“I can’t believe you used your PTO to come see me.” I grin. “Especially during softball season.”
Lexie pulls a face. “Yes, well, as it turns out, that was a non-issue.”
Kayla snort-laughs. “She got kicked off the team!”
I nearly drop my glass. “What? How do you even get kicked off a rec team?”
“Apparently there’s such a thing as being too competitive.” Lexie sniffs. “Which is ridiculous because I was definitely the right level of competitive. The real problem was that my team wasn’t competitive enough.”
“So you were just trying to make up the difference when you hurled your glove at the catcher?” Kayla asks, batting her eyelashes.
“It was one time!” Lexie protests. “And he deserved it.”
Kayla and I dissolve into giggles.
No matter how much time passes or how busy life gets, I love that the three of us can just pick up where we left off. We metin grad school, but I know without a doubt that we’ll be lifelong friends.
“I guess some things really don’t change,” I tease. “It’s the Beach Olympics all over again.”
“Hey!” Lexie jabs a finger in my direction. “That worked out for you, if I recall.”
She’s right. I met Knox that day. Those silly games were the start of…everything we are today.
“Don’t deflect,” Kayla says, jumping to my defense. “I’ll bet you still have the gold medal on your trophy shelf.”
“Of course.” Lexie swirls the wine in her glass and arches a brow. “Are you saying you guys don’t?”
I laugh. Because,of courseLexie’s plastic medal is still on display. She’s the most competitive person I know. I still have my medal, but I’m pretty sure it’s in a shoebox somewhere. Probably under my bed.
I’m about to say as much when there’s another knock at the door.
Surprise washes over me. I just spoke with my mom and Nana, and my best friends are here, so who’s left?
I give my girls a pointed look. “If that’s a door-to-door salesman, you better save me.”
Kayla laughs. “Deal, but if it’s a Jehovah’s Witness, you’re on your own.”
Throwing caution to the wind, I jog downstairs and yank the door open without checking the peephole.
Oh.Oh.
My knees go weak. Knox stands before me, holding a gorgeously decorated cake. It’s pale pink with a delicate gold topper that reads Happy 30thBirthday. The top of the cake is covered in delicate rosettes and little gold pearls, proving he can bakeanddecorate.
He flashes me a devastating smile, revealing the dimples I love so much. “Happy birthday, Ava.”
My body heats at the sound of my name on his lips. “How did you know?”
“Will you judge me if I say light social media stalking?”
For the second time today, tears sting the backs of my eyes, and I burst out laughing. I immediately clap a hand over my mouth, but it’s too late. This day has been full of surprises, and my emotions are all tangled up.
“Thank you.” I give myself a shake, but it does little to calm my riotous emotions. “I can’t believe you made me a cake.”
“Darlin’, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. It’s your birthday. Of course I made you a cake.” He holds it out for inspection. “It’s strawberry, your favorite.”
I don’t even remember mentioning my favorite flavor of cake, but of course Knox remembered. I fan my eyes with my hand, and it’s a good thing that cake is between us, because otherwise I’d jump this man and climb him like a tree.
“Who is it?” Kayla asks from the top of the stairs, craning her neck to see who’s at the door. “Is it the sexy neighbor? Please tell me it’s the sexy neighbor.”