Page 80 of Free Fall

“It’s his birthday,” Leenie says from behind me, arms crossed over her chest, smiling fondly at her son and Sejin wrestling in the yard.

“Jeremiah’s?”

“No, Sejin’s.”

Martin appears behind her and comes out to clap me on the shoulder. “Good to see you again, Dan.” He’s holding Sarah Kate, who chews on a teething ring and stares at me with big, brown eyes that seem to look into my soul. “Sejin’s gonna need a rescue, I think,” Martin says to Leenie. “I’ll handle it.”

Sarah Kate starts to wail as she’s passed off to her mom, and the squeals from Jeremiah and the cries from the baby mix with Sejin’s laughter and Martin’s chiding attempts to pry his son off Sejin’s squirming body.

I stand stock-still, trying to process the chaos, vaguely aware that Peggy Jo is waiting in the truck. I’m even more distracted when Sejin lurches up from the ground, birthday hat askew on his head, grass stains on his shirt and jeans, and still wearing that gorgeous smile that I’ve been wanting so badly. It makes my head light.

He rushes toward me and grabs me in another kiss. “Hey, I’m happy to see you,” he says. “Want to come in for cake? We have plenty.”

“Uh…” My mind goes fuzzy taking in all that perfection aimed right at me. I’ve wanted this since I first saw his picture on the app, and now I have it, and it’s even better than I thought it would be. “Cake?”

“Yeah. White on white,” he says, indicating the smear on his face. “And some yellow sugar to make a sun.”

“Oh. Yeah…um, I…” I stare up at him. I’d been planning to do something, hadn’t I? Planning to tell him something important.

“You okay?” He asks, his smile shadowing with concern, shifting from one kind of perfect to another. “Did you hit your head today?”

“No, I’m…I’m fine.” I glance toward the truck. “Peggy Jo—”

He immediately turns and waves to her, motioning for her to get out of the truck and come on over.

“We have enough cake for her too,” he says.

Peggy Jo exits the driver’s side with a smirky grin, but as she approaches, she only says, “Who’s the party for?”

“Sejin!” Jeremiah yells, coming at us full speed with his balloons back in hand. I don’t know what they’re making balloons out of these days, but it must be strong stuff because he’s tossing these around like they’re dodgeballs and, no matter what, they don’t pop.

“Happy birthday to Sejinie!” he sings. “Happy birthday to you!”

“Yes, it’s mine,” Sejin confirms, and catches Jeremiah up in his arms, blows a raspberry on his belly while he squeals, and then puts him down again. He turns to me.

At that, Jeremiah narrows his eyes, snarls, opens his mouth, and lunges my way. Lightning quick, Leenie grabs hold of his arm and leads him inside with a firm scolding. “No biting, young man.”

Peggy Jo laughs. “Do the kids bite you too, Dan? Not just my cats?”

I nod dumbly, staring at Sejin. I’d meant to tell him something. I even remember now what it was, but…

“Come on in,” Martin says to Peggy Jo. “Long time, no see, and we’ve got chips, dip, and lots of cake to spare.”

Peggy Jo follows him into the house, and I’m left gobsmacked on the front stoop with Sejin gazing at me with all that joyful affection that makes my heart feel like it’s been taken over by nesting songbirds in love.

“It’s your birthday?”

“Yup. Twenty-five this year. I’m getting old.”

I slip my fingers over his cheek, grazing over icing and sugar, and then I take hold of a hank of his hair and tug it lightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You needed to train today.”

“But—”

“No buts. You had things to do. I don’t want to get in your way.”

I lick my lips and tell a massive lie. “Don’t worry. You’re not in my way.” I kiss him. “Happy birthday, Doc.”