Page 53 of Stephan

I groaned as I watched her retreat, her spinestiffened and she rolled her shoulders back. A fake smile stretchedher lips and her eyes were what scared me the most, they almostbecame blank, like there was no emotion in her. I’d done this. I’dbroken her. My chest ached and a sick feeling came over me eachtime I saw what I’d done. I was a bastard and didn’t deserve her ora second chance but I’d be damned if I gave up. Gathering her handI held it in mine, bringing it up I kissed her knuckles. “I loveyou.” I turned her head so she gazed into my eyes. Ignoring myfamily I stared at Jade and kissed her hand again. “I love you.”She studied me like she was searching for an answer for a while andeveryone was quiet around us. Her shoulders dropped and shesqueezed my hand turning from my gaze. I suppose it was the bestI’d get.

The food was placed on the table and Ireluctantly let her go and helped her with her food. We ate insilence for a moment and the tension was still high in the room.Today was better than yesterday though and yesterday was betterthan the day before. The first two days Jade came home she refusedto eat any meal with the family. She didn’t even come to the rugbygame last weekend or watch practice.

“I booked a hair and beauty package for thisafternoon,” Mum said. “They’ll be arriving at the house half anhour after your rugby game so I need Jade back by then.”

“Thanks, Evelin. You shouldn’t have.” Jadesmiled at my mum. “If I’m going to the rugby game I better go getchanged.”

“No, this is your outfit for the day. Youhave something different for tonight, so don’t change.” I hadplanned the whole day out. I wanted everything perfect. “You onlyturn eighteen once. You get to be in a pretty dress today. It’s allpart of my plan.”

Jade shook her head. “What are you up to,Stephan?”

“Nothing you have to worry about, littlebit.” Jade stared at me and I winked at her. I had been planningher birthday for weeks. I didn’t stop when I left her, I just madeit bigger and Cassie helped.

*****

Jade

After breakfast everyone stood and Stephanplaced a pink silk blindfold over my eyes and guided me through thehouse and outside. My heart beat loudly in my chest as I tried tothink of what they were doing. Stephan undid the blindfold andEvelin and Lucas stood in front of me.

“Happy birthday.” They stepped out of my lineof vision and there with a big black velvet bow was a car.Stephan’s parents had bought me a friggin’ car. I was speechless.It was a red Volkswagen Beetle. My dream car.

Blinking, I was frozen to the spot. Who thehell got their son’s girlfriend a car and not a second hand one buta brand fucking new Beetle. Clearing my dry throat, I gazed atEvelin and Lucas. “I don’t drive.” I should have said thank you orsomething along those lines but my brain wasn’t functioningproperly.

Lucas chuckled and handed me a card. In itwas a letter stating I had a hundred paid hours with a drivingschool, it had over eighty locations. “We made sure it had lots oflocations so when you’re at university next year you can stilllearn.”

All I could do was nod. I turned to Stephan.“It’s a red Beetle.” I remembered telling him once when we firststarted dating when he asked me about my dream car. I didn’t thinkhe’d remember. “You remembered.”

He shrugged. “Of course I did. Go on. Golook.” He nudged me and taking a deep breath in, I calmed my ragingemotions as I walked to the shiny new car. Running my fingers overthe hood, I grinned at the smooth surface. Flashes blinded me and Ilooked up to see Derick taking pictures of me with a camera.

“Thanks. I didn’t need to see.”

“Stop dawdling and get in.”

I opened the driver’s door and stuck mytongue out at Derick. “I’m savoring this.”

“Well savor this quicker, you still have mypresent.”

“I know how to take my time and enjoy things,unlike you.”

Derick stuck his middle finger up at me andStephan and his parents chuckled.

“Leave her be, Derick,” Evelin berated herson.

Sitting in the driver’s seat I squealed withjoy. “I have a car,” I yelled. Hugging the steering wheel I pressedall the buttons. Today was the best day of my life. There was noway it could get any better.

*****

I was wrong. After Stephan dragged me out ofmy awesome car, Derick sulked we didn’t have much time for hispresent. Rolling my eyes I followed Derick out to the back of thehouse.

“Wait here.” I watched as Derick disappearedinto the pool house. He returned with his hands behind his back. Hecame and stood before me and brought his hand from behind him.There in his hand was a squirming ball of brown fun. “Happybirthday. He is a Chocolate Labrador.”

“Oh. My. God.” I threw myself at Derick andgrabbed the little guy. “I love him.” I kissed both Derick’s cheeksbefore kissing his lips.

My feet left the ground and growls thatweren’t the puppy’s came from behind me. “No kissing mybrother.”

I turned in Stephan’s arms. “He got me apuppy,” I screamed, “I’ve never had a pet.” I brought the puppy upand his big brown eyes stared into mine and his tongue came out andlicked my nose. I was in love. “I love him. He’s so cute.

“What you gonna name him, Sis?” I turned backto Derick hugging my puppy.

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