Page 48 of Devour

“Didn’t mean you.” Ash smirked at Eli.

Hubby happily exhaled while they walked away, and I could hear Owen thinking about Eli and the way he always looked at me. Hearing about that from an outside perspective made me pause and think too much all over again, but hubs hugging me tighter broke my concentration.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered in my ear. “With me.”

“No one else I’d rather be with.”

I looked up at him again and, sure enough, he smiled while he gazed down at me.

We put off getting together for my last birthday in my twenties. Between Ember’s distraction as a newlywed, Asher moving into a much bigger apartment with Owen, and me wrapping up the summer Bible camps before organizing all the youth events for back to school, we were equally busy. By the time our schedules could cooperate, Halloween would be in another week, and I hadn’t seen anyone but Rhory since Ember’s wedding two months ago. Rhory also switched to a split dye in that time, with half still black and the other half red, my two favorites. I could stare at it all day. It suited him.

Ember already texted me to apologize that she’d be late. Asher and Owen had yet to arrive, true to style. Rhory and I killed the time waiting for our friends in a booth and browsing. The place we frequented had menus in short supply this time. Something about ordering a new design which had not yet arrived. Rhory leaned his head on my shoulder and pretended to care while we both stared at the various meals and specials. Really, looking at the menu was purely ceremonial at this point. I didn’t know why either of us bothered.

“You should get cake, hubby,” Rhory mumbled when I got to the desserts page.

“You get cake,” I huffed.

“No really. We’re supposed to be out for your birthday.”

“It’s not my birthday, though. My birthday was weeks ago,” I said. And of course, Rhory ensured I went out with him that day and already was looking forward to my “dirty thirty” next year. I think he enjoyed my birthday more than I did at this point.

“You could say it’s your birthday.”

“I’m not lying for free cake.”

“I could say it’s your birthday.” Rhory sat up slightly to look at me, and I could see the mischief gleaming in his eyes.

“Don’t you dare,” I said.

“Oh, the servers will come over singing and clapping, won’t they? Maybe even scream your name and say it’s your birthday.”

“Do it and see what happens.”

“You’re no fun.” Rhory grumbled and slid back down to resume leaning against me.

“Correct.”

And while on the subject, who in their right mind decided that anyone would enjoy mild hazing in exchange for free cake? Really, I didn’t think I knew anyone who claimed to be spared any embarrassment from that restaurant ritual. Nor anyone who argued the cake tasted so good, the unwanted attention was all worth it. As a grown adult, I could buy a whole birthday cake at the grocery store whenever I wanted and neither the baker nor cashier would be compelled to make a scene before I left with said cake.

Someone cleared their throat.

Any hope I had of Asher and Owen saving me from more of this conversation went out the window. I had been so preoccupied with the unwarranted stress caused by the possibility of cake that I didn’t even notice they arrived.

Rhory not so subtly uncoiled his arms from around one of mine and shifted around in the booth before plucking the menu from my hands. Not at all suspicious, not in the slightest.

“Hi,” Asher said before taking a seat across from us.

Owen continued to gawk at us until he caught himself, then plunked down in the booth.

After placing our order, our drinks returned promptly while giving us more time to wait for the rest of our party. And, like clockwork, Rhory rose to his feet and mumbled something about going to the bar real quick. Every time, without fail. Sigh.

“There something you need to tell us?” Asher said the moment Rhory left.

“No.” And I rolled my eyes because my friends would likely never let this go. I had no qualms about how I interacted with Rhory. I also had no desire to hear about it.

“I just thought maybe after spending the night together, things between you two had changed.” Asher chuckled while he said this, then laughed even harder when my glare zeroed in on him.

“What in the world are you talking about?”

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