Page 10 of Arris, Jayme & Dyani
“Yeah. I know, but you deserve it.” He grinned.
“Well, thank you.”
“Of course.” He nudged his head toward the table. ”Come on and blow out these candles. I know you see this wax melting.”
“Alright, alright.”
I walked over, closed my eyes, and leaned in. I blew the candles out and stood back up. Blake clapped for me. I ran a finger through the icing and put some on Blake’s nose, then his lip.
I dipped my finger a second time to try it out myself. I hummed in contentment.
“I got it from your favorite bakery, handmade chocolate icing and red velvet cake beneath.” He shook his head. “Nasty ass shit.” He shifted Blake to his other side and pulled his phone from his pocket, glancing at the screen.
I collected a knife. I cut the entire cake then got a little piece for Blake and took him from Arris. I sat him down in his seat at the table and gave him one of his spoons to eat with.
“Do you want cake to take home?” I asked.
“If you really want me to have some.”
I rolled my eyes but collected a container and tossed two pieces of cake into it.
“So, what do you have scheduled for tonight?”
“I only have three tattoos on the books but I always get a good number of walk-ins so I’m not really pressed about it. What do you have planned for your birthday?”
“The one that’s next week, Arris?”
“I mean, yeah. That shit only comes around once a year, right?”
“Yeah, smart ass.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. I’m thinking Reena and I may have plans but we don’t have anything locked in.”
“Well… if she doesn’t plan anything, you know how DP gets behind you.”
“Yeah, I hear you and I’ll keep you updated.” I grabbed the birthday bag off the table and peeked into it.
I dug into the bag and lifted an eyebrow when my hand touched something soft and fuzzy. Arris had a big, stupid ass grin on his face. I grabbed the gift and jerked it out. It was a stuffed capybara. A small laugh came out of me.
“I picked it!” Blake announced proudly.
“I figured.” I leaned down and kissed his head. “I love it, baby.” I smiled and set it down on a chair.
Arris and I consistently let Blake pick out the gifts we got for birthdays and other large holidays. We liked for him to be included and we loved the thought of seeing the different gifts he’d choose throughout the years before he could go off and buy us things on his own.
“I got you something too,” Arris said. “Keep digging.”
“Yeah?” I stuck my hand back in the bag and felt around for a little while before I pulled out an envelope and a small box. “Which one first?”
“The card.”
“Okay.” I plucked it open and smiled at the happy birthday card with Spider Man etched on the front. “Wait. This is the best card I’ve ever gotten. Who picked the card out? Arris, was it you?”
“No!” Blake said quickly. “I picked it!”
“You did?” I acted shocked. “Wow. You pick the best presents.” I leaned down and kissed him again, twice.
Then I popped open the little box. It was a pair of beautiful diamond earrings and I grinned as I looked at them. I’d lost an earring swimming on vacation and had yet to replace them so this was actually something I genuinely wanted and hadn’t been expecting.
“They’re beautiful, Arris.” I closed in on him. “Thank you.” I gave him a hug and felt like my entire body melted in his arms as he squeezed me. “They aren’t as special as the capybara but I appreciate them anyway.”
