Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 11: Happy Birthday

      "Happy Birthday to you!" Marie screamed in my ear as I peeked around the room noticing the room was beginning to fill with the natural rays of the sunshine.

     "Thank you." I grumbled, covering my head with my pillow.

     "You better get up; your better half is waiting downstairs."

      I shot straight up in the bed with her words, but not without a loud grunt, remembering the pain I was in. "Why so early?" I finally managed to breath out.

     She quirked a brow looking at me kind of funny before smiling back, "I don't know."

     She jumped up and ran out of my room. I tried to get up quick, but it was like I couldn't breathe, every time I moved, I felt a sharp pain piercing my insides. I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment before I finally had the courage and strength to move to my bathroom. I don't know how long it took me to get ready, a quick shower, no make-up, a tank top, knee low shorts and a pair of flip flops. I took a deep breathe, realizing that my eye wasn't black, and it only looked like a small cut in my eyebrow, nobody should notice, and thank goodness my lips are always plump. I managed to re-wrap my abdomen area, the bruising was much worse today and no way I could chance anyone seeing it. If they saw the wrap, I could always say I pulled a muscle in my back, and this was the only relief I could get. Double checking myself in the mirror I put the best smile I could on my face and stepped out of the bathroom only to be met with a suspicious looking Jaxon on the edge of my bed.

      He looked up and the suspicion was gone instantly. He smiled rushing to me and wrapping his arms around me, I inhaled sharply and tried to immediately hide it. He searched my face and took a step back, "Happy Birthday Sweetheart, but are you okay?"

      I laughed trying to hide it all, "I am fine." I pecked his lips, "Now what brings you here so early?" I asked with a raised brow.

      He shook his head, "Because I want the most precious person in my life with me all day on her special day." He kissed my cheek and led me downstairs, bypassing everyone.

     "Well played Jax." I kissed his cheek and climbed in the car. "Where to first?" I asked, curious as to why he was at my house picking me up on a Saturday before eight am, and my best friend magically disappeared.

      "It's a surprise." And that was all I got.

      Thirty minutes later we were sitting back in the same pull off spot, where we shared our first kiss. He parked the car and came around helping me out of the car. We were silent as he led me down the path, this time though, he didn't ask me to close my eyes, he just led me. When we came into the opening it was even more beautiful than that first night. The sight was there, but now replaced with the sunrise and greenery of the summer, and there was a small blanket spread out with a small picnic basket.

     "Birthday breakfast," he beamed leading me to the blanket and helping me sit.

      Breakfast was simple and perfect, fresh croissants from the diner with fried bacon and some fruit. We took our time and ate in silence, enjoying each other's silence and the simplicity of the moment.

     "You know when I officially make you my queen, nothing is going to hold me back." He kissed my cheek and I just laughed.

      "I am just me; queen is a little far." I chuckle.

     "Skyla you understand that I have a lot to take on when I leave this town." I just nodded, not really looking at him. "Look at me please." He said so softy and I turned my head to get lost in those amber eyes. "I am serious, I will have to walk a path like a prince. I can do it one of two ways, an eligible and highly sought-after bachelor, or a very happily, in love man with no regrets."

     "I know Jax," I kissed him softly on his lips and leaned into his chest, I really didn't want to talk about it anymore.

     "Ready to go?" Jaxon asks as he offered me his hand and quickly packed up the picnic stuff.

      I wrapped my arm around his and entwined our fingers. "As long as I am with you, I will go anywhere." He kissed the top of my head, and we slowly made our way back to his house.

      He pulled into the garage shutting the garage door behind us. I took in a deep breath as he got out to open the door for me. The last time I was here, was just the beginning, and I didn't heed the warning, I only stayed the course, and it has been a living, you know what since then, but looking at Jaxon it was all worth it, my heart told me that if my mind didn't believe it.

      "Come on," he offered me his hand.

      Looking at that smiling face, I didn't deny him, I took his hand following him up the stairs, into the apartment over the garage. "This is my place." He said almost in a whisper.

      "You have your own apartment?" I was completely blown away; it looked just like a flat you would see in a movie. Everything was open, the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen. Well not everything I guess; the bathroom looked to be in a different area. "How do your parents let you live out here?" I asked in wonder taking in my surroundings.

      He walked behind me and gently wrapped his arms around my waste pulling me into him. "Because I asked." He kissed the nape of my neck.

      I gently pulled away and kicked my shoes off. I gave him a smile and held his hand pulling him toward the bed, he didn't seem to mind as he followed without a fight. "Please just hold me." I whimpered as I sat down on the bed. He didn't take long kicking his shoes off and climbing in the bed behind me, wrapping his arms around me he pulled me into him. I laid my head on his chest and threw my arm and leg over him, completely ignoring the searing pain radiating from what I am pretty sure is a cracked rib now. The silence was comfortable, and peaceful as he held me, like I was his most prized possession. I finally got the nerve to raise my chin and look up at him, "Jax?" He hummed in response. "Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

       He let out a deep laugh before he finally decided to answer, "I see us married, either planning a family or one on the way. I see me running my father's company only bringing in more money and making it expand. I see you in my arms every night, and as much as I can get you through the day. We will have a beach front house, with our own private area." He laughs a little more, "Nah, I love the country, I see us in the middle of nowhere. That way if we want to make love outside against a tree we can or in a hammock. Yes, definitely in a hammock." We both giggled in response to his answer. We had never done anything more than kiss, and we both seemed to be okay with waiting till the time was right, but just thinking about it, it gave me chills. "You know Skyla, you will be my first for everything. I have never given in to the girls and their high school ways. I always dreamed that when the right one came along, I could give her everything, all of me." He kissed the top of my head. "Now your turn, what do you see?"

       "One of the top ten freelance journalist in the world, everyone will be after me and my work. Me on your arm, no kids yet, but planning soon. Us married or planning one soon." I blushed at the thought.

       "Sounds like a perfect life, with a perfect plan." He mumbled in response.

      "It does." And with that we laid in silence until eventually I let myself dose off into the best sleep, I think I ever had.

       The birthday party went off without a hitch. Jax hosted it perfectly, while never leaving the birthday girl's side. I absolutely loved the possessiveness he showed without even thinking about it with me. I felt strong and powerful when he was that way. Most women would probably feel like it was overbearing or a turn off, but not me, when he was that way it made me feel special, it made me feel like I was worth so much in treasure that someone might try to steal me. The few moments that I caught him away from me, his eyes were on me, and I could feel from across the room the bond with no words. The pain was unbearable at times, but when I was in his arms, it was bearable, and nothing else mattered. .

      "Do I have to take you home?" He pouted against my temple.

      "No." I smiled, picking my phone to text mom and tell her I was staying with Marie, and then Marie to tell her I told my mom I was staying with her. I smiled placing the phone back in my pocket. "Now what?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

      He pulled back a little as he grabbed my hand and led me back to his apartment. The minute I walked through the door the scent of lavender and vanilla hit my nose. "Hot tub." He smiled pulling me through the house to the rooftop access, where there set a hot tub bubbling. "Smell good?" He questioned, sitting down checking the temp of the water. "Perfect."

     "Jaxon," I whispered.

      He looked up from the water and was by my side in an instant. I kissed his lips softly and put my arms around his neck. He gently placed his arms around my waist, and for a brief moment we swayed to the beat of our own music. We stared so deeply into each other's souls; I swear our hearts were beating as one.

       This is it Skyla, don't mess it up. I chanted to myself. I pulled him a little closer so he could hear what I had to say. "I love you, Jaxon." The minute the words left my mouth his lips covered mine and we were instantly lost in each other, until we needed to breathe, and he pulled away resting his forehead on mine.

      He pulled back a little and reached in his back pocket pulling out a small blue velvet pouch. He took my hand in his while his other arm still held me close. "Skyla, I am head over heels for you baby, I love you more than you will ever know. I give you this as a birthday present, but I also give it to you to represent the love I feel for you, because with its shape it tells you my love is never ending, and it promises it always will be." He steps back and I can hear my heartbeat in my head, my breath is shallow, he opens the pouch and pulls out a small white gold band, it isn't a normal band though, it's a single rose that loops back into itself. He slides the ring on my right ring finger, and it's a perfect fit. It doesn't take long before he has me back in his arms and my lips captured once again. He pulled back slightly, "I love you Skyla."

      "Now about that hot tub," he asked with a mischievous grin.

      I opened my mouth and then closed it again, immediately remembering the bruises and most likely broken or cracked rib. I pecked his lips and gave him a smile, "Raincheck?" I seen what looked like hurt flash across his eyes, does he think I am rejecting him. "How about I just stay with you, and you can hold me till the sun comes up?"

     He smiled from ear to ear, and the hurt was gone. "Deal." He took my hand leading me back to his place. "Come on."

      We stepped back in his apartment, as he called it. He flipped the lights on and kicked his shoes off. Didn't take him long before he was sitting on the bench next to the door and helping me slide my shoes off. "Thank you." I kissed his cheek. "Now since I obviously didn't bring anything to wear, I am going to ransack your drawers."

      I tried to walk away straight, the longer I was on my feet the more pain I felt, and it seemed the only time I felt ease was when I was in his arms. It didn't take long for me to find his old football jersey and a pair of ball shorts. I never turned around making my way to the bathroom to change.

     When I returned, I was whisked away to the bed by two strong arms. We were both giggling like two fools. He laid me down on the bed and curled up beside me pulling the covers over us. Our noses were almost touching as we laid facing each other and intertwined our legs under the covers. The best part about Jaxon, was he never pushed, we both knew we weren't either one ready to take our relationship to that level, we were just kids after all, but in that moment as he kissed my nose and smiled, wrapping his arm gently around me and pulling me a little closer, there was one thing for sure I knew, I was hopelessly in love with him.

       "I love you Jaxon." I whispered as I closed my eyes.

       "I love you Skyla," he whispered back as I smiled and let the darkness consume me.