Page 135 of On Her Team
The doorbell rings again.
“And now?”
“Still don’t hear anything.”
“Gage, sweetheart, you need to answer the door.”
He sighs. “Is this part of your surprise?”
“Yep.”
“Fine.” He whirls around toward the door. “But I’m kicking my teammates out in an hour. We have a celebration to attend.”
“Deal. We’ll kick yourteammatesout in an hour.”
He sets me on my feet before opening the door. Mila barges inside. “I need to pee.”
Mom sighs. “I told you to use the restroom at the airport.”
“I didn’t need to go then.”
Mila hops from foot to foot. I point down the hallway. “Bathroom’s first door on the right.” She rockets toward it.
Mom frowns after her. “I apologize now for the mess she’s going to make.”
Gage’s mouth gapes open. “What’s happening?”
“Happy birthday! Surprise!” Otis shouts.
“Yeah, surprise.” Penelope holds up her e-reader. “Where can I plug this in?”
I wrap my arm around Gage’s waist. “I flew our family in for your birthday to surprise you.”
He scowls. “I’m paying you for the tickets.”
“Nope. This is your birthday surprise.”
“I thought you moving in was my birthday surprise.”
“It’s your thirtieth birthday. You get more than one surprise.”
He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s getting more than one surprise every year from now on. He’s lived through twenty-nine years without a family to celebrate his birthday. I have a lot to make up for.
A door bangs open. “There’s cake!”
Mom sighs. “We better eat the cake before someone steals all the frosting.”
“I don’t steal frosting.” Mila grins, showing off her teeth coated with chocolate frosting.
Mom hurries after her. Otis and Penelope trail behind her.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper to Gage. “I made another cake for the two of us.”
His eyes flare. “I can’t wait to lick chocolate frosting off your naked body later.”
I shudder. “It’ll have to be much later. Mom and the kids are staying for the weekend to watch your game on Sunday.”
“It’s a good thing I soundproofed your studio.”
