Michael sent the chauffeur with me to drop me back to my apartment later that evening. He said that he had an important conference call before dinner, and I was aware that we needed some time apart to allow the new changes in our lives to really sink in. Besides, we’d be spending the entire week with one another at the office anyways.

I had a smile on my face when I walked up the steps and fumbled in my purse for my keys. But I didn’t have to open the door. Suzy had swung it open for me from the inside. Clara and Suzy both had my apartment keys, and now I saw that they were waiting there for me.

“Surprise!” Clara squealed when I stepped in. The two of them were in their pajamas already. A banner with a Happy Birthday message was strung over the door and some decorations had been put up. I’d forgotten about my own birthday. I was turning twenty-five at midnight!

“Where have you been? We’ve been waiting here for you for hours!” Clara drew me into the living room. I could sense both of them scanning me up and down. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide it for very long; I was already blushing like a tomato.

“We got all the supplies, plus eight rom-com DVDs for you to choose from. It’s going to be a great night!” Suzy was clapping her hands with joy.

“But Aria, you look like you’re returning from a party of your own.” Clara narrowed her eyes at me. I was still in the dress from the previous night and it was easy to guess that I hadn’t been home in a while.

I breathed in deeply, preparing myself for the coming onslaught of questions.

“Guys, I have something to tell you.”

***

The three of us were in our pajamas and sprawled around my living room. Clara made enormous quantities of popcorn and pop-tarts, and we were filling ourselves with junk food. Runaway Bride was playing on TV, but we’d muted it. Each of us had a glass of Rosé in our hands.

“But I thought you we sure he was an ass,” Suzy complained. We’d spent the past hour talking about Michael and what was going to happen next. The two of them were in as much shock as I was.

“But she clearly can’t keep her hands off him!” Clara giggled, and I blushed. It was true. Michael was definitely the hottest man I’d slept with.

“But hey, honey . . . We don’t want to see you hurt either,” Clara added quickly and I nodded. I could understand their concern. I’d spent the past week complaining about my boss, and now I was sleeping with him. I didn’t blame them for being worried that I was losing my mind.

“Michael is a difficult man to understand . . . but I think we both want the same things in life. He’s shown me a side to him that most people don’t even know exists. A man like him is worth loving, don’t you think?” I asked them. Suzy sighed dreamily and Clara nodded her head.

“Well, we’re happy for you then,” Suzy said.

I bit down on my lip. “We’re taking things slowly, but this is serious . . . I can’t wait for you guys to finally meet him,” I was excited.

“Invite him to the party, then!” Clara declared.

“What party?” I didn’t know we were celebrating my birthday in a big way.

“Nothing crazy. We’ve just invited a few of our friends to MacCauley’s tomorrow night. Don’t worry. It’ll just be a handful of us. Nothing to scare him away,” Suzy explained.

I was already imagining the scene: me on Michael’s arm, him smiling down happily at me while I introduced him to my closest friends.

“I mean, you said he doesn’t want to tell people at work, but none of us work with you. So he should be okay with this, right?” Clara asked. She was looking at me suspiciously. I knew the two of them still had reservations about Michael. They didn’t fully trust him yet.

If they finally met each other, my friends might actually see what I saw in him. Their opinion meant the world to me.

“Okay, yes. I’ll text him now,” I said and reached for my phone. I was smiling as I wrote to him. I could already picture his face.

Wondering if you want to hang out with my friends and me tomorrow night at MacCauley’s? Nothing big, just some casual drinks. We could finally do a normal couple thing!

After I sent the text, I waited with a nervous heart. Suzy and Clara could sense the tension in the room, and they tried to change the subject or distract me. A half hour went by before Michael finally texted me back. My hands shook as I read the message.

Sounds good. See you tomorrow at work. Have a nice night, Aria.

“He’ll be there!” I squealed joyously. Clara and Suzy came over so we could share a group hug. They could sense I was happy about them meeting Michael.

Things were really turning around. He was sticking to his word — he was really trying. I tried to think, but I couldn’t recall when I’d last felt this happy. Not with Evan or any other guy I’d dated.

Finally, I felt like I was with a real man who respected me and considered my feelings. I was wrong about Michael. I shouldn’t have judged him the way everyone else did. He was a man who was capable of love, and he was capable of loving me. I was happy and looking forward to my birthday celebration.

Clara, Suzy, and I spent the rest of the night eating and getting drunk together. We watched several rom-coms back to back and fell asleep on the couch after midnight. I was officially twenty-five, and my life couldn’t have been any better.