Page 56 of Full Throttled
Zoey takes in all the directions and the plate of pancakes with candles sitting on top. Her eyes water but her smile is bright. “This is amazing you guys,” she tells us.
“Come sit down. You have to make a wish!” Aubree pats the seat next to hers.
Zoey sits and looks around at us. “I don’t know what to wish for because I already have everything right here,” she admits quietly.
“I have a wish!” Aubree announces.
Zoey and I laugh. Zoey scoots the plate closer to Aubree. “Then you blow them out and make a wish.”
After Aubree makes a wish we eat in silence. I’m picking up the dishes when I hear Aubree say, “Do you want to know what my wish was?”
“Aubree, that’s not how they work, love bug,” I tease her from the sink.
Aubree sighs dramatically as she climbs into Zoey’s lap. The picture warms my heart. After the whole kidnapping ordeal I put Aubree into therapy for a bit just to be sure she was coping okay. From what we can all tell she is. The only difference is how close she’s grown to Zoey. “But if I don’t tell Zoey then she won’t know.”
Zoey’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion and she looks down at Aubree. “I won’t know what?”
“That I want to call you mom,” Aubree says quietly.
Zoey’s eyes swim once more with tears as do mine. I nod at Zoey because she has already become more of a mom to Aubree in the short amount of time she’s been part of her life. It doesn’t shock me that Aubree sees her like that. “I’d like that,” Zoey tells her quietly as she kisses her on the top of the head.
“Oh good!” Aubree exclaims. “We need to get ready to go to the clubhouse now!”
Zoey and I share a look as she allows herself to be drug down the hallway to get ready. My family and the Sons of Sin wanted to throw a big birthday bash for Zoey and Zayde. I loved the idea since they never really had a big birthday party before. Well, Zayde has had a few with the guys but Zoey hasn’t. First though, I have a big surprise.
Once we’re all dressed Aubree announces she wants to wear her cut. I dig it out of the closet and slip it on her. It’s a little snug since she’s growing so fast now but she doesn’t care. She grabs a pair of sunglasses from the table by the door and slips them on. I have to laugh. I grab Zoey’s hand and we make our way down to the parking lot. “I’m going to ride the bike. Y’all take the car.”
“Why?” Zoey asks.
I wrap my arms around her waist. “Because I have surprise to show you once we drop off Aubree.”
Zoey laughs. “Okay.”
I follow them and pull behind my Mustang as she parks in front of the clubhouse. My mom makes her way over, she’s of course already in on the plan. She grabs Aubree as Zoey makes her way towards me. I extend the extra helmet to her and once it’s situated, she climbs onto the back of my bike. Her arms slide around my waist. Her scent engulfs me and I inhale deeply as we make our way to the beach. I park once we reach our destination. Zoey looks out, her eyes confused but I grab her hand and lead the way. I stop and turn to face her. “So, this is just about the spot.”
“Spot for what?”
“The spot where I first saw you and you changed my life, Zoey. It was here that I realized I had never seen a more beautiful girl. It was here that I knew I would never be the same. You full throttled my heart that day and every day since.” My heart is in my throat.
“Drake…”
I slip out the leather cut from behind my back where it was tucked into my waistband. “Someday I’m going to make you Zoey James. Someday we’re going to grow our family but today I’m asking you to wear this cut and be my old lady. I’m promising you my present and future from now until forever, if you’ll have me.”
Zoey nods before throwing her arms around my neck. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I laugh and hug her back. She pulls away and turns around so I can slip the cut on. The pride that swells inside my chest at the sight is almost too much. I never thought we’d be here but it’s everything I ever wanted and more. Zoey turns around with a breathtaking smile on her face. “I love you, Drake James, my dad muffin.”
I laugh, clearly, I’m not living that nickname down any time soon. “Happy birthday, Zoey.” I kiss her as if she’s the air I breathe. “I love you, too.”