Chapter 53
When Brian came home the following week, he had no idea what was happening. His birthday had already passed without incident, and there hadn't been any more mention from Briana about doing anything for ir. Not that he cared; it was just another day.
Brian unlocked the door and as the lights were turned on, Paul, Nadine, and Tina, along with some other friends, popped out of their hiding places.
"SURPRISE!" they yelled. "Happy birthday!"
Brian glared at the person he knew must have been responsible for this impromptu party. "Dude, my birthday was four days ago," he said to Paul.
"Stop glaring at me," Paul replied "It was your wife's idea."
"Jesus, Bree, I told you not to do anything."
"Too bad," Briana smiled, holding Bella in her arms while Brett peered out of the playpen, both smiling. "Some little ones and I thought Papa should have a party anyway."
"We all pitched in," Nadine added. "Don't you like your surprise?"
"It was very sweet of you," Brian said. "I just don't need anything fancy to remind me I'm getting older."
"Spanky," Paul said. "It's free food. You should enjoy yourself."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Brian answered, patting his best friend on the back. "Whatever you're cooking out there, Pedro, it's smelling mighty tempting."
He deposited his bags at the front door and then headed toward his favorite chair, which Paul had already parked himself.
"So, how does it feel to be a year older?" Paul asked teasingly.
"Same as last year. By the way, that's my chair where your fat ass is sitting."
"No fair, man," Paul whined. "You just walked in here while I've been busting ass with cooking. And this chair is comfy."
"It's my birthday party in my house, and that's my chair," Brian replied sticking out his tongue at him. "What are you going to do about it?"
They then lunged at each other, Brian eventually getting to his feet once Paul plopped into the chair once again. Brian's initial glare then turned to an evil smirk.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Paul asked suspiciously.
Brian simply plopped into his lap, grinning. "You won't let me have my chair back, so share with the birthday boy."
"Get off of me, you fucking pervert!" Paul demanded, pushing him.
Brian laughed, putting his arms firmly around his best friend.
"Bree! Get this insane husband of yours off of me!"
"If you two start making out, we're going to be asking a lot of questions," Tina commented.
He laughed again, this time planting a big wet kiss on Paul. "What, no kiss back for the birthday boy?" Brian teased.
"BRIAN, GET THE FUCK OFF!" Paul yelled, dislodging Brian, who fell onto the floor.
Brian howled with laughter while Paul used his shirt to wipe his own mouth quickly.
"I'm going back out to check the food after I disinfect myself," Paul said with a tone of disgust.
"Seriously, you have issues, Brian," Briana said, chuckling.
"He's an easy target," Brian grinned from his spot on the floor. "And I needed to do something to liven this party up."
"How do you put up with this man again?" Tina asked Briana.
"It's not easy," she replied, "but if nothing else, he's a great father and an excellent source of entertainment."
Later:
Paul had prepared a huge barbecue, which everyone had scarfed down with enthusiasm. While they had been eating, Paul had looked down sympathetically at the twins in their playpen.
"You poor little angels," he said. "We get all this good stuff while Mama stuck you with strained beef, a bottle of milk, and mushed up peas. Where's the justice here?"
"They're not old enough for solid food yet," Nadine reminded him.
"Don't listen to her," Paul muttered. "If you two are good and keep it a secret, I'll slip you some cake in a few."
"Dude, what are you doing to those kids?" Brian asked.
"Nothing."
"Right. Don't be sneaking them table food. They're babies, not family pets."
"Here we are!" Briana announced, bringing out an elaborate ice cream cake, complete with candles. She then kissed Brian. "Happy birthday, lover boy. Now make a wish."
"I think I already got it," he said with a dreamy smile before blowing out the candles.
"Wow, I knew Spanky was full of wind, but I never thought he was that good," Paul commented laughingly.
Everyone settled into eating their share of cake; Paul slipping ice cream portions of it to each twin.
"You should get this stuff more often," he smiled down at them, passing another spoonful of ice cream.
"Paul, what are you doing?" Briana asked, catching him in the act of feeding a small amount of ice cream to Brett.
"It's only a little bit of ice cream," he replied. "They love it. And since Papa won't share, I did."
She sighed. "If either of them gets sick, I'm sending them over to you."
Brian let out a loud belch, causing a few to jump. Nadine and Tina both made a face at him.
"What?" he asked. "Better out than in, right?"
"Jesus, Brian," Briana said, scowling. "You just burped in front of company. Have you no shame?"
"Nope," he replied, going back to his cake.
"Be thankful that didn't come from the other end," Paul replied.
"Shut up," Brian grunted, sticking his tongue out "And quit giving stuff to the babies or every shitty diaper they do is coming to your front door."
"That's it, kids," Paul said to the twins. "Birthday Papa has spoken."
That night:
"Finally, the nuts are gone and I can finally get into my bed," Brian groaned as he lay down on his side of the bed. It had been a long day and he was exhausted.
Briana had came back from the nursery, baby monitor in hand. "Poor man," she smiled softly at him. "For what it's worth, the twins are finally asleep."
"Good," he said smiling. "Hopefully there won't be any disasters tonight after Paul slipped them birthday cake."
"Doubtful," Briana said. "So far, there haven't been any effects."
"Thank God," Brian groaned softly. He wanted nothing more than to snuggle under the covers and go to sleep. "All I know it's nice to be back in a familiar bed for a few days."
Well, at least he won't be wandering his hands all over me tonight, Briana thought with a soft chuckle as she watched Brian drift off. She soon followed, all of them sleeping through the night. It had perhaps been his best birthday yet.