Page 66 of Caged
"Nah, but since I'm here I might as well do what I can."
"We're good for now, but we'll see what D comes up with tonight." Jeremy eyed Marshall. "Go."
Marshall held up his hands. "Okay, I'm going." He stood, looking around the room. "It's good to see you guys… and girl." He winked at Faith. "I look forward to catching up tonight."
"And we look forward to meeting the new boyfriend." Xander grinned.
Leaving them to laugh behind him, he headed out. Jeremy was right, he should be with Danny and not stuck behind some computer. He was looking forward to the surprise party and watching Danny's reaction. Tonight would be good for him. It would help show Danny that life went on and people cared. For tonight, Marshall was going to forget about everything work-related. It was his boyfriend's birthday, and he was going to make it the best birthday that Danny ever had.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Danny's eyes widened at the large home they pulled up in front of. "Wow, you said it was a nice house, but I never imagined this. Just the two of them live here?"
"Yep. It's not as big inside as it looks outside, but it's much more than I have. I just couldn't see getting a place like this for just me. If things work between us, maybe in time we'll look at a nicer place." Marshall parked the car.
"Do you think we'll still be together in a few years?" Danny asked. He really hoped they would, but he knew better than anyone that the future wasn't something you could really plan out. Shit happened to get in the way of any dream you had.
"I like to think so. I don't plan on going anywhere." Marshall reached over and took Danny's hand in his. "I like to think about planning a future together, even if it might be too soon to really do it."
"I like it too." Honestly, he had no clue what he would do if Marshall left him. While he hoped it would never happen, it was one of the reasons he wanted to get a job and know he had money in case he ever did have to go and find his own place. He didn't want to depend on Marshall for everything.
"Come on, let's get inside. As I said before, Matt, Xander, and Faith are visiting. They're friends from California. I think you'll like them. Faith's about your age, maybe a year younger. I think she's starting college in the fall. Don't be scared of Xander. He looks all muscle, tattoos, and meanness, but he's really not. Matt's pretty normal, but amazing with computers. He puts me to shame with the stuff he can do."
"You said it's the same company only the California branch?" Danny asked as he got out of the car.
"Yep. We all do the same work." Marshall paused to grab a cake out of the backseat.
"Are there other companies across the United States?" Danny took a container of cookies from Marshall's hands.
"Not yet, but we'd love to see more created."
They headed up to the large front door. From the cars already in the driveway, it looked as if they were the last to arrive. Once at the door, Marshall rang the doorbell.
They didn't have to wait long for D to pull the door open. "Welcome, come on in. Everyone's out back."
Danny stepped inside, pausing to look around. "This is an amazing house."
"Thanks. It's better than it was when I got it. I had to change a few things, but we're happy with it now." D reached out. "Let me take those for you." He took the cookies from Danny and the cake from Marshall. "Head on outside. Drinks are there."
Danny followed Marshall out through a short hallway, then out onto a deck. He paused as he noticed first the balloons, then tears filled his eyes as everyone screamed, "happy birthday!"
Swallowing hard to fight the emotion that hit him so suddenly, he smiled. "How'd you know?"
Marshall hugged him. "It's on all your paperwork."
"Thanks." He wiped a stray tear from his eyes. "I haven't celebrated a birthday in a long time. I never even knew what month it was, let alone day until recently."
"I know, that's why we wanted to do this for you. You deserve a big party." Marshall kissed him.
"Out of the way, let me hug the birthday boy." Jessica practically shoved her way between the two of them so she could hug Danny. "Happy birthday. Do you know how hard it was not to say something earlier today?" She kissed his cheek.
"I had no idea you guys had this planned. Thank you." He hugged her back then turned to get hugs from everyone else. When two men and a young girl approached, he knew who they were from Marshall's description. "Let me guess, Faith, Xander, and Matt?" He pointed at each one as he said their names.
"He must have warned you about us." Xander grinned. "It's nice to meet you. Happy birthday."
"Thanks. It's nice to meet you." He smiled at Faith, then Matt, but had trouble making eye-contact with Xander. "I'm glad you came."
"We look forward to getting to know you." Matt smiled. "We'll let you get something to drink and talk to the others."
