Page 57 of Carver
Well, just… shit.
Thank goodness Dom steps back into the kitchen. If I looked at him and thought any of thoughts ravaging my brain, I’d turn as red as Grave or worse, and then everyone would think that I’m mad about the cake thing. I’d have to let them think that because I couldn’t explain that really, I’m just crushing on my man, planning exactly how I’m going tolive out my fantasiesand be anti-boring.
Half of the room empties out into the kitchen and over the next few minutes, the tables set up out front get so full that they’re practically groaning.
We were adamant about not needing gifts, but of course there’s another table at the far side of the room stuffed full.
It’s remarkable how fast a crowd of people this size can get organized and fed. The long tables set up on the far side of the hall get filled up and the room goes from chaos to conversation.I sit with my family, Ellie on my mom’s lap, and Dom sits right beside me.
I don’t mean to glow, but I’m pretty sure that I am. I’ve never been someone who’s afraid of being happy. If it disappears tomorrow, does that meant that fearing that it will and letting that spoil today is going to make it hurt less?
Later, when Grave and Decay return with their arms loaded with grocery store cakes, my sister is the first one to leap up and help them.
And flirt.
Subtly.
But for me, it’s very obvious what she’s doing.
While the twins unbox the eight cakes they got, sticking real candles in them this time and not explosives, Ginny walks back to her place beside Gabe on the other side of the table and mouths something that suspiciously looks like,I got his number.
I shake my head, mouthing back,lose it.
She pretends not to notice.
I’ll hand it to the twins, they might have screwed up big time, but at least they have the balls to stand at the front of the room, apologize again, and lead the singing of happy birthday. They’re the first ones to burst into a round of applause for Ellie. The rest of the hall joins in, and so does she, clapping her chubby baby hands so eagerly.
Grave even brings Ellie over a fancy cupcake with a single candle. There’s a flurry of phones out to capture the moment with videos and photos, and then my mom helps her blow it out.
Right as she does, Dom slips his hand onto my lap and clenches my hand. He doesn’t need to mouth any silent words. His awed expression and the sheen glistening in his blue eyes says it all.
We areloved.
We’re a family.
We’re a community.
Dom doesn’t do speeches, but he does spend the rest of the night, long into when people star to trickle out, and past clean up, thanking every single person for making this special day so memorable for us. He thanks them with everything he has, from the bottom of his beautiful heart.
For tonight, everyone gets to see what I see. They get a piece of his soul. They’ve given us parts of theirs in return, and I’m more certain than ever that we ended up exactly where we needed to be.
Chapter 16
Carver
We’re both still riding the high of the birthday party as we arrive home. We thought we’d be the last to leave, staying late to clean up and pack up, but I should have foreseen all the help that we’d have. A few people who had kids needed to leave early to get to bed or take them out trick or treating before the night was over, but the majority stayed right until the end. Tyrant and Raiden were among those who helped package up and distribute all the leftovers, who helped fill Bronte’s truck with all the gifts to take home, and cleaned up the kitchen and put away tables and chairs until the hall was spotless.
It wasn’t just Tyrant and Raiden, but when the Prez and the VP of a biker club are happy to mop up, do dishes, and package up food, it’s inspiring. They could have ordered someone else to do it, but they didn’t. To make up for their earlier prank, Decay and Grave both stayed late and worked extra hard at scrubbing up and doing the grunt work of folding up all the tables and stacking all the chairs.
When that firecracker went off in the kitchen, Tyrant and Raiden both turned and looked directly at me. I think if I would have been more upset, there would have been more heated words with the twins, but after I got over the jump scare that nearly had my heart pounding out of my chest, I was more concerned with how Kael would react, given that she’d custom ordered the three-tier cake. It looked like something fit for a wedding, and I can’t imagine how much it cost.
I know she was still pissed at the end of the night. Dravin kept sending her worried looks, but she didn’t let anything slip.
I’m sure that he’s getting an earful right now, about how the twins should be muzzled. I tried to talk to her, in my awkward way, and let her know how beautiful the cake was, and how sorry I was that it ended up all over the walls and countertops in the kitchen, and all over us. She just shrugged and told me it wasn’t my fault, all while looking murderous and close to tears.
“That was such a fun night.” Bronte’s voice drifts over from behind a stack of boxes and bags, all of Elowen’s gifts that she’s piled into her arms from the back of the truck.
I have a few boxes under my arm, and I unlock the door and hold it open for her.
