After the museum stop, we grabbed a late lunch at an outdoor cafe. Chase sensed I was dragging and suggested we head our separate ways to relax before dinner. Neither one of us had gotten a lot of sleep lately, and a nap was calling our names.
I laid down on the couch and my eyes involuntarily closed. Chase sat at the other end and pulled my feet onto his lap, gently massaging my arches. I sunk deeper into the couch.
“Having a nice birthday, baby?”
“Best ever. Thanks so much for today. You know, hanging with my dad, doing the sports thing.”
“First, stop thanking me. Your dad is a great guy and I enjoy his company. Even if I didn’t, know I’d do just about anything to put that shit-eating grin on your face. And for the record, I love sports. Been an athlete my whole life.”
No shit, Sherlock, seen you naked. I kept that quiet for obvious reasons.
“Mmm,” I mumbled, keeping my sassy comments to myself. My body was succumbing to sleep.
“Sleep, beautiful.”
I heard the television flip on. Sports Center. He was too much. I smirked and rolled my eyes under my lids before I drifted into a restful sleep.
Twenty minutes or two hours later, I had no idea…
“Blue, you want to take a shower before dinner?” Chase sat on the edge of the couch caressing my arm.
“Mmm. Was I asleep long?”
“Try a coma, baby ... a bomb could have gone off and I don’t think you would have woken up.”
“I was tired,” I stretched and sat up, “but I feel great now. Quick shower sounds good. Do I have time?” I still had no idea what our dinner plans entailed.
“Yes. Come, let’s shower.”
Mmm, even better.
I glanced at the TV getting up and saw Sports Center was still on. “How’s ESPN? Did I miss anything?” I smirked, feeling sassy again. I could have counted on one hand how many times he had watched Sports Center, or TV in general, actually.
Dressed in my new Nanette Lepore sundress and my new Jimmy Choo silver cork wedge slides, I walked from Chase’s bedroom. The dress was a lovely mint lace with a sweet perforated texture. Delicate pleats added a hint of volume to the bodice and skirt before falling to a perfect mid-thigh scalloped hem. My diamond and blue sea glass bracelet hung loosely around my wrist, complementing my dress. Chase had sick taste. Lucky me.
Chase turned his head from the window when I padded down the short hall. “Blue, you look gorgeous.” With his hands snaked in his pockets, Chase stood by the window in his signature stance. He was gorgeous in his low-slung grey pants and simple un-tucked white button down. With his sleeves rolled halfway, the contrast of the stark white against his bronzed skin was gloriously sexy.
“Chase, what are you trying to do to me?”
That wicked suggestive grin slowly crept up his cheeks.
“What? You’re the one who is killing me.” He closed our gap. “Baby, this dress is stunning, and your bracelet looks beautiful with it.”
“Someone I know has amazing taste.” I twirled around and smiled.
“If we don’t leave now the only thing I’m tasting is you,” he growled, causing everything in my lower region to tingle.
“Feed me first, then I’m yours to do whatever you like. Let’s go, I’m starving.”
“Anything for my birthday girl.”
Why was I not shocked when we pulled up in front of my favorite sushi restaurant? And why was I not surprised when I walked in and realized Chase had rented the entire restaurant just for me and my closest circle?
A loud Happy Birthday resonated through the tiny room, followed by a very quiet “Happy Birthday, Blue” whispered in my ear. I was all smiles.
I walked straight for my BFF who was supposed to be on bed rest. “What are you doing here, Asspuck? You’re supposed to be in bed!”
“You think I’d miss your birthday? Besides, I thought a little sake might shake some things up in here.” She rubbed her pop belly. We were practically eye level, and I realized she should be shorter than me.
“Sier, you’re in heels? Are you crazy?”
“Puck—you think I’d be out celebrating my best friend’s birthday in anything other than heels? You’re the one that’s crazy.” She hated my flats. “I stuffed my swollen ass feet into these Jimmy’s, but they’re in and they aren’t coming off.”
“She wouldn’t listen to me, never does.” Dodd chimed in, pretending to look defeated, but I knew better. He freaking loved Sierra’s flair. He shook Chase’s hand, and Chase kissed Sierra on the cheek. “By the way, I owe you guys. When my plane touched ground in London, I had about eighteen missed calls and twenty-five texts. I thought for sure I missed the birth of my first child.” He teasingly rolled his eyes at his still preggo wife. “I really appreciate you guys taking care of her the other night.”
“Dodd, please. After all the times she’s rescued me, we wouldn’t have it any other way.” I affectionately squeezed Sierra into my side. Chase, on the other hand, furrowed his brows just slightly, knowing that he caused a couple of those rescue sessions. He needed to let it go, I sure as hell had.
“Enough with the mush, it’s time to party! Dodd, can you get me some sake?” Sierra was a woman on a mission. I had to smirk. “What! I’m just gonna have a little. Stop giving me your disapproving Lili look, eye roll and all.”
I laughed. “Whatever, go drink your little glass of sake. Maybe I’ll be able to meet my niece sooner than later.”
She was all talk. Lucky if she had a glass and a half total of anything the past nine months.
“Uh, hate to break it you, but the whole have-a-glass-of-wine-to-bring-on-labor thing is a total farce. Alcohol’s actually a tocolytic,” Chase said, very matter of fact, like we understood what tocolytic meant. But I had to admit, he was sexy as all hell when he got all medical. Mmm. He saw Sierra’s confusion, and who knew what he saw on my face. My mind was way deep in the gutter. A three-year sexual hiatus hadn’t helped. So Chase clarified, “Alcohol relaxes the uterus, as in, prevents labor.”
Sierra’s mouth dropped wide open. Hello, flies. “The books never mentioned that!”
The three of us tried our best to stifle our laughs. Chase, always the professional, put it in perspective for her. “Sorry, Sierra, it’s an old wives’ tale. And pretty sure the reputable pregnancy books left that tidbit out just because they were more focused on driving home all the possible dangers of alcohol in pregnancy. No conspiracy from the medical community, promise.” He held his hand up in scout’s honor. I almost peed my pants.
“Well, if that’s an old wives’ tale, what about sex and nipple stim?” she asked with zero hesitation. The girl had no shame. Zero.
I blushed for her. Chase chuckled. “Those techniques actually have some merit.”
Dodd was definitely a shade pinker than his usual coloring. He shook his head and grabbed his wife’s hand. “Wife, enough. The baby will come when she’s ready. Now stop grilling Chase, because if I’m not mistaken, he’s a neurosurgeon … not your personal gynecologist. Now before you molest me in public in the name of inducing labor, I definitely need some sake.”
Chase and I smiled at each other. Too freaking funny.
“Did someone say sake? I’m in.” I turned around. Sharon stood next to my dad. “Lili, you look gorgeous. Happy Birthday, sweetie. Now show me the way to the sake.”
“Thanks, Shar. Now follow the pregnant one...” I giggled, pointing to Sierra and Dodd making their way to the tiny bar.