He nods.“Obviously.Girl, next time, it would go a long way if you could give me some advance warning for this shit.I know I’m pretty damn amazing, but miracles take a little more time.”
Ripley’s cheeks turn pink.“I didn’t need a miracle.I didn’t need anything.”
Anthony crosses over to the table and sets the bags down before fishing something out of one.
“Not true.You definitely needed this.”He comes toward us with his hand tucked behind his back.When he stops next to the couch, he reveals a silver tiara with pink rhinestones.
Ripley’s eyes go wide as she looks up at Anthony, at the tiara, and then to me.“You didn’t need to do that,” she whispers.
“Every woman needs to be a princess sometimes.Happy birthday,” Anthony says, settling it on her head.
“Damn, man.If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to snake my girl.”
Anthony winks at me.“Just forcing you to raise the bar.If you’ll give me another minute, I’ll set out dinner and put the cake on the counter for when you’re ready.Shit, I forgot the balloons in the car.Hold on.”
He disappears, and Ripley adjusts her tiara and shakes her head at me.
“What?”
“You.”
“What about me?”
“You’re something else.”
“A good something, I hope.”
She smiles and her whole face lights up.“The best.”
I decide in that moment I’d move heaven and earth to bring that smile to Ripley’s face as often as possible.
32
Ripley
Boone turnsoff the lights and walks toward the table with candles glowing atop the cake.As he walks, he sings “Happy Birthday” in the most devastating rendition I’ve ever heard.
When he stops, I’m dangerously close to tears.I rein it in and take a deep breath, preparing to blow out the candles.
“Hold up.You gotta make a wish first.”
The top of the cake looks like it’s in danger of setting off the fire alarms with all thirty of the candles, so I know I need to think fast if I’m going to have any frosting that’s wax-free.
“I don’t need anything.This is already perfect.”
“Just make a wish, Ripley.Something big and scary that you’ve never dared wish before.”
With his face flickering in the candlelight, something comes to mind.Like Boone ordered, it’s big and scary, and I’ve never let myself think about it before.
“That.That right there.Whatever you’re thinking right now, hold it in your mind and blow out those candles, birthday girl.”
I swallow back the lump in my throat and take a deep breath.Part of me is terrified to do it because of what it could mean if that wish came true, but another part of me jumps to the forefront and makes sure every flame is doused by the time I finish.
“Happy birthday, Ripley,” Boone whispers before his lips slide across mine, stealing a kiss.
When he pulls back, my mind is blank except for the wish shining like a beacon.
“Ineedtwo vodka tonics with lime, a Budweiser, and a margarita,” one of the cocktail waitresses calls across the bar, and I snap into action.