Page 83 of Deceptive Games

“Cake?”

“Yeah. He ordered a ridiculously big cake and wants you to blow out the candles,” he smirked, his face falling when I shook my head.

“I’m not doing that.”

“Why not?”

“I’m supposed to smile while hundreds of people that hate me sing Happy Birthday? Fat chance, Gilbert. Tell him to just cut it up and let people eat it.”

“Told you,” Lukas muttered, taking my hand. “No one’s making you blow out candles.”

“Holloway thought you’d like it. Lukas said you haven’t had a birthday cake since your mom left,” Jensen continued, and I gave Lukas a dirty look.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, his hand giving my hip a gentle squeeze. “I thought we’d get a small cake and do something ourselves, not this.”

Jensen sighed, getting to his feet and giving me a quick kiss before swigging the bottle and holding it out to me. “I’ll tell him.”

“I sound ungrateful, but I?—”

“No, we know you don’t like big displays of shit. This party and the cake was the opposite of what we should’ve done,” he said firmly, making me groan as he headed back into the house.

“Now I feel like a bitch. They were so excited to organize this for me.”

“In your defense, I told them you’d hate it,” Lukas replied, almost making me drop my bottle as he stood with me still in his arms, forcing me to wrap my legs around him.

“Luke!”

“I won’t drop you,” he huffed, moving to place my butt on the table and standing between my legs, taking the bottle and placing it on the table. “I got you a present.”

Tension rolled through me as he pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket and offered it to me, my eyes going wide. “What the fuck is that?”

“Not a ring, don’t panic,” he snorted, grabbing my hand and placing the box in it. “Go on. Open it.”

“You know I don’t like?—”

“It’s not some kind of extravagant gift. I know you, remember?” he said with amusement, placing his hands on my thighs.

He might not have known me over the last few years, but he was right.

I stared at the small box, hesitating before opening it to find a simple silver necklace with a heart pendant. There were no diamonds or fancy gemstones, and my chest burned as emotion filled me.

It was exactly something I’d wear.

“Thank you,” I murmured, lifting my gaze to his, unsure of what else to say. I wasn’t used to receiving gifts, let alone something so meaningful.

“You’re welcome. Happy Birthday,” he smiled, kissing my forehead.

I took it out of the box to get a better look at it, holding it out to him. “Can you help me put it on?”

“Of course,” he answered, taking it and opening the clasp before sliding each end around my neck and leaning over to see so he could secure it.

“This feels like girlfriend territory,” I laughed nervously, and he shook his head.

“This isn’t me being pushy. I saw it and just wanted you to have it, promise.”

“I really like it,” I replied, tugging him closer with the front of his shirt to kiss him.

It started out gentle, but then his tongue was demanding access to my mouth and my hands were gripping the back of his shirt to keep him close.