Chapter 25
"So… I asked him out." I told Quil. I was sitting by his bed in the hospital, and I'd been there for almost the past 3 hours. Embry had stayed for a few minutes, but he had to run off because of a call from Sam.
"Wow." Quil said, looking surprised. "That's something new. Also explains why he was in such a good mood today. When's the date?"
"Saturday. I asked him to the school dance."
Quil looked like he was going to laugh.
"A school dance? Seriously?" He asked chuckling.
"Yeah. What's wrong with a school dance?" I asked defensively.
"Well, it's just…..Goes to show he really would do anything for you, Cherry."
"Oh, shut up." I snapped. "Like you wouldn't watch a Barbie movie if Claire asked you to."
Quil went slightly red, and I laughed in surprise.
"Oh my god! You have watched Barbie movies with her!"
"Shut up! Not Barbie! I think I watched Sesame Street with her once or twice, but that's it!"
I smiled, but I turned a little serious again.
"So, I still haven't figured out what to get him for his birthday." I said. "It's tomorrow, and I don't even have any time left to shop."
"Wow. Way to leave things to the last minute, Cherry."
"Shut up! It's not like you got him anything!"
"I'm in the hospital. I have an excuse."
"Very funny." I snapped. "Honestly, Quil, I need some serious advice."
"Well, you could always just kiss him. I'm sure he'd like that."
"Quil!"
…..x….x….x….x….x….x
I was feeling an odd happiness when I made my way up the stairs of Embry's front porch. I knew he wouldn't be expecting it. I glanced at my watch. It was 11:55 pm. Perfect timing. I knocked on the door, knowing he would be up.
The door opened, and Embry broke into a smile when he saw me.
"Wow." He said, looking at me. "I thought you'd forgotten."
I rolled my eyes, smiling at him.
"Of course I didn't forget." I said, grinning. "It's your birthday, Embry."
"Not for another 5 minutes."
"I know. Quil says he's really sorry he couldn't be here." I said, smiling. "But he wanted me to wish you happy birthday. He said he'd call."
"And I guess it's too much to expect Jake to come?"
My smile drooped a little.
"Maybe he'll turn up." I offered weakly, but I think we both knew that he wasn't coming tonight.
"Yeah." Embry said. "So do you want to come in? Or are you going to stand on the front porch and freeze all night?"
I shrugged, smiling as I walked into the house.
"Let's hurry up." I said, holding up the huge tray in my hands that was covered with a lid. "We don't have a lot of time."
"Yup." He said. "Here, let me carry it."
He carefully took the tray from me, and we went into the kitchen, putting it down on the dining table. I fished around the kitchen drawers, and managed to find a knife. I went to join Embry, who was staring wide-eyed at the cake.
"Wow." He said. "Did you make that?"
"Of course I made it." I said, trying not to sound smug. "I make cake every time one of you has a birthday."
"Yeah, but you've never made one like that."
Okay. So I'm not going to act modest. The cake looked amazing, and I knew it. It should. I'd spent the last 4 hours perfecting it. And even though I usually put in a lot of effort for birthday cakes, I'd never wanted to make a perfect one as badly as now.
"It took some effort." I admitted.
Embry smiled at me, and took my hand in his. I couldn't help but blush a little bit as he sat down in front of the cake, and pulled me down on a chair beside him.
"It looks amazing, Cherry." He said softly, still looking at me intensely. "Thank you."
"Come on!" I said, trying to ignore the blush that was creeping further up my cheeks as I glanced at my watch. "Time for the countdown."
There was exactly one minute left for midnight, and we stared at the watch in silence. Embry was peeking at it over my shoulder, and I could feel a little of his warm breath grazing the side of my cheek. When it came down to the last 10 seconds, we counted out loud together, in low voices.
"3….2…..1!" I whispered, turning to Embry. "Come on!"
Embry smiled at me, keeping one of his hands in mine, while the other reached for the knife. He carefully cut a small piece of the cake out and picked it up it between his fingers.
"Open wide!" he said with a grin, and I let him put the cake in my mouth.
"Crap." I muttered, as I swallowed it. "It didn't come out as good as I thought it would."
Embry shrugged, and started to put another piece in his own mouth. I took it from him and did it myself, my fingers gently grazing against his warm lips. My hand hovered in front of his face as he chewed thoughtfully.
"What are you talking about? It tastes amazing!" he protested. "I mean, you made it. It has to taste amazing."
"Thanks." I said with a smile, a little embarrassed.
Embry didn't respond, but just gave the hand that was still in mine a little squeeze.
"I couldn't figure out what to get you." I admitted, feeling a little upset.
"You don't need to get me anything."
"I know, but I still feel bad."
"Don't." He said softly.
I'm not exactly sure what was running through my mind. But I knew that I wanted him closer, and I placed my other hand on his cheek. He looked surprised, but he didn't move. His eyes just stared down into mine.
"Happy Birthday, Embry." I mumbled. And then I leaned in and did what I'd been wanting to do for a pretty long time. I pressed my lips to his.
…..x…x…x…x…x…..x…x…
The kiss didn't last long, but it was exactly what I wanted. And apparently it was what he wanted too, because he had a pretty big smile on his face.
"Cherry, I-" He began, but he was cut off by his phone ringing. "Um, one minute."
He answered his phone, and I couldn't help but smile as I heard him speak to someone over the line. At least they'd called after the kiss was over. I probably would have been pretty pissed off if they'd interrupted something.
"Quil?" I asked, once Embry had hung up the phone.
"Yeah. He wanted to wish me happy birthday." Embry explained, with a shrug. "But honestly, Cherry, I need to-"
"What are you kids doing down here so late?" a slightly irritated voice asked. We both turned to the doorway, and saw Mrs. Call standing there. Before either of us could explain, though, she noticed the cake, and her expression changed. "Oh, goodness! I almost forgot! Happy Birthday, honey."
Embry smiled.
"Thanks, mom."
"Wow, Cherry, did you make that cake?" She asked me. "It looks amazing."
I smiled. This was amazing.