Page 117 of Cut Me Down

“I can take her, honey. Thank you so much.” She whispers as she takes Elena from my arms.

“It’s no problem.” She walks inside with her carefully. Smirking at Damien as she walks past him. He strides up to me, grabbing my hand, and leading me back to sit down on the swing. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in close. Cuddling me on the swing as we sway back and forth. “How was talking with your dad?” He takes a deep breath as he takes his cigarettes out of his pocket.

“Interesting to say the least.” He tries to keep his tone neutral.

“That bad?” I nudge towards the cigarettes.

“Definitely stressful.” He huffs out a laugh as he lights one and puts the pack back in his pocket.

“Was it about what I think it was?” He nods.

“Probably to an extent, yeah.” He leans his head on mine as he holds the cigarette away from my direction.

“That’s okay baby, the smoke doesn’t bother me.” He takes another puff and moves it away again anyway. I swear just to prove a point. “Your mom knows too.” We look at each other, although he doesn’t seem surprised.

“I figured once Dad called everyone into the office.”

“They love you, very much.”

He smirks at me.

“Yeah, I know. I know they’re just worried.” We stay silent and enjoy the weather for a moment. Finding comfort in each other. “They like you. Mom really likes you.”

“I’m glad. I like them too. Your whole family is just…amazing.”

“Yeah, they are.” He sounds confident, yet slightly sad in his answer. “I know you didn’t have that growing up. I’m sorry I didn’t know you sooner.”

“I’m not.” I feel him look down at me, so I look back up to meet his gaze. “I wouldn’t want you any other way than how I have you now.” He kisses my forehead and pulls me in as close as he can. “You know, we don't have a single picture together. What’s your mom going to put up on her wall?” He puts the cigarette out, reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, and hands it to me. I take it out of his hands and go to the camera, smiling like a love-sick fool as I point it up at us to take a few selfies. Just some standard cute ones. Us smiling, him kissing my cheek, just us kissing, and of course the goofball licks my cheek right before I take the last one. That picture is hilarious, and definitely describes us in a single photo. His humor always makes me smile. I hand him his phone back after I text them to myself. “Thank you.”

“Always.” He reaches down and kisses me. “We should probably get to bed. Tomorrow’s not going to be near as fun as today, but we’ll have to get up and get ready.” He looks down at the porch.

“Where are we going tomorrow?”

“Henry’s funeral.” I nod my head in understanding. “My mom bought you a dress for it, since I wanted these couple of days to be a surprise.”

“Okay baby, I’ll be sure to thank her.”

“Oh, don’t thank her yet. Just wait until she helps you put it on and get ready.” He says playfully, and I cringe.

“Oh, shit. Okay.” We laugh and stand up to head inside.

His room is amazingly adorable. When he said he didn’t have posters of a model in his bedroom, he wasn’t kidding. There are posters, but there of spaceships, anime characters, and a few superheroes. He also has a few collectibles scattered across the shelves and end tables, but he said that most of his good stuff was at The Basement. Even now as I stand in his bathroom, getting ready for bed, the decor is dark and techy looking like you would find on a spaceship and it’s the cutest thing I might have ever seen.

I hadn’t packed pajamas really, since I didn’t think we’d be around so many people. So, I put on his t-shirt, and nothing else. Damien locked the door, so it’s not like anyone can come in. As I walk back into the bedroom, I halfway expect him to surprise me and throw me on the bed. However, I look over to see him in bed asleep. He’s naked, barely covered by the blanket. So, I'm assuming that wasn’t his plan, but he is just so exhausted. I’m not surprised after everything he’s been through this week. Between The warehouse raid that killed Henry, all of the events from yesterday, and then our fun filled day today, I’m surprised he stayed awake as long as he did.

Walking over to his side, I look over at his phone to check the time, and a smile sprouts on my face to see that he’s already changed the background picture to one of the photos we took earlier. I can’t help but think of the amazing day we’ve had, and how hard tomorrow is going to be for him. I may not have known Henry, but I know they were close. Going to a best friend’s funeral the day after your birthday has to make it suck even more. Oh, God. His birthday. He didn’t really do anything to celebrate it. He didn’t even have a piece of cake earlier… Well, I’m not accepting that. It’s eleven-forty, so technically his birthday isn’t over yet.

I walk over to the door and open it to see if there’s anyone I can hear that’s not in their rooms yet. It’s dead silent. Quietest I’ve heard this house today. So, after taking a quick look in both directions of the hallway, I quietly make my way downstairs. Thanking whatever God exists that this house is well taken care of, and the floors don’t creak or squeal. Sneaking my way into the kitchen, I open the cake box, cut a piece, and put it on a paper plate. I turn to take it back but stop. Fuck. Candles. They didn’t put any on the cake earlier…I’m guessing that’s also Damien’s doing.

I quietly rummage through the drawers, but don’t find any. Guess I'll have to improvise.

I grab the cake and run back upstairs to his room. Skulking my way in, shutting, and locking the door back. Making my way over to his side of the bed and grabbing his lighter out of his jeans pocket before I take off his shirt, leaving me completely naked. I straddle him, which normally would wake him up, but he doesn’t budge this time. He’s a very light sleeper, but tonight? He’s lights out. Maybe I shouldn’t wake him. Let him sleep and be well rested for tomorrow, but I'm sure he’d love cake and sex too. I mean who wouldn’t right?

“Damien?” I try to wake him up but nudging him gently. “Damien?” He sleepily stirs and wipes his eyes.

“Yeah, baby?” He says groggily as he opens his eyes. Needing just a moment for his eyes to focus before furrowing his brows. He sits up on his elbows and arches a brow.

“Happy twenty-eighth birthday, baby.” I say as I ignite the lighter. He chuckles, flashing that devil’s grin as he hungrily looks me over.

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