We heard from the back, "Will do! Don't make babies."
Mason shuddered underneath me. I remembered the look on his face when I told him I was late for work and giggled. He slapped my butt again. "That wasn't funny. I aged an entire year that day."
Serves him right after this. "Come on, let me go. Please."
"Nope." And he didn't, not when he marched to his car and put me inside. He even strapped my seat belt on and off when we turned into the driveway to Nate's home. When he stopped the car and rounded to my side, I jumped out before he could grab me. I started to run for the door, but it didn't matter. Mason had me in two steps, and I was slung back over his shoulder.
"Mason! This is enough."
"Logan said to carry you home so I have to carry you home. He's very excited for something."
"For pizza?"
Mason shrugged underneath me. His arm tightened around my legs as he walked over the front patio. "I have no idea. You know him. The stupidest ideas are adventures to him."
"But—"
But then he shoved the door open and swung around. A chorus burst out, "SURPRISE!" And my mouth fell open as I lifted my head to gape at the crowd in the center area.
Logan was in front with his arms outstretched. "Happy birthday, Sam!"
Becky waved from behind him. "It's a week early, isn't it?"
"Oh my god!" I pounded Mason on the back. He chuckled as he flipped me back in his arms, and then lowered me to the ground. All the blood had rushed to my head so he kept me against his chest. His hands held me by my hips, but I could only look at the group they assembled.
Becky and Raz, who had a glazed look in his eyes.
Adam. He grinned and gave me a small wave. "Can you believe they even invited me?"
I grinned but looked around some more. I relaxed as I saw most of the Academy Elite hadn't been invited, but Mark had been. I tensed a bit, just a bit, at the reminder that he thought his mom was going to marry David sooner rather than later. But then I tensed even more. They could've gotten married by now. David and my mom had been divorced, for…I wasn't sure. I hadn't asked either of them about the divorce. I didn't want to know.
Mark nodded his head towards me. "Hiya, Sam. I asked to tag along. I hope that's okay with you."
"Sure…" It wasn't like we were family…or were we? Was David still family to me? I wasn't sure anymore.
Then Lily gave me an excited wave with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Surprise! I bet you thought you didn't have to deal with me, but nope. Here I am. It's my night off and I'm ready for some birthday cake."
"You're welcome to my piece." Then I leaned back and asked, "Did Logan get cake?"
Mason's hand tightened around my hips. His thumbs started to rub up and down. "Of course. A birthday party without cake is a crime to Logan."
"Oh."
He grinned down at me. "You don't like cake?"
I shrugged. "It's an acquired taste."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretend to eat a piece for him. I think he made it from scratch."
"I'll eat two pieces."
"Happy birthday, Sam," Nate called out as he started over.
"Hell no! I get her first." Logan shot forward and plucked me from his brother. He threw me over his shoulder and turned back to the group. "Everyone gets to spank her except Mason. He does that all the time."
He bounded to the kitchen and I looked up in time to see Nate and Mason share a grin, both shaking their heads. As Nate lifted a hand to put on Mason's shoulder, Logan turned the corner. I couldn't see anymore, but he deposited me in a stool at the counter. A large white cake sat in front of me with eighteen candles on top. None of them had been lighted, but then I peered closer.
"Logan!"
"What?" He'd been waiting for my reaction, brimming with excitement. "Don't you like it?"
Those candles didn't look right. "Tell me those are not joints." Please tell me they aren't.
He started laughing. As he continued, the laughing got louder and louder. Then Becky's boyfriend bounced to the cake and pulled them out. He wiped each clean and put them back in a baggie as he gave me a sheepish look. "He thought it'd be funny." He looked like he had more to say, but then he smiled and snuck back to Becky's side.
"I'm sorry," she murmured.
Logan was still laughing. "That would've been awesome."
"Too bad you haven't gotten tested for basketball season yet," Nate noted as he and Mason rounded to the other side of the counter.
A wistful sigh left Logan. "Tell me about it."
Nate flashed him a grin and for a moment, I didn't see the tension between the two anymore. What had changed? When I caught Mason's gaze, I made a mental note to ask him, but was distracted as he gave me a heated look, dark promises in his depths.
My eyes widened. A jolt of desire burst through me, and I clenched my legs together. It was my birthday party. A private party would have to wait a few hours. I licked my lips as I thought about it.
He smirked back at me, our gazes locked together.
Then Nate spoke up, "This is also a farewell party too, a small one. Since you three are moving back home."
Logan's smirk turned smug.
And I knew why the tension had been lifted between the two. Mason was now home, with Logan and me. Nate couldn't move in with us. Though, I bet he would've.