I roll my eyes, but there’s no wiping the grin off my face. “You might as well come in and say hello.”
Kayla hoots when she sees Knox. “Long time no see, Flamingo Boy.”
He nods in greeting. “It’s good to see you again, ladies.”
“Did you bring us cake?” Lexie asks, perking up. “This is turning into a legit party.”
Knox carefully sets the cake on top of the counter. “I apologize. I didn’t realize Ava had company.”
“It was a surprise,” Lexie says. “She didn’t know we were coming.”
“Don’t ever apologize for bringing cake.” Kayla plops down on the nearest barstool. “Besides, you’re just in time to tell us all about your intentions toward our girl.”
Knox slips an arm around my waist and draws me close. He plants a gentle kiss on top of my head, and I curl into him, feeling like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. “I want Ava to be happy, and I want her to realize how damn incredible she is.”
“That’s it?” Lexie deadpans.
“I think it’s sweet,” Kayla says, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “How do you feel about sushi?”
“I love it.” His brow furrows. “Why?”
“We’re going out for sushi and birthday drinks. You should come with us.”
Knox chuckles. “I know better than to crash a girls’ night out. Besides, I’m pretty sure you ladies will have more fun without me.”
I poke him in the side. “You’re just afraid of having to answer more questions about your intentions.”
“There’s that too.”
We all laugh, and Knox excuses himself so we can get ready for dinner.
I walk him to the door, and despite the fact that my friends are peering down the stairs like a couple of nosy teenage girls, he cups my cheek and ducks down to whisper, “Have fun tonight, gorgeous.”
“Oh, I will. Starting right now.”
I’m pretty sure he was planning a chaste kiss, but it’s my birthday and I won’t settle for anything less than a scorcher.
I grab the back of his head and kiss him hard, pouring all the pent-up emotion of the day into the joining of our lips. His arms immediately go around me, hands skating up my back as I deepen the kiss, willing him to understand just how strongly I feel about him. How much I appreciate the cake and the birthdaywishes and the way he just freaking cares and always seems to know the right thing to do.
Lexie and Kayla applaud, and we break apart, breathless. Knox’s cheeks are flushed, and in a moment of unexpected role reversal, I smirk and bow to our audience.
“Who knewthe sushi in Atlanta was so good?” Lexie asks, popping a piece of rainbow roll into her mouth.
“Right?” Kayla pushes her plate away. “If I eat one more bite, I’m going to burst.”
Lexie smirks. “Is this your way of saying you don’t want to hit the club tonight?”
Kayla feigns a look of horror. “The day I’m not up for dancing will be the day I die.”
She’s always been the boldest among us, and it’s one of the qualities I most admire about her. It’s also the reason people constantly underestimate her. Like she can’t be pretty, opinionated, and smart. Which reminds me…
“How’s your new job going?”
“I freaking love it.” Kayla beams, her overfull stomach forgotten. “The hours are good, the kids are great, and my boss is not a giant asshole.”
I shoot her the side-eye, my own slice of the rainbow roll half-way to my mouth. “That sounds awfully pointed.”
“That’s because it was,” Lexie says, jabbing her chopsticks in my direction.