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Olivia glances backwards towards Tuck, who’s standing by the snacks. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively once he notices Olivia looking at him, causing my best friend to whip her head back in my direction.
Her answer is simple. “Yes.”
I roll my eyes. Olivia and Tuck are at least a bit of a distraction from the anxiety churning in my belly.
Today’s Hudson’s birthday, and I’m throwing him a surprise party.
A couple days ago, Hudson mentioned his birthday coming up in an off-hand sort of way. When I asked him what his plans were, his answer was predictable: “nothing,” accompanied by a nonchalant shrug.
Hudson’s still been distant with me, but I couldn’t bear the thought of him actually doing nothing for his birthday. No matter what Hudson says, I know that the anti-social grump façade he shows to the world isn’t who he really is. No one really wants their birthday to pass by unacknowledged.
Besides, we still have a fake relationship that we need to keep up appearances for. There’s no way any boyfriend of Summer Andrews would have his birthday come and go without me making a big production of it. Hudson’s not getting off the hook.
Still, I’m nervous. What if he’s not happy when he walks through the door and finds his house full of people gathered for him?
Then I glance to the table in the little dining area between the living room and the kitchen, which is covered in presents.
When I told Hudson’s teammates a couple days ago that I wanted to throw him a surprise party, I didn’t even suggest that they buy anything for him, but they all did anyway. They don’t look like low-effort gift cards, either. All his teammates actually put in the thought to get him real presents.
Hudson has good people in his life. He deserves to allow himself to let them in. He deserves to let himself tear down some of those walls he’s constructed around his heart. If it takes a little nudge from his fake girlfriend to get him to do so, I’ll gladly risk stepping over a line and incurring his annoyance.
Along with his four roommates, most of the rest of the guys on the hockey team are here, as well as Olivia, and Lane’s sister Maddie. Some of the other guys on the team have brought girlfriends or girls they’re hanging out with. I told Hudson’s roommates to spread word to the guys on the team that we’re taking a more-the-merrier approach to the party. I want Hudson to see how many people are willing to show up for him.
Excitement laces through the nervousness behind my chest when I hear a car door slam outside. Peeking out the blinds that we have drawn over the front window to make sure Hudson can’t glimpse inside, I see that it’s him.
I turn around and nod my head to the expectant guests, motioning for them to hide. Everyone scrambles to find something to hide behind, be it the couch, the kitchen counter, or the island in the center of the kitchen.
My eyebrow quirks when I notice Rhys, with a naughty smile on his face, take Maddie by the hand and pull her into a closet to hide. I glimpse the rose color on her cheeks just as the door slams shut. I join a mass of hockey players all awkwardly huddling behind the couch.
The door opens. I hear the jangle of Hudson dropping his keys into the bowl by the front door.
Then, we all jump out. From behind counters, kitchen islands, couches, and out of closet doors, everyone pops up to greet Hudson, yelling, “Happy Birthday!”
27
HUDSON
In an instant, my living room goes from dim and empty to two dozen bodies jumping out from behind every object in the house, screaming their lungs out. If it weren’t for my elite cardiovascular conditioning, I’d probably be grabbing at my heart and dropping to the floor.
“What the …” the question falters on my lips when my eyes lock onto the girl who I know is responsible.
It’s only now that my brain’s recovered from the shock enough to assimilate the words that just filled the house: Happy Birthday.
Summer is standing behind the couch, looking tiny and comically cute amidst a gaggle of my massive teammates. She’s watching me with a smile, but there’s no missing the trepidation in her eyes. It’s the look of someone who’s gone out on a limb to do something they think is nice but know is unexpected, and they’re not sure how it’s going to be received.
It crashes into me like a tsunami what a jerk I’ve been to her these last two weeks. Pulling back like I have, hardly talking to her. I’ve been such an asshole that she’s nervous I’m not going to like that she’s organized this party for me.
I need to wipe those worries out of her mind now.
I stride across the living room, rounding the couch. I step to Summer, place my hand on the back of her neck, and tell her just how grateful I am with a kiss.
My whole body fucking sings as my lips press against hers. It’s like I’ve been seeing in black and white for the last two weeks, but suddenly the world is back in color again.
When I first dipped my head to taste her lips, I planned on it being little more than a peck. But now that I’m swimming in her taste, her scent, her softness, I have to go deeper. I slant my mouth, losing myself in the velvety softness of her lips. Summer kisses me back, matching my fervor, and it clicks into place what an absolute fucking moron I was for holding myself back from her.
I almost forget where I am—until Tuck pulls me back to reality with a sharp, pointed cough right next to my ear.
“Uh, when you’re done eating your girlfriend’s face, you’ve got presents to open.”
