New Group Message: Aiden’s 27th Birthday!

Me 10:25 AM: Hi everyone, new chat without Aiden included, for planning purposes

Noah ⚡ 10:26 AM: Whooooo party time babey!!

Raj 🔨 10:27 AM: Our boy is in for some birthday hugs, I hope he knows

Ripley 🎶 10:28 AM: You gonna do all 27 hugs, Raj?

Melanie 🌸 10:30 AM: He absolutely will

Raj 🔨 10:30 AM: Probably round up to 30

Me 10:34 AM: Okay so his birthday is on Friday, we’re gonna celebrate right after, on Saturday, because if it gets any colder we can’t do what I planned! Bring green if you want, there will be beer, but no hard alcohol, kk? Aiden didn’t say anything about it but I don’t think it’ll be fun for him to watch us all get trashed on his bday, and it’s more of a chill thing, anyways

Raj 🔨 10:36 AM: Sounds good!

Me 10:37 AM: Also Noah, I have a special assignment for you

Noah ⚡ 10:37 AM: Way ahead of you, bro

Me 10:37 AM: …I’m scared to ask what you think I mean

Noah ⚡ 10:38 AM: Don’t worry dude I’ll get started right now

Me 10:39 AM: Omfg started with what?? Noah!! I didn’t say what you have to do yet!!

Melanie 🌸 10:40 AM: Hey Jamie, thought I’d let you know that Noah just got up off the couch and left like he’s on a mission. I have no idea where he’s going

Ripley 🎶 10:41 AM: Uh oh

Me 10:42 AM: NOAH!! Whatever you’re about to do, don’t!!

Melanie 🌸 10:43 AM: Are you sure you want Noah in charge of the special mission, Jamie? I sent him on a mission to the grocery store to get a cucumber and a tomato, and he came back with a zucchini and a radish

Ripley 🎶 10:45 AM: Your mistake there was assuming that Noah has ever eaten a vegetable

Me 10:45 AM: If I want to file an official complaint about Noah, do I submit that to Raj or Mel?

Raj 🔨 10:47 AM: Either of us, but it does take 6-8 business days to process and it’ll probably be too late to stop him by then

Noah ⚡ 10:48 AM: Hello, I assumed I’m in charge of the entertainment? I know a place that rents out throwing hatchets

Me 10:50 AM: Dear god in heaven

Melanie 🌸 10:51 AM: Yep let me call my OB/GYN and tell her I followed all of her advice about being safe during pregnancy, with the exception of attending a birthday party where people are THROWING HATCHETS

Noah ⚡ 10:52 AM: Okay well we’re not going to be throwing them AT each other?? Call her and ask if that’s cool

Ripley 🎶 10:53 AM: I would pay real money to listen in on that phone call

Me 10:54 AM: Nobody bring a hatchet to Aiden’s birthday party

Me 10:54 AM: Didn’t think I’d need to specifically say that

Noah ⚡ 10:56 AM: Well, you should have known better, dude

Melanie 🌸 10:56 AM: Again, are you sure you want Noah for the special mission? I’m a professional party planner, just FYI

Melanie 🌸 10:57 AM: I have the best event planning company in Ketterbridge, ok? The second best is Evoke Event Management, and they’re not great. They did the tackiest electric luau this year, you should see the pics

Melanie 🌸 10:58 AM: Although I do have to say, the flowers/centerpieces were very nice

Me 11:01 AM: WHAT omg okay Mel we’re gonna discuss that later, but Noah is actually the only one who can do the special mission, so. I’m just gonna call you, Noah. Apparently I can’t leave any room for misunderstandings. But is everyone coming?

Ripley 🎶 11:02 AM: I’ll be there

Melanie 🌸 11:04 AM: Eh, I might come. Bad bitches don’t attend every event, you know. We pick and choose.💅

Raj 🔨 11:04 AM: We will all be there, and no one will be bringing a hatchet!😊

~~~~

On Friday, I wake up Aiden with a blitz of fluttering kisses all over his body. He’s already half-laughing by the time his eyes blink open. I climb up to sit on him, pushing a long, warm, affectionate kiss onto his mouth.

“Hi,” I say, when I pull back.

“Hi,” he murmurs.

“Happy birthday.”

“Mmm, thank you. So far, easily the best one I’ve ever had.”

“I intend to make it better,” I tell him, tapping his nose. “You excited for your party?”

His smile falters. “Yeah, I - yeah.”

“Dude, I promise, you’re gonna have fun.” I bend to start kissing his jaw, stubble gently scratching my lips. “I think everyone I invited is coming. I have to check my list, and I’m still waiting to hear back from one or two people.”

“What?” Aiden props himself up on his elbows, his eyes wide with alarm. “The list is big enough that you can’t just remember? I thought - didn’t you say it was gonna be a small thing?”

“Relax, okay?” I tease my lips over his, cupping his face in my hands. “We don’t even have time to talk about this right now.”

“We don’t?”

“No, because I want to give you your first present before you go to work.”

Aiden blinks, tipping his head to the side. “Okay…?”

He realizes what I mean only when I start kissing my way down his sternum.

“Jamie,” he laughs. “I have to start getting ready for work in like - five, ten minutes?”

“I can work with that.”

“Oh, my god.”

“And you’ll get the extended treatment tonight, obviously.”

Aiden grins. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. But only if you promise to show up at your party. Noah and Raj said that they’d help me kidnap you if you try to skip it, and believe me, you don’t want that. I’m concerned that Noah’s going to throw a hatchet directly through your bedroom window.”

Aiden’s laughter dissolves into a sharp exhale as I drag my tongue over his hip bone. He drops his head back onto the pillows, pushes a hand into my hair.

“You drive a hard bargain, Keane. Tell Noah not to throw a hatchet through my window, please. As if we don’t already have enough problems with breaking glass around here. Also, I think that Kent might evict me, if that happens.”

I laugh, then smile up at him. “So you’ll be there?”

“Yes. I’ll be there.”

~~~~

Kent, Aunt Sarah, and my mom are collaborating on the food, which means that the kitchen smells like a dream right now.

My dad isn’t exactly being helpful. He and Kent have been exchanging dad jokes pretty much since we got here, cracking each other up while the rest of us groan and roll our eyes.

“You want me to kick him out?” I ask Aunt Sarah, who is supervising all the cooking.

“Marcus? Oh, he’s fine.” She chuckles to herself, rolling out a handful of dough. “It’s nice to have so much laughter in my kitchen.”

“Thanks again for letting us use your house.”

She looks up at me, smiling, a flour fingerprint on her cheek.

“Are you kidding? Aiden would never let me throw him a birthday party. I’ve been waiting for this for - well, twenty-seven years, I suppose.”

I laugh, then lean over her shoulder to see what she’s doing. “Are these the doughnuts?”

“Yes.” She runs the back of her hand over her forehead. “We’re making all of Aiden’s favorites. Assuming his taste didn't change too much while he was away.”

“Well, I can say with certainty that he’ll love the doughnuts.”

“Okay, I need a second set of hands,” my mom announces, turning to face the kitchen table. “Ripley, Alix? Can one of you help me cut up some veggies?”

Alix starts to get up, but Ripley surges to his feet before she can.

“I can do it!” Alix protests, watching him cross to my mom.

He waves a hand at her. “S’okay, I’ve got it.”

“Yeah, no knives for you, Alix,” I tell her. “I’ve seen you hurt yourself on just your thermos more times than I can count.”

“Hey, I’m working on it!” She sticks her tongue out at me, and I do it back at her. “I enrolled in ballet, to help with my balance. Why do you think I have these?”

She holds up her arm to show me several large bruises.

“Oh, Jesus!” I sputter, and Alix nods gravely.

“Ballet is hard.”

“Jamie,” my mom cuts in sternly, “Don’t take the Lord’s name-”

“Sorry! Um - oh, fuck?”

My mom gives me a nod of approval, turning back to what she’s doing. “That’s more like it.”

Feeling my phone buzz, I pull it out of my pocket.

“Oh - Aiden says he’s on his way over! He’s walking, so it’ll be a few minutes.”

Before anyone can answer, Ellen comes running into the kitchen, with Gabby following close behind. Ellen stops, scans the room, and locates Kent.

“Dad!” She rushes over and tugs on his shirt. “When is Olivia getting here?”

“Whenever Destinee does, baby.”

“I hear my name,” Destinee says, stepping into the kitchen.

A call of greeting goes up from the group, and Destinee’s little sister weaves around her legs.

“Olivia!” Ellen shrieks. Olivia waves wildly, and they sprint to each other, giggling and excited.

“Okay, you two,” Kent says, brushing off his hands. “I sense an impending explosion of energy. Let’s take it to the backyard.”

He herds them out of the kitchen, and Gabby comes to lean where he was standing at the counter.

“It smells incredible in here, tía,” she says, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. “I have to get some of these recipes from you.”

Aunt Sarah beams at her.

“They’re my dad’s recipes. Happy to hand them down.”

“Where’s Ang?” I ask Destinee, who has come over to give me a hello-hug.

“She’s getting the nachos from the car.”

I stop mid-sip of my beer. “The same kind of nachos she made for the Fling Thing?”

“Yep.”

“This is gonna be such a good party,” I groan happily, and Destinee laughs.

Angie steps into the kitchen, the nachos in her hands, Sancho panting at her heels.

“Hi, hello!” she says, as Nugget scrambles to his feet and trots over to greet Sancho. Another chorus of hellos rises up from the group, and Angie grins, setting the tray down on the kitchen table. “Crowded kitchen, huh?”

Before the words are even out of her mouth, the back door of the house opens, and Raj, Melanie, and Noah all come inside from the porch.

Melanie lets out a delighted sound. “Oh - Angie! Des! It’s been forever!”

“Stay there mama, we’ll come to you!” Destinee calls, as she and Angie circle around the table to exchange cheek kisses with her.

I’m standing closeby, so I overhear it when Angie whispers in Melanie’s ear:

“What the hell is Noah doing here? He basically ruined the last party I threw.”

“He’s a gem now, doll, I promise,” Melanie whispers back, and they part like nothing happened at all. Noah, who is right at Melanie’s side, is none the wiser.

“Wow, girls are good at being sneaky,” I mutter to myself.

Gabby hears me, and winks. “You don’t know the half of it, babes.”

As if to prove the point, Kasey chooses this moment to say in my ear: “Hi! Am I late?”

I jump, but nobody seems to notice. I turn my head like I’m looking out of the window, so people don’t catch me talking to thin air.

“Hi! You’re right on time. Aiden’s gonna be here any second.”

“Yay!” Kasey glances over at my mom and Aunt Sarah, who are chattering away as they cook. “Man, I can’t even smell, but I know I want whatever they’re making.”

“Jamie.” Melanie carefully sits herself down at the kitchen table. “We’re all set up outside.”

“Really? That’s great!” I turn to smile at Raj and Noah. “You guys got that done faster than I expected. Presumably because Melanie was supervising?”

“Exactly right,” Melanie says, pointing at me.

My phone buzzes again. I straighten up, setting my beer down on the counter. “Be right back!”

I go out through the front door of Aunt Sarah’s house and find Aiden walking up the driveway, already wearing the glasses.

“I know you’re wearing those so you can see Kasey, but they look very cute on you,” I call, bounding down the driveway to meet him.

He adjusts his snapback anxiously, his eyes taking in the significant number of cars parked on the street.

“Jamie,” he begins, and I cut him off with an enthusiastic kiss. “Mmm - hey - seriously, how many people did you-?”

“Just come inside.” I give his hand a gentle tug. “Everyone’s waiting for you.”

He falls into step behind me, reluctantly lets me lead him to the kitchen.

“Hey, there he is!” my dad shouts immediately, and everyone lets up a cheer.

Aiden stops in the doorway, blinking around at his aunt’s very full kitchen. His eyes travel over who’s all gathered there, and he breaks into a grin.

“Hi,” he says, then lets out a startled noise as Raj comes barrelling over to fling his arms around him.

He gives Aiden a tight squeeze. “Happy birthday, man!”

Noah strides over to them, a deep frown on his face.

“Excuse me!” He puts his hands together and wedges them between Raj and Aiden, trying to pry them apart. “I get the first hug, I’m his oldest friend!”

“I’m his oldest friend,” Aunt Sarah corrects, watching with obvious amusement as Aiden tries unsuccessfully to struggle his way out of Raj’s arms.

“I’m his boyfriend,” I point out.

Noah clicks his tongue at me. “Like you haven’t already hugged him today!”

“Should we form a line?” Gabby suggests, and Aiden bursts out laughing.

“Okay, okay,” I cut in. “Love that energy, but save it for later. He still has to go say hi to everyone else.”

Aiden twists to look down at me. “Everyone else? Who else is here?”

I lead him to the back door. Noah falls into step after us as I let Aiden out onto the porch, where everyone else is hanging out in the sunshine, chatting and drinking.

Aiden stops just outside of the door, staring, his eyes perfectly round.

“Is that Jabrill? And - Rasheem and Niko, and Damien, and-? Did you - get my entire high school soccer team-?”

Jabrill notices that we’ve come outside. He grins widely, raising his hand in a wave.

“Aiden!” he calls, and the other guys turn around. An excited, collective shout of greeting goes up, and Aiden lets out a startled laugh. He rushes over, and is instantly pulled into a sort of all-everyone group hug.

“Holy shit!” he says, when he emerges a minute or so later. “What are you all doing here?”

Several people start to answer at once, but Jabrill’s voice wins out.

“Noah called us! He said that you were back in town, it was your birthday, and we were gonna have a game to celebrate.”

Aiden’s gaze travels out over the wide backyard, where two soccer goals have been set up, then to Noah, who followed us out onto the porch.

“Noosh?” he says, dazed. “You put all this together?”

“I tracked everyone down,” Noah explains, “But it was Jamie’s idea.”

Aiden turns to look at me, then breaks into the world’s most ridiculous, heart-melting smile, so damn cute that my cheeks start to burn. I want to go over and kiss him, but I intend to stay hands-off around the guys from the team. Aiden wasn’t out in high school, and I don’t know what he’s comfy with.

He reaches for me, so I go to him. He winds an arm around my shoulder, then presses a kiss onto my forehead. The blush in my cheeks turns even darker.

Jabrill blinks in surprise.

“Um,” he says, “Seems like we have a lot to catch up on, man!”

“Yes we do,” Aiden answers, smiling, “But first, let’s play, right?”

A cheer goes up from the guys, who all start heading down to the yard. Aiden turns to take my hands, biting down on his smile.

“Food is after,” I tell him. “Also, Gabby wants to play, so. Prepare to get destroyed.”

“Oh, god,” he laughs.

“The rest of us are spectating. If anything embarrassing happens, we will comment on it, and very loudly.”

“I assumed so, yeah.”

“I brought you some clothes to play in, and your knee - um, your shin guards.”

Aiden stares at me, glowing, then bends to press a kiss onto my mouth.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

I smile against his lips.

“You’re welcome. Happy birthday.”