I groaned the minute my brother suggested I join the party his boss always threw after they wrapped up another high-profile mission. As I stacked my new book series onto the shelf, I pinched my phone between my ear and shoulder, sighing when Jake said there was a "surprise" waiting for me.
From his tone, I knew better than to refuse. "Fine, but you're going to be my chauffeur," I grumbled sarcastically.
Jake laughed, his usual warmth seeping through the phone. "Of course, monkey. I'll pick you up at seven."
The nickname still made me roll my eyes after all these years. It didn't matter how many missions Jake went on or how high up he climbed in Damien's organization, and he'd never stop calling me a monkey. Ten years had passed since the chaos that nearly broke me, but we'd grown closer since then. Closer to each other and Damien and his team.
By seven, I was dressed in a simple black dress, not too fancy but enough to blend in. Jake would've never let me live it down if I showed up in jeans. I didn't mind the parties anymore. Damien always made sure I felt welcome, and his crew treated me like one of their own.
When Jake's car pulled up outside, I stepped into the cool night air, locking my house behind me. Jake honked, and I waved him off with a grin as I slid into the passenger seat.
"Looking good, sis," Jake teased, nudging me with his elbow.
"Don't get used to it," I shot back, fastening my seatbelt.
The drive to Damien's mansion was filled with easy chatter. Jake caught me up on the latest mission he and the team had finished. He was careful with the details. He knew I didn't need to know every danger they faced but I could tell from the pride in his voice that it had been a big one. Damien's crew had grown bigger over the years, but the core team remained the same.
By the time we pulled up to the sprawling mansion, I was feeling more relaxed. The mansion had sleek lines and a modern design, which is a testament to Damien's success. As we stepped inside, I was greeted by the familiar hum of laughter, clinking glasses, and music. The air was filled with a celebratory energy.
Jake led me through the crowd, stopping every few feet to introduce me to someone or catch up with an old friend. I spotted Oscar near the back, surrounded by his usual circle. His dark eyes lit up when he saw me, and he waved me over.
"Emily!" he called, his voice booming over the noise. He wrapped me in a warm hug. "Look at you being all successful and forgetting about us, smallfolk!"
I smiled, genuinely happy to see him in his usual dramatic self. "Well, it's one of the perks I enjoy. Getting to ignore you."
Oscar gasped in mock horror, clutching his chest. "Did I ever tell you your sister is a little bitch?" he asked Jake with a mischievous grin.
Jake rolled his eyes. "Dude, stop picking fights with my sister."
"This isn't fair," Oscar groaned, still grinning as he looked between us. "You always defend her."
"Well, considering I'm the grown-up one here," I said with a teasing smile, "it's only natural he defends me."
Jake swung his arm around my shoulders, laughing. "Yeah, yeah, let's see if you still say that after three beers. I still have that video on my phone, you know."
I froze, eyes narrowing. "Wait… you still have that?"
Oscar burst out laughing, clapping his hands together. "Of course he does. It's a classic. You're doing your 'I'm-so-sophisticated' speech right before falling off your chair? Iconic."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "I was drunk! It shouldn't count."
Jake grinned, pulling out his phone and holding it up teasingly. "Oh, it counts. I should start making people see it."
"Jake, don't you dare!" I lunged for his phone, but he's taller than me, laughing like a kid who'd just won a lottery seeeing me jumping in vain.
"Too late!" he teased, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. "I'm saving it for the right moment."
Oscar smirked, leaning closer to me. "You'd better be careful. I bet he's gonna use it as blackmail one day."
I shot Jake a glare, though I couldn't help but laugh. "You're both evil."
"Hey, that's family for you," Jake said, grinning. He squeezed my shoulder. "But seriously, it's good to see you here. You've been so buried in your writing, I thought we'd lost you to the literary world forever."
"Yeah, well," I said, smiling softly, "I needed a break. And besides, someone promised me a surprise."
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "Ooh, what kind of surprise? Does it involve embarrassing childhood stories? Because I've got a few."
Jake shook his head, his grin widening. "Nope, not this time. This one's a bit more… special."
I glanced between them, suspicious now. "You two are up to something, aren't you?"
Jake and Oscar exchanged a knowing look, but neither said a word. Instead, Jake just winked at me, pulling me further into the party. "You'll find out soon enough."
As we moved deeper into the crowd, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Being here with Jake and Oscar, teasing each other like we always had, reminded me how lucky I was to have them in my life. No matter how crazy things got with my novel or how isolated I felt sometimes, I could always count on them to pull me back into the real world.
But as much as I enjoyed the banter, a small part of me couldn't shake the feeling that whatever Jake had planned, it was going to be more than just a surprise party.
After I grabbed my beer, I spotted Ethan across the room. Dressed sharply, as always, he stood out in the crowd. His usual calm, confident demeanor was on full display as he chatted with a couple of the guys from Jake's team. But there was something different this time. He caught my eye, and before I could even wave, he broke into a grin and started walking toward me.
Not because of me, though. His eyes were locked on Jake.
"Hey, babe," Ethan greeted Jake with a kiss on the cheek before turning to me. "Emily, it's good to see you again."
"Good to see you too, Ethan," I replied with a smile. Ethan had become a fixture in our lives over the past few years, not just as Jake's boyfriend but as someone who fit seamlessly into Damien's circle. His background in law had come in handy more than once when things got tricky, but beyond that, he was family.
Jake threw an arm around Ethan's shoulders. "Told you she'd come."
I rolled my eyes at them. "Yeah, yeah, don't get too smug about it."
We chatted for a few minutes, catching up on the little things. It was easy with them; there was no pressure or need for small talk. They made a good pair, balancing each other out.
Just then, Damien and his wife, Isabelle, appeared beside us, clapping a hand on Jake's shoulder. "Finally managed to get your sister out of her cave, I see," she teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Dude, I'm right here,"
"Well, it took a little bit of kicking and screaming, but I managed," Jake replied with a grin.
"Good," Damien chuckled, turning to me. "You doing alright, Emily? It's been a while since you've come around."
"I'm good," I said, smiling. "Busy, but good."
"Glad to hear it. You're part of this family. Don't forget that," Isabelle added warmly. "I also wondered when the next series will drop?"
I sighed. "The book is ready, but my editor is trying to screw me over just because he doesn't like the ending,"
"Well, you know what I say,"
"Who cares!" We said at the same time and laughed together.
"I trust your version better than whatever your editor wanted you to write," She added.
"I know. It just sucks that everything had to be delayed because of him."
I was about to take another sip of my drink when the lights suddenly dimmed, and the room fell into a hushed silence. I frowned, glancing around. Something felt off. Then, I heard the unmistakable sound of champagne bottles popping and a faint, familiar melody playing in the background.
My heart skipped a beat as a slow murmur rose from the crowd. Before I could figure out what was happening, the back doors to the garden swung open, revealing a scene straight out of a dream. The entire garden had been transformed into a wonderland of roses. Thousands of them—vivid reds, pinks, and whites—lined every path, draped over trellises, and filled massive vases scattered throughout the space. And in the center of it all was a table covered in what looked like the most extravagant birthday cake I had ever seen.
"Surprise!" Jake's voice rang out from behind me, and the entire room erupted in applause.
I froze, my brain struggling to process what was happening. Birthday? My birthday? The truth hit me like a ton of bricks. I forgot my own birthday.
Jake walked up beside me, laughing at the dumbfounded expression on my face. "You really didn't remember, did you?"
"I—" I blinked, still in shock. "No! I—how could I forget?"
"Right," Jake said with a grin, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You're so busy with your books, you forget the most important day of the year."
Damien strode over, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Happy birthday, Emily."
I glanced around, realizing that everyone had been in on it—everyone except me. The extravagant party, the roses, the champagne... all of it was for me. I laughed, the absurdity of it all finally sinking in.
"Thank you," I said, my voice softer than I expected. "I seriously had no idea."
Jake hugged me tightly. "That's why we did this. You deserve to be celebrated."
And then, just as I thought the surprises were over, fireworks exploded in the sky above us, showering the night with brilliant colors. The crowd cheered, glasses raised, and I stood there, surrounded by friends, family, and more roses than I could count, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
It wasn't just about the birthday or the surprise. It was the reminder that, after everything, I had people who cared. People who would go out of their way to remind me I wasn't alone.
*~*
The drive home from the party was quieter than usual, though not in an uncomfortable way. The sound of the car's engine hummed softly beneath us as I stared out the window, replaying the night over and over. The roses, the fireworks, the overwhelming love from everyone, it was all still sinking in. I hadn't realized how much I needed something like that, a reminder that I wasn't as forgotten as I sometimes let myself feel.
Jake glanced over at me, a faint smile on his lips. "You okay?"
I nodded, smiling back at him. "Yeah. I'm more than okay. Just a little drunk, maybe,"
"Good," he said softly. "You deserve it, you know."
I leaned my head against the window, watching the streetlights blur into streaks of light as we drove. Jake didn't push for more conversation, and I was grateful for that. The night had been perfect, but I was emotionally drained. By the time we pulled up to my driveway, I was ready to collapse.
Jake parked and turned to me. "You need help getting inside?"
I shook my head. "I think I've got it. Thanks for everything, Jake."
He smiled, ruffling my hair like he used to when we were kids. "Anytime, monkey. Get some rest, okay? Love you, sis,"
I laughed softly, pushing his hand away, then stepped out of the car. As I made my way up to my house, the warmth of the night's events clung to me. By the time I kicked off my shoes and crawled into bed, I didn't even bother changing.