Page 55 of Schooling Little Sage

“I see two very sleepy boys that are ready for a nap. Should we call for a car, Devon?”

“Already on it, three minutes away.”

Devon and I barely made it to the couch. We curled up at opposite ends with our feetsies meeting in the middle. Daddy covered us up, kissed our foreheads and that was the last thing I remembered, kinda. I kept hearing crunchy paper in my dreams.

Chapter Sixteen

“Happy birthday!” Devon and I called out the second my sleepy-eyed boy walked into the living room. Devon and I had both been up early and decorated Devon’s place with far too many birthday decorations. But Sage would love it and that was all that mattered. So what if we went a bit overboard. Poor Sage jumped a foot in the air and squealed when he came out and saw it all.

“Sorry, sweetheart, we didn’t mean to scare you. Happy birthday!” I gave him a hug and a kiss. “Were you surprised?”

“Yes and my heart is racing.”

Devon ran over and squished him with a big hug. “We made you breakfast and we have a special day planned for my bestest bestie!”

I loved how excited Devon was about this. Hearing his story yesterday had made me want to find him the perfect Daddy who’d spoil him rotten. Jesus, had Master Derek rubbed off on me? No wonder that man loved his job.

“Funfetti birthday pancakes for the birthday boy.” I lit the single candle we’d put on the stack. “Blow out the candle and make a wish.” His adorable thinky face as he called it appeared then he blew it out. “Happy birthday!” Devon and I clapped as we sang to him.

“Thank you both, this is so nice.”

Sage would be thrilled if this was all he got, but Devon and I had other plans. “I set your clothes out for today.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a birthday surprise, silly. You have to wait and see.”

Devon’s smile was infectious. He’d told me he’d never been there and had wanted to go, just not alone. How could I not buy three tickets and plan a day for us? “Want to open your prezzies now?” Who was more excited for that, Devon or Sage?

“I have prezzies?” Those blue eyes widened in surprise.

“Of course you do, it’s your birthday!” Which reminded me I needed to find out when Devon’s was.

“Yay! Prezzies for me!”

Glad I’d separated them from the Christmas ones.

Devon beat me to them and carried them over to our special birthday boy. “Here you go!”

“A Ninja Turtle lunch box!”

“Yes, and it clips onto your backpack. We need to pack sack lunches for today.” The bigger gifts awaited him at home. No use shipping those around then trying to get them back to where they should’ve been already.

“Turtle shirt, turtle water bottle and swim trunks. Thank you, Daddy.” It was hard to decide what to give him now, what was for Christmas, and what was for Mom and Dad’s. Lots of prezzie opening in a week.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Devon, Daddy got you something too,” I said as I pulled a bag out and handed it to him.

“It’s not my birthday, Daddy.”

“Nope, but since I don’t know when it is I’m making up for it today.”

“Daddy is the bestest,” Sage said.

“Oh my gawd!” Devon squealed, “A Frozen backpack, water bottle and beach hat. We’re twinsies, Sage! Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, sweet boy.”

“This bag is from me,” Devon handed the last one to Sage.