For being so packed, it’s sure quiet on the outside. I can’t hear any music playing and am assuming Bobby has asked them to turn it down. That would be embarrassing for Sue, but Bobby is known to be a curmudgeon.
I pull the wooden door open and step in. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.
“Surprise!” Many voices yell as the lights come on. I stand there with my mouth gaping open like a fish searching for water. My mom comes up to me and gives me a hug. I barely recognize that her arms are around me and forget to hug her back.
“What is this?”
“It’s an early birthday party. We wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, I’m definitely surprised.”
My birthday isn’t for another month and before I can ask who she’s talking about with her “we”, a beer is being pushed into my hand and birthday wishes are given. Then I’m pushed into the middle of the dance floor where a giant birthday cake sits on the floor.
“There better be a naked chick in there,” Jeremiah says loud enough for everyone to hear. I shake my head and meet the gazes of Bobby and Sue who both look mortified. Great. Here I am telling them that I’ll take care of their niece and my best friend is hoping there’s a naked woman inside my cake.
The tall candles are lit and everyone starts to sing. I step forward and take a deep breath in.
“Don’t forget to make a wish,” someone yells.
I smile and thank them, inhaling again to blow out the candles. As soon as they’re out, cheers erupt and I find myself blushing at all the unnecessary attention.
“What’d you wish for?” my mom asks, as she squeezes me cheeks. She knows. I don’t need to tell her.
“You know.”
“Yes, but I want to hear you say it.”
“Maybe later,” I tell her as I give her a kiss on the cheek.
Jeremiah hands me a knife and tells me to cut the cake. Of course, he’d be hungry.
As soon as I step up to the cake, it moves.
“What the hell?” I step forward and touch it. The frosting is hard, and doesn’t seem at all edible.
“What’s going on?” I ask the people surrounding me, but no one answers. Before I can ask again, my cake is exploding, much to Jeremiah’s delight.
And much to mine, as well, as Savannah is standing in front of me surrounded by my very apparent cardboard cake.
“Happy Birthday,” she yells as she throws her hands up in the air.
I’m too stunned to move, my jaw dropping open in complete surprise, but that doesn’t stop her. Before I can comprehend that she’s standing here, in Red’s, her arms are wrapped around my waist.
“Am I dreaming?”
“Not at all,” she says, shaking her head. “Your mom and I have been planning this for a while now. I’ve been back in Texas for three days.”
“What?” I ask, incredulously.
“I needed to surprise you. Show you how much you mean to me.”
I take this opportunity to kiss her until Jeremiah
says something about the lack of cake. I laugh against her lips and quickly pull her out of the bar. We need to talk and it needs to be done without an audience.
As soon as we’re outside, I push her up against the wall. I’ve missed her so much it hurts.
“How long are you here for?”