Page 91 of My Secret Bandit

“All right. It’s time,” I said, turning off the lights.

While everyone else hid, Mariana ran upstairs, and Amelia and I crouched on the couch.

She caught a case of the giggles that became contagious until we heard the closing of car doors outside.

“Get ready,” I whispered to her, and she nodded eagerly.

The moonlit crack of the opened door grew in super slo-mo, and anticipation pricked at my skin. The air around us shifted as everyone took in a collective breath.

“Why are you being so weird?” Mateo’s voice slipped through the opening.

“Get your ass inside, man,” Xander pressed, shooing him along.

I listened to their steps as they entered the foyer. “Fuck, it’s dark in here. Jameson?” he called into the blackness, causing my heart to do another little flutter-filled dance. “I thought you said she was here.”

“She is here, doofus. Her car’s out front.”

“Name calling? On my birthday!? Mm,prettyshitty, bro.“ Mateo chuckled.

“Yeah, yeah. Shitty is you being a massive pain in my ass all day. Find the light switch so we can get your girl and get gone.”

Two more steps and a click of the lights sent everyone from their hiding spots yelling “surprise” in unison.

He stood, speechless, with his hand covering his mouth. Smiling, twinkling eyes made eye contact with everyone in the room as Xander slapped his shoulders and jostled him around in excitement.

“Love you, bro. Sorry I called you a doofus.” Multistep handshake complete with a big hug, Mateo turned his attention back to the crowd.

He must have said thank you a hundred times as his friends and family took their time hugging and wishing him a great birthday. Amelia ran to take her turn while I waited, kneeling on the couch, watching him with her in his arms. The smile on his face as he greeted everyone was worth all the stress, sweat, and nerves spent getting things situated today.

When the surrounding crowd died down, I took my turn. I eased up beside him and slipped my hand into his. His fingers tightened around mine and he turned. His free hand gripped tight against my hip to pull our bodies together. With a dimpled smirk, he looked down at me. “Did you do this?”

“Nah, I just helped.” I shrugged, throwing a wink over to Xander who sent one right back.

“Thank you, baby.” He leaned down to kiss me. Soft lips grazed my skin until they landed near my ear. “You are so damn sexy. I don’t know if I can wait until everyone leaves to get this outfit off you.” His whisper sent a tingle from the roots of my hair to my toes. His fingers trailed up the edge of my cover-up, warm skin brushing my chest.

He threw his arm around my shoulders and put his lips against the top of my head.

I looked around the room until I found Thomas. He gave the designated signal of a triple tap to his chin and, just like that, it was showtime.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, patting his chest before pulling his arm from my shoulders. “I forgot something upstairs.”

“Want me to come?”

“Knowing you havenointention of coming back down here? I don’t think so. Good try, though.“ I rolled onto my tiptoes, kissing his cheek, and made my way up the stairs without looking back.

“Ready?” I asked as if the smile on Mariana’s face and the bouncing weren’t enough of a response.

“Yep. Been ready for about a year now.”

Clutching the back of my robe with her head low, we made our way down the stairs.

I moved to the side while she stayed on the last step and watched her brother mingle. She looked so proud and happy, and the love she carried for him overtook the room.

“Tíolook!“ Amelia’s voice rang out amongst the crowd, quieting everyone.

His eyes followed her little finger toward the stairs. When he finally saw Mariana, a sharp gasp left him, like the wind was knocked from his lungs.

Gripping the nearest person’s arm, he fell into a squat only to stand and eat up the floor with long strides until he got to her with tears rolling down his cheeks.

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