It makes the time we spend together seem so insignificant, or maybe it’s just me that feels insignificant.
I knew coming here with him would throw me, to take a peek at the life he lives.
The life he left.
I walk through his apartment with my heart in my throat; he stays silent as he watches me.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper nervously.
I have never felt so out of place as I do here.
He presses his lips together as if stopping himself from saying something.
“Would you like a drink, sweetheart?”
I nod.
“Wine?”
“Tequila.”
He chuckles, clearly amused. “Tequila, coming right up.”
The vibration of Elliot’s phone buzzing on the bedside table wakes us and he frowns.
“Elliot,” I whisper. “Your phone.”
“Go away,” he mutters.
“Something might be wrong at home.”
“Huh?” He jumps up and answers it.
“Happy birthday,” I hear a voice say as clear as day.
I sit up. What? It’s his birthday?
“Fuck off, Tris, it’s too early for this shit,” he grumbles sleepily as he rubs his eyes.
“What are you doing?” I hear the voice ask.
“You woke me up.”
“Are you alone?”
He rolls his eyes. “Yes. I’m alone.” He reaches over and tweaks my nipple hard and I buckle to get away from him.
“Hurry up and come into the office, Mom and Dad are coming to see you at nine.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He hangs up.
“It’s your birthday?” I whisper, wide-eyed.
“So?”
“And when were you going to tell me this?”
He smiles and crawls over me and holds my hands over my head. “Why do you think I brought you here?”
“Why?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a happy day for me”-his lips touch mine-“if I didn’t get to see you.”
I smile up at my beautiful man. I didn’t get him a present, I want to do something special for him. “I’m making you breakfast.”
“Happy to eat you.”
I giggle as I crawl out from under him. “No, tonight. You have to go.”
I have to get him a present today . . . Fuck. What the hell do you buy a man who has everything?
I get out of bed and pull my boxer shorts on and throw on his T-shirt from last night. “Is there food here?” I ask.
“Yes, it would have been stocked. You don’t need to cook, we can eat out.”
“We can be seen together here?” I frown in surprise.
“This is New York, I have a lot more privacy here through the day.”
“How come?”
“There are much more exciting celebrities for the paparazzi to chase. Nighttime is a different story, but daylight is good. London is like a fishbowl with nowhere to hide.”
“Oh.” I walk toward the door. “I’m going to make you the best damn breakfast you ever did see.”
He jumps up, fully naked, and picks me up and wraps my legs around his waist. His lips take mine and he opens the bedroom door. “But first.” He walks out of the bedroom as he holds me up. “I am going to fuck you on every hard surface of this apartment.”
I giggle as we kiss.
We hear a woman’s gasp. “Elliot.”
We turn to see Jameson, Tristan, Christopher, and Mr. and Mrs. Miles just standing there. Mrs. Miles has a Happy Birthday balloon in her hand, and her eyes are wide.
“Mom,” Elliot gasps.
Everyone’s mouth is open in horror.
“Surprise.” Jameson smirks as he raises an eyebrow.
Oh fuck. The blood drains from my face.
Tristan throws back his head and laughs hard.
My worst nightmare just came true.