Chapter 37
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Liam, Kayla, Max, Noah, and an unfamiliar lady sang the birthday song to her while she stood rooted at the door, unable to say a word. They were all dressed up and all of them were wearing paper cones. The house was decorated, no wonder Kayla wanted her out at all costs. It was to pull such a stunt on her successfully.
She was not expecting anyone to remember her birthday, she doesn’t ever remember and she stopped celebrating them ever since her mother died. Sometimes Noah gets a cupcake for her to remind her and sometimes Kayla and Max always end up reminding her by making her food or getting a cake for her and then celebrating with her all day.
Knowing she would forget it this year again, Kayla had informed Chris earlier on and warned him not to mention anything about her birthday or even ask Sophie when her birthday was. He had agreed and they started planning to throw a surprise party for Sophie. They dropped hints for her but she still couldn’t catch on, Kayla wouldn’t cook in the morning but she did and even served her in bed like a queen. But that ended up in a disaster though given the edibility of everything Kayla cooked that morning.
Then Chris was to keep her company in a way that she wouldn’t even think about going home at all, that is where the cinema and the mini park date came in. That is to book time for decorations and other planning.
Sophie couldn’t help but tear up as they, including Chris sang the birthday song for her. She smiled through her tears at the ridiculousness of everyone wearing the paper cones. It warmed a special place in her heart that everyone cared about her in one way or the other. Even the strange lady whom she doesn’t think she has ever met.
” Happy birthday Sophie. You have been a wonderful friend to me ever since I met you. Even though I can be silly at times, you still stood by me and love me the same” Kayla said through tears, moving closer to a still still-stunned him to give her a tight hug but too tight.
” I can’t breathe” Sophie squeaked out, tapping her friend by the arm. Kayla released her hold on her slowly moving backwards while wiping her tears.
” I’m just happy that you are finally getting everything you deserve Sophie” She cried more moving towards Max who already had his arm open for a hug.
” Happy birthday Sophie. I can’t wish you anything less than happiness because you make my best friend happy and I hope nothing comes between both of you” Liam said stepping forward with the lady while holding her hands.
” This is Miranda, the mother of my unborn child” He added gesturing to Miranda who was beaming at Sophie. She extended her hands to Sophie who returned the handshake eagerly.
” Happy birthday dear sister. Make a wish now” Noah said bringing the cake to Sophie who blew out the candles before kissing his forehead.
She wore a full smile as she thanked everyone who made the day for her. After the entire party, Noah was fast asleep, Liam and his girl left after a heartfelt goodbye to Sophie and Chris. Kayla and Max disappeared suspiciously but were still inside the flat.
Sophie and Chris were on the rooftop staring at the stars together. The smile on Sophie’s face was shinier than all stars in the sky combined.
” Today is the first time I’ll smile on my birthday after my mother’s death,” Sophie said looking at Chris who was busy staring at her smile. She blushed seeing how heated his gaze was on her.
” it was all thanks to Kayla, I only played a little part” Chris replied taking his time to brush a stray strand of her hair aside. She rest her head on his shoulder and he welcomed her lovingly, wrapping his arms around her. He smelled like wine and a faint barbecue sauce from the wings they both had earlier in the party.
” That girl” She chuckled.
” Sometimes she acts like a kid and sometimes she acts like a mother hen. But please don’t make her cook for me again” Sophie said and he snickered.
” But the pasta she made earlier was the bomb” Chris argued.
” Then ask her to make it for you again tomorrow morning” She shrugged her shoulders, not bothering to argue with him.
” I have a gift for you,” he said.
“Really?”
” of course, today is your birthday. What type of boyfriend will I be if I don’t have a gift for you?” he chuckled taking a small box out of his jacket. The box was light blue and it was decorated with frilly ribbons. He opened it to reveal a silver necklace with her initial as the pendant.
She went quiet as butterflies invaded her belly triggering her blush which was thankfully hidden by the dim light.
” you don’t like it? You asked me to keep every gift simple and I ..” He fumbled with his words nervously as he tried to close the box again and return it to where he brought it from. She smiled and collected the box from him admiring the elegance and simplicity of the necklace.
She had learned too many things about him, like the way he squeezed his palm whenever he is nervous while trying to maintain his neutral Expression but his hands never stayed neutral. Look at him trying to play macho, and while freaking the hell out inside. She almost laughed.
” I love it. The little ‘s’ on the pendant is so beautiful. Thank you so much” she said with a full smile. She took the necklace out admiring the beauty under the moonlight, she turned her back to him and she try to put it on but he collected it from her. He brushed her hair aside and clicked the lock, It might be the slightly cold weather or the way his fingers brushed her nape that made her shiver.
His small touches send crashes of cold down her spine. It was soothing in a way and also very consuming in a dangerous way she couldn’t get her mind on. To her, it seems she is losing parts of her to him little by little and the most dangerous part of it was the fact that she allowed it willingly. She doesn’t have any barrier or control over it, it was almost as if she was drowning in the feeling.
She could see her reflection on the glass window of the little room on the rooftop and his too staring at her reflection on the glass. She sucked in a breath at the way he gazed at her.
” Why are you so perfect?” Chris muttered under his breath turning her around to face him again. She let out the breath she was holding and new warmth coated her cheeks.
” What was that?” she asked.
” Nothing. The necklace looks so nice on you” he said giving her a thumbs up.
“Thanks for the gift and for making my day wonderful” She placed a soft kiss on his cheeks.
“Well, I will repeat it. It was Kayla’s idea” He shrugged his shoulders helping her down the stairs.
” Yeah her idea. But the expression on your face after realizing that you rented a whole theatre just to watch little mermaid was priceless. I couldn’t even get mad you spent that amount of money after I asked you to keep everything normal between us” She said but he just rolled his eyes at her statement. They made their way to the elevator and he pressed the floor number.
” I’m still your sugar daddy. If I don’t spoil you who will?” he flashed her his billion-dollar smile but she scoffed in return.
” You are my boyfriend now and I just want to have a normal dating experience” She drew her statement narrowing her eyes at him but he chuckled instead.
” I am your rich boyfriend”
” Seriously?” She glared at him but he ignored her hot gaze.
” Well, how will you know normal dating experience? You have never dated anybody and I’m a bit experienced in this thing” He said proudly but she just shook her head at how much he was right.
” It’s hard enough keeping this relationship away from the press and the media” he added.
” I can see how hard it is, coming from someone who rented an entire restaurant because of one date. If that doesn’t scream “Oh ye reporters. I am Right here” I don’t know what else does”
” I love my privacy” he replied with the same proud expression.
” I can see” She shrugged her shoulders as the elevator door opened.
” is that supposed to be sarcasm?” he asked finally getting the memo.
” oh, you think?”
Opening the door to the apartment, she closed it back almost immediately. She turned back to Chris with a naughty expression.
” Let’s crash at your house today”