Page 60 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
My hand is outstretched toward the door handle when it swings open, revealing a grinning Ella. I’m about to question her whereabouts all day when she grabs my shoulders and gives me a once-over.
“Good, you’re ready,” she nods in approval.
“Ready for what?”
“You’ll see,” she grins at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
She drags me out of the room, barely giving me a moment to get a word in. We nearly trip on the steps as she pulls me downstairs.
“El, slow down,” I plead as we run through the kitchen, nearly running into a few maids who are cooking up a storm.
Are we having a feast? Expecting guests?
She stops abruptly next to the door, and I end up bumping into her.
“What is wrong with you? What’s with all the rush?” I demand, rubbing my chin.
Instead of answering me with words, she turns to me, fixes my hair, before standing behind me. While I’m still reeling in confusion, the door opens and she pushes me out.
“Surprise!!!” a couple of voices yell just as party poppers go off all around me, drenching me in streamers, confetti, and paper flowers.
Tears well in my eyes as I look around the beautifully decorated backyard, all the Morgans staring at me with smiles on their faces.
There’s a table filled with gifts, another laden with food and drinks, a chocolate fountain, a two-tier cake, lots of flowers, and different kinds of games set up in the backyard, including a bouncing castle, piñata, pin the tail on the donkey, and a giant Jenga.
How did I miss all of this getting set up?
“What is all this?” I cry, turning to Ella helplessly. “I thought you all forgot.”
“How could you think that? We just wanted it to be a surprise,” she replies, pulling me in for a hug.
“Thank you,” I sniff, hugging her tight.
She lets me go so I can thank everyone else, including Daisy, who shouldn’t be here since it’s a school day. I can’t believe they pulled her out of school for this.
“Happy birthday, Miss Diva,” Zane whispers in my ear, wrapping his burly arms around me.
My voice is too clogged with emotion to say anything, so I nod, holding onto his shirt, letting the hug last longer than everyone else’s.
“Enough of that. Let’s get this party started,” Ella demands, pulling me away from Zane’s arms.
Before today, I always hated celebrating my birthday because the day was never about me. My mother always made sure the day I was born revolved around her, but today, everything is about me—from my favorite flavor cake, all my favorite foods, and the games I never got to play when I was a kid.
“Thank you for planning this,” I say to Ella as we chill in the bouncing castle eating ice cream.
Jace and Daisy are playing Jenga while Zane and Hank are taking advantage of the coloring books Ella bought. It’s such a comical sight to see, but you can tell they’re having fun, arguing over who gets the yellow crayon.
“Only the best for you,” she winks at me.
When it’s time for presents, everyone gives me incredibly thoughtful ones, but the most special one is from Zane—a limited-edition guitar with a personalized strap and pick.
“I love this. It’s beautiful,” I cry, admiring the intricate designs.
“He made the pick himself,” Jace announces, catching me by surprise.
Zane glares at him, but it’s too late—I’ve already heard him.
“You did?” I gasp in surprise.
