-1Chapter 27
I knotted the silky materiel, pulling tightly to make sure she couldn't see her surroundings. I led her to my jeep and held open the door, taking her hand in mine; I help her inside and close the door behind her. Once I am in the driver's seat she lets a nervous laugh escape her lips.
"Alex where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, why do you think I'm blindfolding you?" She giggles and looks away. "What are you laughing at?" I ask her.
"I was just thinking about the last time you blindfolded me."
"Yeah well that was fun too but it's not that kind of surprise."
"So what is it?"
"I'm not gonna tell you."
"Fine."
She is quiet the rest of the drive. I take the long way around, making a few unnecessary turns just in case she has been paying attention. I want her to be truly surprised.
"We're here." I tell her, she doesn't respond. "Iz?"
I hope she hasn't figured out where we are.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about things."
"Like what things?"
"Just nerves, it's nothing."
"Oh, okay. Do you want to see your surprise?"
"You know how much I love surprises."
"Yeah, I remember."
I get out of the car, telling her to wait for me to help her. I lead her up the steps and onto the porch. I push open the door after unlocking it and take her to the kitchen.
"Wait right here."
"Alex where are you going?"
"Don't worry I'm not leaving you, just stepping away for a second. Trust me."
"I do trust you."
On the counter I have placed a cake. I light one candle in the middle and step behind her to undo the knot on the blindfold. As I slip the blindfold down I whisper lightly in her ear.
"Happy Birthday Iz."
She gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. The lights are dim and the candle bathes the kitchen in a soft yellow glow.
"How did you…." Her eyes scan the kitchen and she realizes where I have taken her. "Alex, what did you do?"
"I bought it, for you."
"What?" She turns to face me, her mouth opens but nothing comes out at first. "I can't….It's too much."
"Iz, I wanted you to have this. It's your dream house. I understand that you feel awkward accepting it and that's fine. I knew you would feel that way, but I didn't want you to have to settle later for a house you didn't want. I'm going to live here Izzie and in a few years when you decide you want to buy a house, you won't have to because you can have this one."
"Alex it's a lot of money." She shakes her head.
"Izzie, I don't care about the money."
"Are you kidding?"
"No, I sold my mothers house after she died. I never wanted the place; it held too many bad memories. My sister wanted nothing to do with it so I sold it and put the money in the bank."
"Alex, I'm sorry I didn't know about your mother."
"It's been a while."
"You should do something else with that money."
"This is what I want to do with it."
"I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll at least consider it."
I can tell she is struggling with the answer by the way she is biting at her lip and twisting her fingers together.
"I'll think about it."
"Good, now will you blow out the candle already before it's gone?"
I can feel butterflies in my stomach as she smiles at me and returns to the cake on the counter. Her eyes close and she leans in, pursing her lips together she blows out the candle leaving us standing closely in the darkness of the room.
"You're the only one who remembered." It comes out barley above a whisper, but I hear it.
"No one?" I ask her, I'm sure that someone else must've remembered her birthday.
"Not even Mark, I haven't heard from him since he left."
"He hasn't called you? Not even today?"
"No, I'm sure he's just busy….it really is fine Alex."
"No, it's not fine Izzie. You deserve more."
She is silent and at first I think I might've pissed her off, and then I hear her sniffle.
"Thank you Alex." She is trying to cover up the fact that she is crying, I know her too well to fall for it. "I love the cake."
I reach to the far left, flipping on the light switch. I stare at the back of her head, waiting for her to look at me. She sighs deeply, her fingers brushing under her eyes to wipe the tears away. She turns slightly and I decide to drop it for now, I do believe that she deserves much more than Mark Sloan can give her but I just don't have it in me right now to continue this conversation.
"Do you want a piece of cake?" I ask her.
"Did you make it?"
"I did bake it, yes."
She smiles and picks the knife off the marble countertop, cutting a big slice and placing it on the paper plate.
"Do you have a fork?"
"I have one fork."
"Just one, how are you going to have any?"
"I'm not."
"I could share my fork with you, for a price."
A huge grin breaks out across her face, I try not to smile back but I just can't hold it in when I'm around her.
"I just bought you a house, doesn't that count?"
"Nope. I don't want money."
"Sexual favors?" I ask with a wink and a smirk.
"No, I want you to take the first bite."
"I promise it's edible." I tell her.
"We'll see."
She stabs the corner of the fluffy concoction with the fork, then holds it out for me to taste. My mouth opens slightly as she places the first bite on my tongue. It's not bad, for a beginner. I have never made a cake before and I have to tell you how impressed I am with the turn out.
"How is it?" She asks me, I reply by scooping some frosting with my index finger and wiping it across her closed mouth.
"Try some." I smirk at her and her jaw drops.
"I can't believe you just did that."
She tips the plate up, the frosting covering me as she rubs it against my face. She drops the plate on the floor and I take a quick step towards her, she screams playfully and tries to get out of my reach. Too late I grab her waist, she backs against the wall and I pin my body against hers holding her there so I can wipe more frosting along her jaw line with my hand.
"Alex!" We are both laughing, she squirms against my body and I can feel my erection starting to grow. She can feel it too, I can tell because her body has stilled and she bites her lip. Our eyes lock together, inching closer with every breath.
The taste of the frosting on her lips is sweet and her tongue darts out, mixing with mine as we kiss. The palm of my hand cups her breast and she sucks in a deep breath. Her nipple is rock hard against my thumb, as it rubs the outside of her shirt. Holy fuck I can't think straight, I just want to be buried deep inside of her but it's something I can't allow to happen, not like this. Her warm fingers reach under my shirt, nails softly scraping against my skin. I pull back and take a full step away from her, breaking all contact.
"What are we doing?" I ask.
"I ….I think I should go."
"Izzie, you don't have to…."
"I think I do, I'm getting married Alex."
I sigh; this is something that crushes me every time I hear it said out loud.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you getting married Izzie?"
"I…I….because." She stammers and it instantly annoys me that she doesn't have an answer to something so important.
"Seriously that's your answer?" My god shut up, you are fucking everything up! "I just don't understand how you can marry a guy like that. He doesn't even remember your birthday! You are just settling for someone that could obviously care less about you!"
She tries to walk away, she is almost at the door when I ask her one question too many.
"Why the fuck are you going to marry him Izzie?" I yell.
She spins around quickly; her eyes are filled with tears.
"Because you left!" She yells it so loudly she startles herself.
"Iz?" Her eyes drop to the floor, she can't even look at me.
"Can you just take me home please, I want to go home."
I don't want to fight with her, I want to hold her but I know there is no chance of that now. I pushed too hard and she probably hates me for it. I pull the keys out of my pocket, promising to shut my big stupid mouth on the drive back to Meredith's. She doesn't speak or look at me once; her eyes are blankly staring out the window as I bring her home. As I pull into the driveway she opens the door, running to the house and slamming the passenger side door behind her without a word or a glance. I'm a fucking Idiot!