Page 30 of Jack of All Trades
Maya presses her fingers to my lips, stopping my flood of words. "Slow down, cowboy. I haven't decided anything yet."
I kiss her fingertips before she pulls them away. "But you're thinking about it."
"I'm thinking about a lot of things." Her voice softens. "Including what just happened between us, and what it might mean."
"What do you want it to mean?" I ask, suddenly serious.
"I want it to be real," she says simply. "Not just physical attraction or novelty or whatever this initial pull is between us. I want it to have a chance to grow into something lasting."
"That's what I want too." I take her hand, lacing our fingers together. "I meant what I said earlier, Maya. I've never felt this way before. And I want to see where it goes. All the way."
A slow smile spreads across her face. "Well, then. I guess we're doing this."
"I guess we are." I lean in to kiss her, marveling at how right it feels, how natural, despite the whirlwind pace of everything between us.
When we finally part, Maya glances at the clock on the nightstand and sighs. "We should probably get dressed before Rex actually does come home and finds us like this. Neighbor surveillance or not, I doubt he'd appreciate the visual."
I laugh, reluctantly disentangling myself from her. "Good point. Besides, we've got a party to finalize for tomorrow."
As I gather my clothes from the floor, I can't help thinking that tomorrow's celebration will be about more than just Rex's birthday. It'll be the first time Maya and I are together publicly, the first time my family will see us as a couple.
And I can't wait.
Next Evening
My backyard transforms into exactly the kind of gathering I imagined when Maya and I first started planning.
String lights hang from the oak tree to the house, creating a canopy of soft illumination above the tables of food and drinks. Ethan's fire pit glows in one corner, ready for when the evening air cools. The old 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' banner from Mom's decoration boxes is strung across the back of the house, slightly faded but perfect in its nostalgia.
My brothers arrived early to help with the final setup. Ethan hauling in firewood, Michael arranging the bar area, David setting up the music system. Their partners pitch in too, arranging food platters and hanging the last of the decorations. The easy way they all work together, laughing and teasing each other, fills me with a warmth I didn't know I was missing.
Maya moves through it all with a quiet confidence, directing people, checking details, occasionally catching my eye across the yard with a smile that's just for me. She's wearing a simple green sundress that makes her eyes look even more striking, her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She's beautiful, and she's mine, and I still can't quite believe it.
"You look happy," Michael comments, appearing beside me with two beers. He hands me one, his shrewd eyes assessing me in that way he has, like he's running calculations behind that tech-genius brain of his.
"I am," I admit, accepting the beer. "Really happy."
"It's a good look on you." He nods toward Maya, who's laughing at something David's girlfriend is saying. "She seems great."
"She is." I can't keep the pride from my voice. "More than great, actually. She's... everything."
Michael's eyebrows shoot up. "Wow. That's not a word I ever expected to hear from you."
"Trust me, no one's more surprised than I am." I take a sip of my beer, watching as Maya checks her phone. "Rex should be here any minute."
As if on cue, Maya catches my eye and gives a quick nod. "Places, everyone!" she calls out. "They're coming up the street!"
There's a flurry of activity as everyone finds hiding spots. Some behind tables, others around the corner of the house, a few of the biker guys crouching behind Ethan's truck. I position myself near the gate, ready to greet Rex as if this is just a casual visit.
The sound of a motorcycle approaching grows louder, then cuts off. I hear Rex's steps as he walks up the front path. I step through the gate to meet him.
"Hey, man," I say casually, ignoring the throb of my still-bruised jaw. "Thanks for coming by."
Rex gives me a knowing look. "Like I had a choice." He glances at my house, his expression suspicious. "What's going on?"
"Just wanted to give you something for your birthday," I say, gesturing for him to follow me around to the backyard. "Nothing major."
The moment we round the corner, everyone jumps out from their hiding places, shouting "SURPRISE!" in a chaotic chorus. Rex stops dead in his tracks, his eyes widening as he takes in the transformed backyard, the gathered crowd, the banner declaring his birthday.
