Page 67 of Cupcake
“It’s okay,” he assured me, kissing my lips. “We’ll celebrate my anniversary when you’re feeling up to it. Today, we’re celebrating everything that’s you. Take my arm when we go down, so you don’t fall,” he ordered.
I did as he instructed, letting him help me down the stairs. I would protest, but I knew it would do no good. Besides, he was probably right. Sometimes I still felt dizzy from the concussion, and it wasn’t worth falling again just to be stubborn. Besides, I liked that he wanted to protect me. It made him feel better and gave him a way to put right in his head what happened.
“I owe you my life, Brady,” I blurted out. “I don’t know if I ever said thank you for finding me.”
We stepped onto the ground at the bottom of the stairs, and he paused. “Cupcake, you don’t have to thank me for finding you. I love you, and that’s what you do when you love someone, remember?”
“Right now, when I think something, sometimes it comes out of my mouth before I can stop it,” I explained with embarrassment.
“I know, and I also know I can’t tell you not to think about it because your mind isn’t quite right yet. Once it is, though, I don’t want it to cross your mind again.” He grasped my face and held me to his nose. “I love you so much. I’m beyond thankful we’re here to celebrate this day together.”
“I love you, too,” I promised, kissing his lips to relax him. “You’re really keyed up. I’m sorry for mentioning it.”
He smiled and winked, his shoulders relaxing a little bit. “It’s not your fault. I get that way when I think about losing you. I relive those seconds when I found you on the ground and my heart pounds to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t come in early to talk to you. It will always scare me, and I’ve decided that’s a good thing. The memory will always be there as a reminder that things can’t go unsaid when you love someone.” He shook out his shoulders and cleared his throat. “Okay, let’s forget about it and go say hello to your bestie before we celebrate the big three-oh.”
He opened the side bakery door, and I stepped in, the warmth of the space wrapping me in a hug like it always did. I inhaled deeply and sighed. “God, I love this place.” I heard his chuckle behind me, and I knew he understood. “Did you get everything put together for tomorrow’s orders?” I reached for the cooler handle and walked in to inspect everything. Brady stood behind me and pointed out all the cupcake orders and birthday cakes he’d decorated today.
I turned into his chest. “They’re beautiful. You don’t even need me around here anymore.”
“Don’t even think about leaving me with all these cakes,” he teased, tweaking my nose. “I don’t like decorating. That’s your strength.”
“And these beautiful white and rye bread braids are yours. They’re gorgeous.”
“So are you,” he said, backing me up against a rack and planting a kiss on me that was reminiscent of the first one we shared here a month ago. This time, it was a little bit more reserved, and he was content to be gentle while still filling me with passion and desire.
“I know I promised not to do that here ever again, but I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Not at all, Able Baker Brady,” I promised. “As your boss, I’m going to make you take that promise back today. I think if you have a choice between kissing in the cooler and not kissing in the cooler—”
His lips stopped the words coming from my mouth, and I moaned softly in my throat, the sensation reminding me that I hadn’t died out there. I made it to my thirtieth birthday to stand here and be kissed silly by a man who loved me as much as I loved him. Maybe even more, if that was possible. He sure was trying to prove it was.
“Always kiss in the cooler,” he said, lifting his lips off mine. “We better go say hello to Amber before she catches us necking in the cooler.”
“Again,” I added, following him out and closing the door behind me.
Brady took my hand and held it behind his back as we walked into the main bakery. I braced myself, expecting a few of our regulars to be there still. They’d want to make sure I was okay before they left. I had stayed reclusive since I arrived home yesterday for that reason. I had no less than thirty people visit me in the hospital before the nurse finally stopped allowing visitors so I could get some rest. When I stepped around Brady to look for Amber, I froze in my tracks.
The whole place was jam-packed with people who all stood up and whispered, “Surprise!” with their hands waving in the air.
“I told them they would have to be quiet because of your head,” Brady explained, a smirk on his face.
I noticed the banner that said, “Happy 30thbirthday, Cupcake!” and started laughing as tears filled my eyes. “Thank you, everyone!” I exclaimed, genuine excitement flowing through me to see all the people who have supported me over the years come together to wish me a happy birthday.
Brady led me to a table where Amber stood holding a birthday sash. I hugged her fiercely, her laughter filling my head and adding joy to the day. “Hello, birthday girl. I’m surprised we managed to pull this off without you catching on,” she said, helping me sit and then sliding the sash over my head. “We couldn’t let this day go unrecognized in the face of everything you’ve been through this year. I’m so proud of you for everything you’ve overcome and for your strength in the face of what happened. You’re my hero,” she whispered, hugging me carefully.
It was then that everyone gathered around to laugh with me quietly, encourage me softly, and remind me that in this place, everyone was family.
“HOW ARE YOU HOLDINGup?” Brady asked, joining me at the table while everyone snacked on cake and coffee.
“I’m good,” I promised him. “This was so sweet of you.” I hugged him tightly around his neck. “I didn’t see it coming.”
“The fact that you were in the hospital for a couple of days helped with that,” he said on a chuckle, patting my back. “Did I pass the birthday cake test?”
I leaned back and eyed the giant sheet cake. “I had one piece, but I can’t decide if it was good or not. I might need another one to make a final decision.”
Brady tickled my side gently, and I laughed, being careful not to pull anything when I scrambled away from him in my seat. “I know Orange Creamsicle is your favorite cake.”
“It totally is, and it was delightfully delicious. I didn’t appreciate the message, though.” I dropped my brow to look fierce, but the smile on my face probably gave me away. “Lordy, lordy, Cupcake’s thirty? It doesn’t even rhyme.”
