Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,111
had five weeks if that left of school, everything was about AP exams and getting ready for graduation, then we would spend our summer… Hell, I didn’t even know what we were going to do this summer.
With care, I eased out from under Jake’s arm and then slid out from the covers and off the bed. I’d gotten pretty good at disentangling myself, because I always ended up sleeping in the middle. No complaints, seriously. But a girl still needed to pee, and sometimes imagining the Mission: Impossible theme as I worked my way out amused me.
The cats followed me, the boys did not. After I peed, I washed my hands and face, then brushed my teeth. We’d all showered late last night and I’d probably shower before the concert, so I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail before padding my way to the kitchen.
There were little signs everywhere of the guys. Game controllers on the coffee table. Jackets on the back of chairs. Backpacks scattered around the room. Sheet music on the side table. Ian’s guitar sitting on a stand next to my own. The kitchen had similar touches. Pictures of us on the fridge held there by quirky magnets that just kept showing up, not that I was complaining. The little white board with notes, like what we needed from the grocery store, and all the takeout menus that officially had their own little drop box that Archie had stuck up there.
The kitchen table sported different things, including Jake’s watch he’d taken off before helping with the dishes and the European history notes we’d been quizzing each other on. There was also a single rose in a vase with a card sitting in front of it.
That had not been there when I went to bed.
I waited until the coffee was brewing and the cats were fed, since they were cheerfully scolding me for taking so long, before I slit the card open. The front of the card was roses, chocolate, and wine with the words, The best things… I opened it to the rest of the message, …become more valuable as they age.
I chuckled. The sentiment was cute, but the actual note inside made me swoon.
Our darling Frankie,
We debated four cards, then we debated the message, we even debated whether to leave it for you to find in the morning or giving it to you ourselves. What we decided, however, was that since we love you together, we’re going to celebrate you together. You’re the best friend we’ve ever had, whether it was beating up punks on the playground, saving our lives with homework, making us smile with how you love to play, or just challenging us to be better because you only deserve the best.
This last year has been hard. For you and for us. It pushed us in all the right ways though, because look where we are! There is no place any of us would rather be. This is not our first birthday spent with you, but it is the first birthday of yours where we get to say we are celebrating our girlfriend.
Ours.
We cannot tell you how much it means to us that you not only wanted to date, but that you wanted all of us. We love you and we love having you. Even more, we love celebrating with you. So this weekend is not only all about you, it’s all about us loving you. So brace yourself, babe, we have plans.
It was signed by all of them, and there was a hastily scrawled addition below their names.
P.S. I know I’m still your favorite - Coop
I burst out laughing and hugged the card to myself, even as I blinked back tears.
“Coop might think he’s your favorite,” Archie said softly from behind me. “But you don’t have favorites.”
I pivoted and found him leaning against the doorframe, his hair disheveled and dressed only in a pair of boxers. The rest of him just looked edible. “Hey.”
“Hey, birthday girl,” he murmured as he headed for me. I met him halfway and wrapped my arms around his neck, even as he slid his around my waist. He brushed a sweet, light kiss to my lips before hugging me tight. “Have I told you I loved you since you turned eighteen?”
“I might have read that,” I teased him, and he chuckled. He pulled back and then wrapped something around my neck and clasped it. The metal was cool against the back of my neck. “Archie.”