Hey guys! I am really sad to say that there will be no chapter tomorrow. As much as I want to write one it seems the odds are against it. I have swim practice, lifeguarding, and babysitting. But while I may be taking Sunday off, I promise to be back by Monday. Please let me know what you think and thank you for reading,
-Aislin
"I didn't tell them I was planning on-" he started on the ride to the restaurant. He still hadn't told her where they were going for dinner. "I didn't know if you would want to tell them immediately, and..." He trailed off.
"And what?" She questioned.
"Well," Toby extended every vowel to be as long as possible, "I was-"
"Could you get to the point?" She tried to hurry him along.
"What if you said no?" He sighed. "I wouldn't want them to know that."
"I wouldn't have said no," She replied.
"How was I supposed to know that?" He whined.
"Aren't you supposed to be some sort of shrink?" She pointed out.
"Fair point," He laughed. "So tell them or not tell them?"
"Why not just let them find out?" She groaned. "That way intentionally walking into a big fuss, and it can be a game of who is the most observant."
"You wanna bet on it?" He asked quickly.
"You have a real problem," she chuckled.
"No, really?" He acted shocked. "But either way, you, my love, are an enabler."
"An enabler?" she raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, and I am grateful every day for it," He informed her. "So who are you betting on?"
"Paige," She answered immediately. It would obviously be Paige she thought. Paige was the only person who would be wanting to know everything about her day and all the presents that she had received. Paige would surely be paying more attention to Happy than everyone else.
"Logical choice," He states. "I think Sly."
"Why him?"
"Well if I told you, you would change your mind," He laughed. "So what are be betting on?"
"Winner gets to choose," She decided.
"Worked out for me last time."
"You really chose Kovelsky's as the surprise location for my birthday dinner?" She laughed harder than she had all day. "Toby, we are here 4 times a week on average. What part of this is a surprise?"
"Well, you like it here," Toby explained.
"It's not exactly a surprise though is it?," She laughed, "We are the people keeping this place in business."
"It's your favorite," He tried.
"We only go one place," She continued to laugh at his plan, "It has to be my favorite."
"Ok, Ok," He accepted. "Could you stop laughing at me?"
"But it is among my favorite pastimes," She whined.
"Well you have forever to laugh at me," He lamented taking her hand.
"Nope," She disagreed.
"What? You're breaking off our engagement already? Well this was short even for me," He sighed dramatically.
"People don't have forever. It's unrealistic," She explained. "It is just more correct for you to say lifespan."
"Happy Birthday," the team chanted as they entered the restaurant. They were all sitting at a long table. There were two spots open for Toby and Happy. They were the only people in the restaurant.
After celebrating their arrival, the team quickly went back to debating some advanced topic that Paige did not participate in. Though Happy became an active member in the discussion, Paige kept trying to bait her out by talking about her day. The ring was so small and simple that no one had noticed yet.
"So, what did you think of the dress I got you?" Paige tried.
"It's fine," Happy dismissed.
"You could wear it to that Homeland Party we have coming up," Paige suggested.
"I could," she didn't give Paige any leeway.
"So what did the rest of the team get you?" Paige prompted.
"Stuff," Happy was cold and ungiving as per usual.
"Did you like the stuff?" The team had started to tune into the conversation between the girls.
"Of course," She sighed.
"Why don't you tell us about your day?" Paige asked.
"Do I have to?" Happy groaned.
"Why don't you want to tell us?" Ralph questioned innocently.
"Well, Ralph," She started. "While I had a great day, I'd rather spend my time with you all in the present as opposed to the past."
"That seems fair," Walter affirmed.
"No," Paige overruled. "Even though you two," she gestured to Happy and Walter, "are robots. The rest of us want to hear about your day. We tried to give you a special day, and we want to know what you thought of it."
"So, what did you think of my gift?" Sylvester asked nervously.
Before Happy could respond they continued to fire questioned at her.
"Did you like the part?"
"What about where I hid mine?"
"What was your favorite gift?"
"Why are you wearing that ring?" Ralph finally questioned.
"Damnit!" She yelled.
"I thought I would win," Toby whined.
"So did I," Happy sighed. "Who would've thought?"
"We were wrong," Toby finished. He dramatically placed his head and his hands.
"Ring?" Walter questioned.
"You guys are getting married?" Paige squealed. It was only chaos from there onwards.
"That was exhausting," She complained sleepily. He was just parking the car in driveway before they went in. They had only been at dinner for two hours but it had felt like a lifetime. The team had relentlessly asked questions, and they hadn't stopped. Finally, Happy had told them she was leaving. She could only be so social in a day before she felt tired.
"We could stay home tomorrow," He suggested. Unlike her, he was wide awake. Though it wasn't his birthday, he did not want this day to end. It was arguably the best day of his life.
"And do what?" Even half awake she was argumentative and sarcastic. He laughed to himself at how easily her personality came through.
"Sleep," he answered.
"All day?" She questioned yawning and starting to stretch as he opened his door.
"Why not?" He laughed walking around to her side of the car. He opened her door quickly and quietly before picking her up.
"I have legs," she snapped while curling into him. Happy Quinn was the queen of mixed signals. She was the kind of girl who told you she hated you in between kisses.
"It's your birthday. You get a free pass," He explained.
"You say that alot," She informed him.
"Maybe I just like carrying you around."