Page 71 of Jumping In

Noah holds Sophie from behind, his hands splayed across her baby bump as they sway to the music. Beck smiles warmly at me from across the room and I motion for her to join me on the dance floor, but she shakes her head. After a few songs by other artists, another Taylor Swift song blares from the speakers, and I yell for Shannon to dance with me. She brings me a pink drink which tastes just like the one she made at Hal’s the other night.

“It’s your drink! Mac thought it would be perfect for tonight.”

I smile and sip the drink. We dance to a few more songs while more people show up. I say hi to everyone as they arrive, including Mac’s parents.

I’m dragging Mac by the hand to the dance floor when I catch my parents at the top of the stairs. I change our trajectory, still holding his hand.

“Mom, Dad! Can you believe it?” I ask.

My mom smiles warmly and shakes her head. “It looks great. Your friends did a great job.”

“Mac planned the whole thing.”

Mac openshis mouth to likely offer credit up to the others, but Shannon told me the truth while we were dancing. I give him a look and he stays quiet.

Mac lets me lead him back out on the dance floor just as Taylor Swift’s “Lover” starts playing. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he pulls me close, swaying us to the music.

He presses his lips to my neck and murmurs, “Are you happy?”

I nod my head vehemently. “So happy! Thank you for all of this.”

I feel his lips move again like he’s going to deny it was all him, but I shake my head. “I know it was your idea, you just relied on our friends to execute.”

He chuckles softly, his warm breath tickling my neck.

The party lasts a few hours, everyone eating and mingling. It was nice to see my parents talk with Jim and Nancy. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen them together. The night was perfect, full of laughter and good times with my friends. People start to leave, giving me hugs, and birthday wishes, and I thank each of them for coming.

Pretty soon it’s just the Dream Team left. I look around the space, taking in the mess left over from the party and spy a box of trash bags on the back counter. Making a beeline for the bags, I yelp when I’m grabbed by the waist.

“Don’t you dare,” Mac growls in my ear.

“I just want to help clean up.”

“Nope, it’s your party. You don’t have to.”

“But—” I whine.

“He’s right. You two get out of here, we’ve got this,” Blake says as he approaches with Shannon and Austin flanking him.

“Are you sure?”

“Girl, get out of here already!” Shannon urges.

Mac squeezes my waist and turns my body toward the stairs. I grab his hands, peeling them off me. “Just, one second. I promise I won’t clean.” He nods and lets me go. Walking back to my three other friends I hug each of them and thank them for all of the work they put into my party. I really am a lucky girl.

With a smile I head back to Mac, and he guides me out of the soon to be restaurant and down the street to the shop. I take the first step up to the loft when Mac leans in close and says, “Don’t forget, birthday girls get birthday spankings.” He swats my ass, and I squeal and run up the stairs, collapsing onto his bed where he tackles me and makes good on his promise of birthday spankings.

July 28

My body feels heavy when I wake up on Sunday morning. Like, there’s a whole ass man on top of me heavy. I lift my arms up, wrapping them around Mac’s neck as he nuzzles into mine.

“Finally, you’re awake,” he murmurs.

I giggle as he mimics a vampire, nipping and licking the spot just below my ear. “Happy birthday, baby,” he whispers, trailing kisses down my neck. He tugs on the hem of his T-shirt I haphazardly threw on last night after round two. Or was it three?

“Off. Now,” he demands, still kissing my neck and jawline.

I oblige, reaching down and pulling his T-shirt off my body. My skin immediately pebbles as his hands roam my body freely. He palms my breast and slides his body down mine, leaving a trail of kisses on the way.

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