Page 70 of Resisting the Running Back

I guess turning thirty is affecting me more than I realized.

It’s making me want to start a family, which wasn’t really something I was worried about in my twenties. It feels like time is starting to close in on me a little, but I push those thoughts from my mind, close Facebook, and get back to writing.

“Happy birthday. I’m taking you out to celebrate,” Miller announces on Friday morning as he sets a breakfast plate in front of me. It has a bowl of his famous oatmeal on it along with an assortment of fresh fruit. “I thought maybe we could go to a club and reenact last weekend’s shenanigans.”

I roll my eyes. It’s still a little bit of a sensitive subject for me, I guess. “No public sex, but I’m game for going out.” I nod toward the plate. “Thanks for this, by the way. What do you have in mind for tonight?”

“Just a little something. Pack an overnight bag,” he says. “We’re leaving at noon. We’ll grab lunch on our way.”

“What sort of clothes should I wear?” I ask.

“Whatever you want.”

“Casual? Dressy?”

He shrugs, and he’s really giving me exactly nothing to go on here.

“Oh my God, Miller! Tell me what to wear!” I demand.

He laughs. “Shoes comfortable to walk in and an outfit that gives me easy access.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“I already said no public sex.”

“You didn’t say no public fingering,” he says innocently, and I pick up a grape to throw it at him, but he runs out of the room before I get the chance to toss it, laughter following behind him.

That effectively ends my writing session for the day, as now I can’t stop thinking about where he’s taking me, so I head upstairs and rifle through my closet to find the right outfit to bring. I decide on a long skirt that I can wear sneakers with and a cute top to match. I throw everything I need for an overnight trip into a bag, and there’s still a solid three hours to kill before we leave.

I field some calls and texts from my parents and friends back in Phoenix, and I work on a few graphics for some things I have going on next week. The clock seems to slow to a crawl, but eventually it’s time to go, and Miller appears in the kitchen with a duffel bag and a sly smile.

I snag my bottom lip between my teeth. “What are you up to?”

“Creating birthday memories.” He shrugs, and I follow him out to the car.

I have no idea where we’re going until he pulls into a parking spot at the San Diego Zoo.

“The zoo?” I ask, and he just smiles. We head inside, and he treats me to lunch at a grill where we both order burgers and fries. Once we’re stuffed full, he grabs my hand and leads me to the penguin exhibit, where we have a private encounter where I get to interact with my favorite animal.

When we’re done, he takes me through the gift shop and stops at the register, where the clerk pulls out two wrapped boxes and hands them over the counter for me.

I open them to find a stuffed penguin and a beautiful necklace with a diamond penguin pendant, which he immediately fastens around my neck.

It’s such a sweet, thoughtful surprise.

After our penguin encounter, he leads me back to the car.

“That was so fun,” I say with a contented smile.

“The day is just beginning,” he says with a gleam in his eyes, and then I lean back into the seat and get ready for whatever’s coming next.

We arrive at the airport next, and we board a plane heading to Vegas. Of course it’s Vegas. We’re getting married here early next year, and we had a lot of fun here last weekend.

When we land, we head straight for Caesars Palace, and we check into a gorgeous suite in one of the towers that gives us a view of Las Vegas Boulevard.

I’m staring out the window gazing out at said view when Miller saunters up beside me.

“What are we doing here?” I finally ask, curiosity getting the better of me as I glance over at him.

“Celebrating your birthday.”

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