Page 110 of Forbidden You

“No, I don’t,” I snort, trying to take back my words.

“You’re so full of shit, McKay.” With a genuine laugh, she pulls me into the bar.

So fucking full of shit.

When we enter, the humid air hits me in the face. The faint scent of beer mixed with tequila lingers in the air, mixed with fried oil coming from the kitchen.

I follow her into the back, her hand in mine. Quickly, a feeling of suspicion makes me narrow my eyes.Does she know?

“Where are you going?”

“You’ll see.” She glances over her shoulder, shooting me a teasing wink without missing a single step. At the back of the bar, she exchanges a look with the bartender, and he hands her a key. I give her a tentative look, though I have an idea of where this is going, and she replies with a sneaky one.

“What are you up to?” I slowly saunter behind her as she opens a door next to the bar that’s hidden by a deep red curtain.

“I could ask you the same, McKay,” she taunts, with a scowl. “I thought that you and I established some kind of friendship.” She swings the door open. Behind it sits a spiral staircase, and at a slow pace, she starts to climb it. It’s dark, only a small light on top giving some view of the steps.

“We have.” I drag out the words, a little confused where we are going.

“See! You’d think that.” She reaches the top, then waits for me to join her. “But if that was the case, you would’ve told me that today is your birthday.”

Shit.

I halt at her words, busted as fuck, blinking at her smug grin.

“Happy birthday!” Lights flip on, and my heart jumps out of my chest at the sudden voices blasting around me.

I snap my head toward the noise through the railing, looking into the room. My eyes instantly lock with Jensen’s before I let them roam over the rest of my friends all waiting for me with beaming smiles.

“What the fuck?” I blurt, stunned.

A big banner hangs above their heads that saysHappy Birthday Ozzy, something I’m sure was Jensen’s idea, and the rest of the area is decorated with black and white balloons that saythirtyon them. They break out in song, singingHappy Birthdaywhile I make the rest of the steps up.

“You didn’t think you could hide your birthday from me, right?” Kayla’s hands are propped up on her sides.

Actually, I thought I was doing a pretty good job. Joke’s on me, but I don’t even care, because my mind might be having awhat the fuckmoment, my heart is back to wanting to kiss her senseless.

“I’m sorry.” I bite my lip, my fingers wrapping around her neck, staring into her eyes. “I didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”

“Too bad.” She smirks and I let out a chuckle.

“Thank you.” I press my lips to her forehead, then make my way to my friends.

“Happy birthday, fuckface!” Jensen greets me with open arms, and I give him a hug as he slaps my back.

“Thank you, I can’t believe you’re all here,” I gleam. I received birthday messages from everyone this morning. I even did a FaceTime session with Rae, but after I told everyone I didn’t really plan to do anything with my birthday, I thought that was it.

I would grab some dinner with Kayla, watch a movie, and head to bed. But now that they are here, my heart fills to ridiculous proportions, feeling the love they have for me. It’s a welcoming distraction I didn’t even know I needed.

“You didn’t really think we weren’t going to do anything for your thirtieth birthday?” Rae scolds with a ghost of a smile. I wrap her in my arms, squeezing her body tight against mine. "We drove seven hours just so I could wish you a happy birthday!"

“Thanks, goldilocks.” When I let go of her, her brown eyes stand out against her blonde hair, peering up at me with kindness.

“Happy birthday, Bodi.”

My gaze meets Hunter’s, looking like the forever bad boy with his black snapback on backwards like always. His eyes are sparkling, no longer filled with the despair that glossed them when I first met him, and just briefly, I wonder if that’s in the cards for me. He reaches out his hand, and I eagerly take it before he pulls me into a hug.

“Happy Birthday, man.”

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