“Your birthday is tomorrow babe,” I state as I swing my legs off the dock. Sid dragged me to go fishing with him in an attempt to hide his protective ways that have developed since last night. Part of me has regrets of telling him my demons but I feel in order for us to grow as a couple, he needs to know that I’m not perfect. The other part knows that his protectiveness is going to be difficult to handle.

“What are we going to do?” Sidney just shrugs as he reels in the line just a tad. He looks so cute when he’s so focused on his fishing.

“I don’t know,” he says. “My mom said we should have a barbecue or something at their house.” Sidney sighs and brings the line in fully, placing the fishing pole on the dock before sitting next to me.

“No bites huh?” I ask, leaning onto his shoulder. He rests his head on top of mine; he smells like soap.

“Unfortunately no but that’s okay,” Sidney sighs. “ I didn’t think I’d catch anything anyway.”

“I don’t know what to get you for your birthday,” I blurt out. I have been thinking of what to get him since July and it’s driving me crazy. What do you get the man who has everything and can get anything he wants? Sidney laughs and nuzzles his chin on the top of my head, making me squeal.

“You don’t have to get me anything, Seraphina. I’m happy to just have you.” I turn my head to look up at him. Sometimes I can’t believe how handsome he is.

“Are you sure? I feel bad…”

“It’s absolutely not necessary babe. Everyone will get me shit but most likely it’ll be for my place in Pittsburgh.”

“Speaking of Pittsburgh,” I start. “What are we going to do when the season rolls around? I live in New York and you in Pittsburgh.”

“It’s not that far,” Sidney smiles, stroking my face. “I can come see you on free weekends.”

“That’s so much traveling on top of what you already do! I’m just going to miss you so much,” I whine. I didn’t think this through when we started dating—I didn’t plan on falling in love with him and yet here I am. In Halifax on the eve of his birthday, about to hang out with his family yet again.

“We’ll figure it out. I promise I love you too much to not see you,” Sid says.

“I love you too, I’m just…scared.”
“Don’t be, I promise we’ll work through it. But for now,” Sidney grabs my hands and helps us to our feet. “I think we should go find some food and watch a couple of movies,” he says grinning.

“I like that idea very much.”

---

For once in our relationship, I woke up before Sid. This is one of the few times that will happen. I snuck out of bed as quickly and quietly as I could and made my way to the kitchen. Thankfully, Sidney has baking supplies (funny for a guy who never bakes and barely live here) so I decided to make a few chocolate cupcakes and my own frosting out of confectioner’s sugar. I used some food coloring to draw on red maple leaves on the tops. I think twenty-four cupcakes is good enough. After I made those, I moved on breakfast—bacon and spinach quiche and homemade biscuits. I’m surprised Sid hasn’t woken up from all this noise.

I place two cupcakes on small plates and put a candle on top of one. I prep a plate with a decent sized slice of the quiche and two biscuits with butter and jelly on the side. Grabbing a glass, I pour orange juice in it and arrange the food on top of a breakfast tray to head up to our bedroom. Times like this make me wish Sid was one of those extravagant rich people who get elevators in their house as I struggle slightly up the stairs.

The door is cracked open so I use my hip to open it further and enter the room. Sid doesn’t stir for shit as I walk over to his side of the bed, placing the tray on the nightstand. I walk around the bed and crawl back in, snuggling my face in his neck. He lets out a soft moan before turning around.

“Good morning,” Sidney mumbles, still half asleep. His hair is a mess and at some point he took off his shirt, not that I’m complaining.

“’Morning,” I smile. “Happy birthday.” A big smile spreads across his face as he takes me into his arms.

“Thank you, baby,” he groans. “why are you up?”

“Uh, look to your right,” my voice is muffled against his chest. Sidney turns and spots the food.

“Dude, no way,” he gasps. Sidney sits up so fast and grabs the tray, placing it in his lap. “This is for me?” I roll my eyes.

“No, it’s mine and I’m just gonna eat it all in front of you. Yes silly! It’s yours.” Sidney laughs and grabs my face in his hands and kisses me. The kiss is slow and full of love, lighting my body on fire with all kinds of emotions I can't quite pin down.

“I love you, Sera.”

“You love me only when I cook for you?” I tease him. His face turns into a small frown.

“Not only that. Food is a bonus; sex is a bonus. I love you because you make me feel normal. You make me feel like I can be myself. You challenge me, maybe too much to my liking sometimes but I enjoy that. You’re so free and independent and caring and funny and beautiful and I love you even more that you opened yourself to me.” I try to look away but Sid is not having any of it.

“The amount of courage and trust it takes to tell someone some of your darkest demons is incredible. I admire and love you for that. I’ll try to be a better man for you because I love you.” I bite down on my lip to keep the tears at bay. Sidney plants a kiss on my forehead, the tip of my nose and my chin before landing at my lips.

“I must love you a lot to let you tongue kiss me before you brush your teeth,” I tease when we pull away. Sidney playfully shoves me away from him.

“Oh shut up, Sera.”

---

“We don’t have time for this Sidney,” I whine as I try to dress for his birthday barbecue but he is making it hard when he’s kissing my neck. For a walk-in closet, it feels empty and I have no doubt I can help with that. I’m standing in front of the full-length mirror in my bra and underwear trying to decide between white, satin scalloped shorts and matching off-the-shoulder top. The other option is a gray shirt dress.

“You’ll look good in either one of them,” Sid says in my ear before nibbling on the lobe. Curse him for knowing all my little spots. His hands drag up and down my bare side, eliciting a small shiver and groan from me. “I’d much rather you wear nothing.”

“Like I said, we don’t have time for this,” I roll my eyes in annoyance and then in pleasure when Sidney’s right hand finds its way in-between my legs. Looking right in the mirror, he says, “You look so fucking good right now. I’d love to watch myself make you come, just like this. Would you like that?” I try to steady my breathing to respond but his hands keep working me, drawing out a low moan.

“I would but not right now,” I huff out as I grab his hand away from my sex. I turn to face him, resisting every atom in my body yelling at me to rip his clothes off right now. “How about if we make it through this party we can dip out and you can do all kinds of dirty things with me for your present?” A very mischievous smile creeps up on his face.

“It’s a deal and I think you should wear the shorts. They make your ass look amazing.” I hit him on the arm.

“You’re so naughty!” I exclaim. Not gonna lie, I am really into that side of him. Sid shrugs.

“Only with you! I’ll let you get dressed.” Sidney kisses my cheek and leaves the closet. It is going to be a long afternoon.

Notes

Much lighter than the last chapter and shorter but I'll have another one up most likely tonight or sometime tomorrow. Thank you all for hanging in there, I know it gets frustrating and you want to know what happens next but I'm busy and writing is hard so thank you for your patience. Feel free to comment, rate and/or drop me a message!