Page 161 of Need You To Choose Me

All three heads turn in my direction, making me realize I said the words out loud.

“Seriously?” I glare at Blake, who winces. “Sorry, I spaced out.”

“It’s really not a big deal,” Daniel says quickly. “I told Dad not to make a fuss about it.”

“That’s not the point.” I bite the inside of my cheek and shift in my seat, unsure of what to do. Should I hug him? I didn’t think he would be comfortable with the gesture. But a handshake seemed so… cold. In the end, I settle for a simple, “Happy birthday, Daniel.”

“Thanks.” He shifts his weight from one foot to the other and rubs at the back of his neck as he glances from me to Blake and back. “It’s really fine. It’s just another day.”

But it wasn’t.

That was something I didn’t realize until I moved in with Grams, who made a fuss about every holiday, every birthday, every milestone. It wasn’t big or elaborate, but she made it special for me. She mademefeel special.

“C’mon, let’s eat before the food gets cold.” Blake grabs the plates and puts them on the table. I start to slide off the counter to join them, but he’s there, his hands landing on my hips to steady me.

“You good?” Blake asks softly, tilting my chin back so I have to look at him. “With everything else going on, I spaced out and forgot to tell you.”

I give him a small smile. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Blake watches me for a moment longer before leaning down and pressing his mouth against mine.

“Are you gonna kissallthe time now?” Levi groans, making us break apart. Blake’s finger slides over my lower lip as he just stares at me.

“Any chance I have.”

Pulling back, he takes my hand in his, and we join them at the table, where we dig into our food.

“Any plans for today?” I glance at Daniel, who’s all but shoveling the food into his mouth. I swear, between him and Blake, they could eat a whole horse together.

“Not really.” He shrugs. “I’ll probably just stay home.”

“Well, I wanna party for my birthday with balloons and chocolate cake. Oh, and a bouncy house. And I’ll invite mywholeclass,” Levi interjects and nods. He’s so serious I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop from giggling.

Daniel just rolls his eyes at him and pushes to his feet, plate in hand. “He’ll change his mind like ten times—” He stops in front of the sink, his brows pulling together as he squints out the window. “Is somebody coming over?”

“Not that I know of,” Blake answers nonchalantly.

A little too nonchalantly.

I raise my brow, but he just winks at me.

“There is a truck in our driveway,” Daniel points out, glancing at Blake, who’s fighting a smile.

“Is there?”

If possible, Daniel’s frown becomes even bigger. “Yeah, is it Mrs. Maxwell?” Daniel turns to the window and tugs back the curtain. “It’s her day off—Holy shit!”

Daniel drops the curtain as if it burned him and spins on his heels, his mouth falling open as he stares at his father, unblinking. “Holy shit.”

“He said a bad word,” Levi points out. “Twice.”

Blake ruffles his hair. “We’ll let it slide this time around, buddy.”

“Is this…” He points at the window, his hand shaking slightly.

“It is.” Blake gets up and pulls out a set of keys from his back pocket.Car keys.“You wanna go and check it out?”

“Hell, yes!” Daniel takes a step toward Blake but then suddenly stops as if he remembered something. “Is this for real? This isn’t a joke? It’s mine? Like really mine?”

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