mother called you to tell you I’ve finally found true happiness with someone else gives you no fucking right.”

The woman was on her knees, groveling at his feet. “But, I love you.”

“Fuck you!”

Every cell in my body was buzzing. “Gavin?” I whimpered.

He turned to me with rage across his face. “Myla!” He let out a deep breath. “This is Marsheila and she was just leaving.”

Her bleached hair was sticking to her damp face as she clambered to her feet. “I’m sorry for dropping in like this.”

I grabbed Gavin’s hand. “I think he said you were leaving.” I stared her down before hitting the elevator button for her.

She shuffled away like a beat puppy with her tail between her legs. “I didn’t mean to ruin your party.”

I gave her a shit-eating grin. “Oh honey, you could never ruin my night. Thank you for leaving him so I could find the man of my dreams.”

Once the door closed, Gavin pulled me up into his arms. “I am so sorry about that, baby. My mom doesn’t know how to mind her own business.”

I kissed him. “It’s not your fault, but I think we have a room full of guests and a party to continue.”

As the party started to die down, Myla and I took seats at my wet bar while Jordan started to pack up her supplies.

“Good party, Hayes.” Jordan handed Myla another Jack and Coke.

“Thanks you,” she said before turning to me. “Hey, babe.” She slouched on the barstool, putting her bare feet up onto my lap. It was so adorable to me how drunk she was, her hair a mess, makeup smearing a little, eyes glassing over a bit. It wasn’t the drunkenness that was the endearing part; it was seeing my girl in another light. Even fucked up out of her skull, she still gave me her little crooked grin and lit up a bit when she spoke to me.

“What’s up, hotcakes?” I asked, trying to not laugh too much at her cuteness.

“You’re the bestest boyfriend anyone could ask for in the history of ever.” Myla’s tiny hand landed with a thud on my thigh as she slurred before trying to take another sip of her Jack and Coke, completely missing the straw and chasing it around the glass for a bit.

“I think it’s time to call it a night. What do you think?” I took the drink out of her hand and handed it back over to Jordan, who downed it in one gulp.

She pursed her lips and, serious as a heart attack, shook her head, yelling, “Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf!”

I couldn’t help but laugh right there on the spot. “God, even drunk, you’re still a nerd.”

I scooped her up into my arms and carried her to bed. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to help Brayden and Jordan pack up the rest of the stuff and get it downstairs.”

“Did the birthday girl go down without a fight?” Brayden was wiping down my kitchen counter as Jordan started packing up the last of the liquor bottles she had brought with her.

I shoved my hand down into my pocket, nervously fidgeting with the ring box that had been there all night.

“Brayden, can I have a minute?” I waved him toward the balcony.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll be right back.” He glanced over at Karla and she nodded while sitting on a barstool chatting with Jordan and Simon.

After shutting the door behind us, Brayden rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s up?”

I took in a deep breath. “I love your sister.”

He nodded. “Yeah man, tell me something I don’t know.”

I pulled the box out from my pocket. “She’s perfect and I know you’re going to say this is all really sudden. I’m not going to do it right away; I just wanted you to know where my head is at with all this, how serious I am about Myla.”

“Dude, no one is perfect, and you’re right, this is really sudden and fucking fast as shit.” He started pacing around the balcony.

"You're right. No one is perfect." I sighed, shoving the box back into my pocket. "But, she's damn near it, and fucking perfect for me."

He leaned onto the railing. “I have to hand it to you, you really are falling for my sister. I hate and love it all at the same time.”

“So, may I have your blessing?” Brayden nodded and I literally jumped in the hair, yelling, “Fuck yes!”

He pointed his finger at me, smiling wide. “Don’t make me regret this, Hayes.”

“I promise. I am going to spend the rest of my life making that girl as happy as humanly possible.”

After making sure everyone had safe rides home and the apartment was at least somewhat clean, crawling into bed was the best feeling ever.

I pulled Myla into me, curling my body around her. In a sleepy daze she kissed the air, muttering, “Love you,” before resting her head on my shoulder.

I had always been told that the best parts of life were the small, nameless moments spent smiling with someone you love, and in that bed with Myla sleeping soundly in my arms, I truly knew what that meant.