We sat and enjoyed our birthday breakfast together before getting ready to head to our spa day. Apparently, Gavin has had this planned for the last month. I still find it hard to believe that not only do I have Gavin back in my life but that he spent the last 10 years looking for me. He really wants to be with me. I wish I could jump in and not let my fears control me so much but I’m just not there yet.
~~~
The Tranquil Spa is as luxurious as I expected. The floors are gray marble. The walls are a mix of earth tones and dark, rich natural wood. Granite covers every counter surface in the spa. Each treatment area is private, no mass, loud group rooms. There are several river rock waterfalls located throughout the spa and soft piano music playing. Faint lavender scent greets you when you walk in the front doors.
Gavin reserved one of their exclusive couple rooms for Brooklyn and I to be pampered for the day. Our room is quite large. There are two stone covered tubs side by side off to the left for our mud baths. Two overly padded massaging chairs for manicures and pedicures sit to the left of the tubs on the perpendicular wall, facing the glass wall that overlooks the beautiful and lush garden. Directly in front of the glass wall are two massage tables. To the right of the massage tables on the opposite wall sits two stations for hair, makeup and really anything. Behind the wall the tubs are against is a dressing area and two private stone walled showers. This place is breathtaking. Gavin covered everything in our spa treatment; mud bath, half hour hot stone massage followed by an hour long full body massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, lunch, complete with champagne and our hair and make-up done. We will be pampered from head to toe.
While we are getting pedicures, Brooklyn has a look on her face as if she was trying to process something, something that is difficult for her.“B, what’s up? You look like you are thinking hard. We are supposed to be enjoying, not thinking of ways to solve the world’s problems.”I tease her.
“Why did Gavin include me in on this gift? Why does he refer to us as‘his girls’? I don’t understand.”Poor Brooklyn looks so confused. She’s just as new to a guy treating her like a princess as I am. This is really out of Brooklyn’s comfort area. She only does thing she can control. Having someone treat her like this isn’t something she can get a hold of and control the outcome. So I told her about our conversation last night. The way Gavin feels connected to her like he does his sister, Amy. I even told her about his declaration to‘punch anyone in the face’if they got too close to her. She smiled briefly before her scowl of concentration returned.
“B this isn’t something you can put into a nice neat box. I know you need to, but you can’t. You just have to accept that he feels for you the same way you do him. You guys are friends. You have developed a brother/sister bond. He wants to see you happy. You’re just going to have to accept this on face value this time.”
Brooklyn sat there for another couple of minutes processing what I’d said to her. A smile crossed her face as she turned to me.“Ok, I can accept that.”She said simply.
I started laughing.“Oh, B, I love you. Cheers.”We clink our glasses of champagne. We continued our spa treatment alternating quietly between relaxing and gossiping. It was a truly fantastic afternoon spent with my best friend.
There was a knock at the door as our day at the spa was nearing an end and we were getting ready to head to the shower before our hair was styled and makeup done. A lady who worked at the spa dressed in all black stepped into the room holding two white boxes with a purple bow on top. There was a tag attached to the bow one with each of our names on it. We lifted the lids off the boxes and found a brand new team jersey for each of us.“Ho-ly. Shit.”We said in unison as we looked up at each other. Huge giddy grins spread across our faces. We started to giggle and do a little happy dance. A note left in the box said Gavin would see us at the game and that he dropped off our tickets at the box office.
We are freshly pampered. Our makeup is simple, understated. Subtle highlights kiss Brooklyn’s dark brown hair and it has been parted on the side in the front, curled and pulled back into a neat pony tail. My hair is also rocking some new subtle highlights. The stylist straightened my unruly curls. I’ve never taken the time to straighten my hair but now that it is done, I really like it. Even though it is pulled back in the same style as Brooklyn it looks quite different on me. Our new team jerseys on, make-up and hair styled, we are ready to celebrate our birthdays.
“So H, are you glad I set you up after all?”
“More than I can ever tell you. I love you, B. Thank you for always having my back.”I give her a huge hug before we leave the spa and head to the stadium.
I’m really confused when we arrive at the stadium box office. The guy behind the window told us we didn’t need tickets and to meet an usher at the door just to the right. This is really weird. With slight apprehension Brooklyn and I do as we’re instructed.
“Professor Sanders, Professor Littlefield, welcome. Right this way.”He directs us to follow him down a short hallway to an elevator. The usher is an older gentleman probably in his late 60’s or early 70’s. He has a wide smile and a friendly face. We step in and are whisked to the top floor of the stadium.“Right this way, ladies.”He directs us to turn right as we step out of the elevator. We start to follow him down a long hallway. The elevator was in the middle of the stadium and it appears we are walking to the end of the building. At this point, Brooklyn and I are looking at each other confused. Just at the point I’m about to stop the usher and ask him what’s going on he stops at a door and says,“Here we are, ladies. Enjoy the game.”He walks off leaving us standing there, mystified. There is a plaque to the left of the door that reads,“Party Deck”
“Umm, ok, are we supposed to go in?”I ask Brooklyn with a chuckle.
“I gueeesss?”She replies back with a puzzled chuckle of her own.
“SURPRISE!”blasts us as we walk through the door, scaring the shit out of us. Brooklyn and I freeze. There is a blur of faces as I scan the room trying to figure out what’s going on. After what feels like an hour, though is probably only seconds, my eyes lock on to a beautiful set of eyes and a gorgeous smile smiling at us. Gavin is standing in the front, center of the crowd. He has on loose fitting distressed dark jeans that hug his waist perfectly, a team jersey like the one he sent us is stretched across his incredible chest and a baseball cap turned backward. He is hot as hell. I love it when he turns his hat backward. In his hands are flowers. In the right is a white orchid with light purple centers, Brooklyn’s favorite. In his left are three black calla lilies, my favorite. Each flower in his hands has a purple ribbon but something is sparkling from the center of the bow on mine. Gavin walks toward us. He steps in front of a very shocked Brooklyn handing her the orchid.“Happy Birthday, B.”
He then turns and steps in front of me his eyes start to sparkle and his grin widens, if that was even possible. Gavin hands me the calla lilies. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me in tight to his body. Looking into my eyes he says quietly,“Happy birthday, Deni. I’ll love you forever.”He then plants the slowest, most tender kiss on my lips. I melt into him.
I rest my forehead to his and I’m lost in the moment. It feels like we are the only ones around. I haven’t felt this much love since we were teenagers. I love Dr. Gavin Hudson. He is my everything. Gavin kisses my nose and pulls back. Taking ahold of the hand I’m holding the flowers in he raises them up so I’m looking at the object that sparkles; a charm for my bracelet. The charm is a black calla lily made out of white gold with a small diamond in the center.
“I know you’re not a jewelry person but I wanted you to have a new charm from me. It took me awhile but I finally found one to match your tattoo.”He said with a wink.
Two weeks ago Brooklyn and I finally decided to get the tattoos we’d talked about for years. Brooklyn had white orchids with light purple centers tattooed climbing up her left side starting at her hip and ending at her mid-waist. I had the same but instead of orchids mine ar
e calla lilies in a deep purple they almost look black. Brooklyn and I stayed in the room together as we got our tattoos.
Gavin took us to the guy he said did all his ink. After we were finished Gavin asked me to go back in the room with him. He had a black calla lily added to the claws of the phoenix on his back. It turned me into a sobbing mess when he told me about the addition. Gavin originally got the phoenix to represent the transformation his life had taken once he cleaned up his act. For him to add me to it was the most touching thing anyone has ever done for me. He said adding‘my’ flower to the claws of the phoenix represents the time he searched for me and the work we’ve put into pulling our once destroyed relationship from the ashes to have a life together.
“I thought I would help make another milestone in your life.”He pulls me into a tight embrace.“Now go enjoy your birthday party.”
I start to look around and am shocked by how many people actually came to our surprise birthday. My parents, my sister Rachel and her boyfriend Alex, my grandparents, Maggie and Noah, Brooklyn’s sister and brother-in-law, her grandparents, Jim and Betty, Dr. Asher and his wife, Gavin’s parents, Jeff and Amy. Apparently some more of our friends will be meeting us at‘On the River”after the game. Jim and Betty have shut the patio down for our party.
We are passed from party guest to party guest giving us hugs and birthday wishes. It’s a bit overwhelming. Tears are pooling in my eyes as my mom and dad, sister and her boyfriend come to wish me a happy birthday. I grab onto them so tightly. I’m overwhelmed by the events of the last couple of days and the love I’m receiving.
“Happy Birthday, Deni girl!”my dad says as he wraps me up in a bear hug. Dad pulls my sister, Rachel under his other arm. He looks at my mom,“Sarah, I think we have two beautiful daughters, don’t you?”She smiles and nods in agreement as she joins us.
“Thank you, dad.”
“Alex will you take a picture of us? I want a picture with the beautiful women in my life.”My sister’s boyfriend smiles at Rachel and takes the camera from my dad. I wonder when we’ll be hearing wedding bells from them?
“Looks like you got you a good one there.”He nods at Gavin as he walks up and places his arm around my shoulder.“You did good, son.”He extends his hand to Gavin and shakes it.
“Thanks, Cody.”I’m glad there aren’t any lingering issues between
Dad and Gavin.
Gavin cleared his throat loudly to get the attention of the guests.“Thank you for coming to celebrate these two lovely ladies' birthdays. Most of you know Hayden has always been very special to me. I’m blessed to have her back in my life. I’ve also been lucky to meet Brooklyn. She is a very special lady and has become like a sister to me. It is my privilege to have them both in my life. Please join me in wishing them a very happy birthday.”He raises his beer and everyone joins in wishing us a Happy Birthday before he continues,“. I hope you enjoy the game it will be starting soon. We have plenty of food and beer. Happy Birthday Hayden and Brooklyn.”
We mingled for a bit before heading to get some food and grab a seat. During the first inning I looked over to the luxury box to the right of us. Carver James, one of the advisors from Rockstein University, is there watching Brooklyn out of the corner of his eye. I’ve spoken to Carver many times and he is a very nice guy. He’s a bit closed off at times but still very personable. I turn my attention back to the game as to not alert him to the fact I just caught him watching her. My attention still on the game I lean over and whisper to Brooklyn.“Do you know Carver James?”Her body stiffens slightly. No one else would notice it but me.
“Yes, I’ve spoken to him before.”She says with her eyes fixed on the field but I don’t really think she’s seeing anything happening down there. Hmm, that is an interesting response.
I look over at her.“Well, he’s been watching you out of the corner of his eye for about 20 minutes. Care to share?”I see a slight blush sweep across her cheeks. Her eyes are still fixed on the field.
“Nope.”She says without any emotion.
I sigh,“Ok, I guess I’ll have to go ask him myself. Maybe I’ll invite him to join us.”
Her head whips over in my direction. Her eyes are wide.“You wouldn’t dare?”
“Oh come on B, we both know I would.”A bit of a conniving smirk crosses my face.
“Come with me, now.”She says in a panic as she stands and almost spills her beer.
She grabs my hand and practically drags me to the back of the Party Deck. Gavin gives me a questioning look but I just shake my head and smile at him. He doesn’t seem to give it much thought and goes back to the game and talking to Jeff. When we stop Brooklyn has a panicked look on her face.“Please don’t do that.”She begs me.
“Why?”I ask, fighting my amusement. I’ve never seen her so worked up. I’m weirdly kind of enjoying this.
“Because.”
“Because, why?”I question again. She is so not getting off that easily. That’s when it hits me. Brooklyn has a thing for Carver. Not like her normal‘hey, let’s kill some time’but like a realinterest in him. That is not something I’ve seen in her for a long time. I mean she dates some but she’s never let anyone get her worked up before.
“Because!”She’s snapping at me now.
“B either you tell me why or I’m going to march my butt right over there and talk to Carver.”
She growls at me.“Ahh, fine! He flusters me, okay? I swear the way he looks at me makes me want to do whatever he says.”
“Oh.”I have to bite my cheek to prevent myself from laughing. This is new. Men don’t fluster Brooklyn. Something in me tells me it’s more than that. She’s the one in control at all times. She doesn’t allow anyone to fluster her.“Is he…um, I mean…uh do you know him from your club or just the university?”I whisper trying to keep her privacy intact. She pales a bit at my question.
She closes her eyes and bites her lip before peaking one eye open at me.“Both...”She drops her head down“…but there isn’t anything between us. It doesn’t matter whether I’m at the club or university, I see him at both places, a lot. Sometimes he comes and talks to me and others he just sits and watches me. Ugh, he make me so…so…I don’t fucking know.”I give her a hug. This isn’t normal for Brooklyn. There could be something to this, hmm.
“You know it would be ok to just talk to him, right?”She nods her head at me.“Come on let’s go sit and watch the game before people start to wonder what we are doing back here.”
We turn to head back to our seat and sit down to watch the rest of the game but are stopped in our tracks. Gavin is talking to Carver. Their body language says they know each other. Brooklyn looks over at me and mouths“shit”before her shoulders slump. We walk back over. Gavin introduces me to Carver. I tell Gavin we know each other and say hi to Carver. Carver smiles and says hi and wishes me a Happy Birthday before turning his gaze to Brooklyn. His gaze is so hot he could melt the sun with it. They exchange pleasantries before he leans in to give her a kiss on the cheek and wish a Happy Birthday, as well. Holy shit, did I just see her shiver a little? You can almost hear her skin sizzle when he touches her arm. There is definitely something in the way they look at each other. There is an intensity that I have not seen in either of them.
We take our seats and Gavin leans over me to ask if everything is ok. I assured him its fine. He must have caught the way Carver watches Brooklyn too because he asked me if there was something going on between them. I told him that we work with him and that I think Brooklyn and Carver have a crush on each other. He smirks like he has a secret but isn’t going to share. I chalk it up to some weird guy code thing I blow it off not caring one way or the other.
During the sixth inning Gavin puts his right arm around my shoulder and pulls me against him. He leans over and begins to whisper a play-by-play into my ear.
“Heart is up to bat. A swing and a miss. Strike one.”He brushes his lips against my ear.
“He tries again but again misses. Strik
e two.”I can feel his breath on my ear. I close my eyes and listen to him. I love it when he does this.
“He sets up…it’s a hit. Heart makes it to first base.”Gavin licks the shell of my ear before pulling my earlobe into his mouth and lightly sucking. The feel of him sucking on my ear sends a shiver down my body.“Martin is up to bat next. Davis winds up…here’s the pitch…Ball one”He doesn’t do anything but doesn’t move either.
“Davis winds up again….Ball two.”Again, he doesn’t do anything but doesn’t move from my ear.
“And the pitch…Ball three.”Same thing, his lips don’t touch me but his breath is hot on my ear. Oh, this man is maddening.
“Davis is looking frustrated…And there’s the pitch…Ball four. Martin is walked. Heart advances to second base.”Gavin reaches in front of me with his left hand to take my bottle of beer from my hand. He pulls it back across my body allowing his knuckles to brush across my breasts making my nipples harden to taut peaks. His eyes never leave mine. He lowers the bottle and runs his tongue across his bottom lip. I quickly look around to see if anyone is paying attention but everyone’s focus is trained on the game and not Gavin and me. With a smirk on his face he leans back to my ear.
“Walsh is up next. There’s the pitch…he swings…Strike one.”Nothing. He does nothing. He’s freaking killing me. He has me so turned on I’m starting to squirm.“Stay still, baby. You don’t want to draw attention to us.”He whispers. I shoot him a dirty look. Ahh, I’m so going to pay him back for this.“Do you want me to stop?”I shake my head no. The truth is I love it and don’t really want him to stop.
“Here’s the pitch…crack…Walsh drives deep-”he stresses the drives deepbefore continuing– “into right field. Walsh is safe on first. Martin advances to second and Heart advances to third.”My body shutters with anticipation waiting to see what he’s going to do. I look into his eyes. He takes another pull off my beer before he places it between my legs allowing his fingers to innocently graze over my thigh so close to my core. My eyes follow the path of his hand. Desire races through my body. My breathing has changed but I’m trying to keep it under control. I really do not want anyone figuring out what he is doing. My focus turns back to him. I couldn’t focus on the game if my life depended on it. His attention returns to the game when all I want to do is leave and run straight home.
Lilies Page 18