❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

╰┈➤ 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 next to nothing at home, I couldn't bake a cake or muffins. Therefore a single candle had to be used, which I lit and placed on the table. My brother was sleeping on the sofa and I gently shook him awake. I beamed at him as soon as he opened his eyes. It was our first twin birthday together. And it would probably be the nicest I've ever had. In the last few years, the joy had faded more and more and my own birthday was just a normal day. A day that was even somehow sadder than the others. Not this time.

"Happy Birthday!!!" I almost screamed and hugged him, no matter if he was still half lying on the sofa. He laughed and hugged me tight, kissing my hairline. "You too, favorite sister."
"You only have one." He nodded.
"Yes, that's why. I don't want anyone else."

I beamed a little more in front of me and hugged him at least as tightly to me. It felt like we had never been apart. And I think very early on in our childhood we weren't either. We just couldn't remember. "Oh and here." I freed myself from his grip and held out the candle, which he blew out in amusement.
"It was for both of us," he corrected.
"Of course," I replied, nodding and sitting down next to him.

"The others forgot our birthday. I asked them if they were free, but Sarah has to look after her sister, Meggi left the island with Topper, Pope has to study, Kiara has to help out in the restaurant and JJ's cell phone is off." I sighed and leaned into him and he wrapped an arm around me.

"Wow, that's intense. Then let's just have a nice day together, shall we?" I tickled him a little. "Something like that! Let's go."

My brother took the keys to the Pogue, pocketed a few dollars from his piggy bank, and walked me across the dock to our boat. I untied it and sat on the edge as soon as he started the engine. The water was clear and the sun was reflected in it, giving the whole thing an orange-yellow touch. It was wonderful. Like Mom painted the day for us.

My brother greeted the few people who came towards us with their own boats and they were all happy to see him. About fifteen minutes into the ride, I tied the boat back to a jetty and jumped to the other side.
"Do you have everything?" I asked him.
"Yep, standing right in front of me."

I grinned and nudged his side again, which made him laugh. He put his backpack on and I linked my arm with him. With our sunglasses, we kept our partner look and were the first to enter a small bakery. The saleswoman actually wanted twenty dollars for ten muffins and a small cake. However, after I told her that it was both our birthdays today and blinked with my eyes, we were given the muffins and only paid eight dollars for the cake.

"How did you do that?" My brother looked at me in amazement as we stood outside the store with the baked goods in a box. "Just looking beautiful. I think she's into me now." I shrugged confidently. "But she knew herself that those were Kook prizes."

I nodded towards the box. "The main thing is that we have our cake now!"
"I agree," he replied. "Do we need anything else?"
I considered. "A dog?"

He cocked his head and looked at me sharply. "Well the whole fridge is still full of beer and water, if that's what you mean," I added innocently, mimicking the expression I'd gave that saleswoman. John B grinned knowingly. "Next year. I promise."

I barely noticed a smile on my face and tried not to drop the baked goods. "Okay," I agreed before we walked back to our boat, stowed the things away and drove to a secluded beach.

When I checked my cell phone, I still didn't find a message from the others. How strange was that? I just hoped they were okay. With some music we layed der on the boat and ate some muffins. They tasted way better than I expected. "I hope Dad will be here next year too." Smiling, I took his free hand.

"Of course. He'll be back. I can't wait to meet him." My brother squeezed my hand and slid a little closer to me.
"Hey, these taste even better than mine."

I gave him a look in disbelief.
"Why do I know you've never baked any, huh?" "Yes... caught."
"We'll catch up on that," I assured him. "Like a lot of other things."
After my second muffin I was already full, while he was halfway through the cake. "Something other than fish, huh?"
"Nothing comes close to cake," he defended himself, and I dozed off with my eyes closed and my stomach full.

: ̗̀➛

I must have fallen asleep because when my brother woke me up, the sun was about to set. I rubbed my eyes and sat down. I took off the sunglasses. From his wet hair I concluded that he had been swimming in the meantime.
"Time flies damn fast these days," he said and sat down next to me. Leaning on each other's heads, we watched the sunset until dusk fell and we had to hurry back. The boat had no light and without it we wouldn't see anything. I checked my phone for the last time, but all I got was a notification that Pinterest had found new images for me. Ouch. But as long as they were birthday pictures, I'd let it go.

"Tie it tighter this time. There's a storm tonight." I grumbled in understanding and pulled it tight on our home dock. John B gave me the box and then got out of the boat himself. Only when we were a little closer to our hut did I realize that the fairy lights in front of it were on.
"Did you forget to turn them off yesterday?"
"Can't remember." Concern slowly came over his face. I swallowed hard.

"You think that's the guys who tried to shot us the other day? Because if they are, all I can do in defense is smack the remaining muffins in their faces. The gun's inside under my pillow."
He stopped before we turned the corner. His facial expression was priceless.

"You're not seriously sleeping with a revolver under your pillow? Did JJ told you to that, or are you guys spending to much time together?" I pressed my lips together in laughter to keep the sound out, which was a lot harder than I thought. He shook his head with a sigh and just quietly walked forward. I almost bit the box from laughing and trotted after him in a hurry. Then laughed even more because I had the idea that I was acting like a dog following its owner.

In addition to the fairy lights, the hot tub was on and glowing. If he had been there this morning I would have noticed. "You think-" I started, but was interrupted by a surprise shout and five people jumping out of the bushes. I jumped, startled, and cried out briefly. My heart was pounding like crazy.
JJ sighed with laughter. "I didn't know that it's so easy to make you scream, Emma."

"Congratulations, you fell for it. I was just trying to pretend I didn't know it was you," I replied quick-wittedly, pointing to Sarah, Meggi, Pope and Kiara. Thank God I hadn't dropped the box with the cake.

"You really thought so, we forgot your birthday?" Kiara demanded, taking the box from me. "Uhhh... yeah." My brother nodded for clarification.

Sarah grinned. "We've been preparing this all day." She stepped to the side a bit to reveal the hot tub and the chateau. Both were festively decorated and even had a garland hanging over them. I don't know if my brother beamed more stupidly than I did. It just meant a lot to me. "Thanks, People." John B even had tears in his eyes. The others were even happier and all stormed towards me.

Meggi was the first to hug my neck and Sarah my brother. "All the best," she whispered to me. "I love you sooo much!" Giggling, I hugged her tightly ter. "I tell you first. But shhh, otherwise John B will hear it."
"Of course, of course." We grinned at each other understandingly until we had hugged each other at least once. Even Pope got the weirdest outbursts of emotion. Then we distributed the remaining muffins and the cake. Beer was of course included.
"JJ, don't put so much crumbles in the water! I don't want that stuff hanging anywhere else," Kiara rebuked him, who was sitting close to Meggi on the edge. JJ had his arm wrapped around Pope who was trying to improvise a birthday rap. I stood between my brother, who had Sarah at his side. The two were really cute together, which is why I smiled at her confidently. "Now I want our presents, too," I pouted, causing JJ to jump up and briefly disappear. He gave me a small box and John B a picture. I opened it. "They're all pre-rolled joints and each one has a note with JJ wisdom on it." He winked at me and I closed the box again, putting it on the edge. I hugged him again thanful.

Turning to John B, he said, "The picture of your dad and us as kids. You once gave it to me. I think you should have it back."
"I almost forgot," he murmured, gently stroking the photo. The gesture was more precious than anything else. "Thanks." More sincere words had never been spoken.

Kiara slid over the edge and fumbled in her pants, which were laying outside of the hot tub. She stood in front of me and tied one of her homemade necklaces around my neck. The colors matched my eyes and my name had added them with pearls as well.

"It's beautiful," I commented gratefully. She gave my brother a keychain that said "Pogue".

"For the boat," she explained. "I can't stand the old band anymore." He laughed and promised her to bring it later on.

Pope gave me his favorite book with his written comments and reactions in it, as well as favorite quotes. I could have fallen over with joy. "That's so cool!" I gasped, making our handshake. "Thanks." As typical Pope, he also gave John B a book. "It's about sunken ships in the Outer Banks and as far as I know the only thing you and your dad don't have." He looked proud and I was just as happy as the others. That was probably the best birthday ever. "What about you, Sarah?" Meggi asked. Sarah mocked it up.
"The jet ski I bought you won't be delivered until tomorrow. And you, Emma, just have to tell me when you want to go shopping. Then I'll buy you everything you want. Endless books," she enthused .
"That's a joke, isn't it?"
"I don't think so," I whispered to my brother and could hardly believe it myself.
"Wait," JJ said, "will you get me a new motorcycle for my birthday too? There's a brand new one with extra engine and all."
He didn't even have to finish speaking without making us all burst out laughing.

Finally it was my dearest Meggi's turn. Smiling to herself, she tied an orange - another - bandana around John B's neck. He wore the gray one around his arm. She gave me the coolest sunglasses ever! It was black and at the push of a button, writing lit up on the glasses. So it was more suitable for partying. However, the view was not affected by the writing. "Through a particular app, you can reprogram it to put whatever you want in there." She gave me a promising look and I hugged her even tighter. "Thanks. That's really awesome!" Meggi just shook her head. "Thank Topper. He paid for it." Her grin suddenly looked almost devilish and we burst out laughing again. JJ changed the music and we all danced with what little space we had.

Until Kiara nodded behind me. "There's someone waiting for you, Emma." I looked at the others in confusion, but apart from Sarah and my brother, nobody was listening. When I turned around, I saw Rafe from a distance, who was hanging his motorcycle helmet off the handlebars. "Go on," Sarah encouraged me, smiling. My brother looked less enthusiastic. He gritted his teeth. Sarah calmed him down. "It's okay. I've never seen Rafe be so careful with anyone. That's saying a lot." So my brother nodded, knowing full well that I would have left without his consent. So it didn't matter anyway. I swung my legs out of the hot tub and walked barefoot across the lawn. I brushed my hair back from my face and adjusted my bikini, afraid of suddenly looking weird. But since when did I care what Rafe Cameron thought of me?

"Emma," he said, almost panting for a moment, then cleared his throat and got off his motorcycle. "Rafe," I replied, stopping right in front of him. "What are you doing here?" He came a little closer to me, so that I caught his scent.

"Congratulations on your birthday, of course. After all, today is my favorite day." Touched because I understood what he meant, I smiled at him. "Well, happy birthday to you, Emma. And I'm beyond grateful that our paths have crossed."

He caught a strand of my hair between his fingers and leaned closer to me. "You're so beautiful, you know that, huh? They don't deserve to be able to spend so much time with you," he breathed, running his finger now over my cheeks and then over my lips, gliding his gaze over mine body down to my bare feet which made me blush.

"Fuck. You're driving me crazy," he uttered, almost losing his voice and swallowing hard.

"Am I?" I teased him.
"Oh yeah."
"And imagine: I even like doing it."

He shook his head very slowly, smirking.
"You'll regret being so cheeky with me." Playing believing, I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest. Rafe took his hands back to himself, knowing that I couldn't be intimidated.

He took a black leather cord out of his trouser pocket, took off his ring and threaded it through. Then he tied it around my neck, wrinkled his nose and looked almost embarrassed. "It was my mother's. I want you to wear it." My words stuck in my throat and my heart beat betrayingly fast in my chest. "Rafe ... I can't take that," I stammered.

"You can. I want it that way."

For a moment we just looked into each other's eyes. He sensed my insecurity. "My mother was the only person who loved me and whom I loved. Now that's you. Then you should wear it as well." If my mouth wasn't open, inside my heart had long since stopped. Rafe is someone who loves once. Because for him it is forever.

"... please," he added, getting nervous and frightened.

I smiled tenderly at him and wrapped my arms around him. "I already love it," I whispered and he didn't need to say anything, I knew that at that moment, he probably shone brighter than any star that was ever seen in the sky.

He hugged me tighter, not quite sure where to put his hands. "Pervert."

He laughed into the crook of my neck while kissing my bare shoulder. I got even bigger goosebumps and swallowed.

"Don't do that," I growled and broke away from him.

"Is that better, Princess?" As soon as he finished speaking, his hands were on my cheeks and he kissed me. His lips were soft and careful, the perfect blend of sweet and salty. I returned his kiss and sighed in response to his question.

And if that wasn't enough, he deepened it even more and ran his tongue over my bottom lip. We parted from each other for lack of air. His gaze couldn't have been more intimate as I brushed the edge of his lips, giggling as he had a trace of my subtle lipstick.

Rafe leaned against his motorcycle and pulled me between his legs, his hands wrapped tightly around my waist.
"I have something else for you."

"Something else?" I asked in disbelief, feeling guilty about having received so many gifts and not being able to return anything right away.

He held out a small black jewelry box. I didn't have to look to know it was a bit damn expensive. Embarrassed, I bit the inside of my cheek and ventured a look. It was a bracelet of white pearls with a gold clasp.

"Wow. That's beautiful, but way overpriced." He looked at me proudly and I cocked my head questioningly.

"I- I'm clean now...yeah, I spent my money on more important things then." He nodded eagerly a couple of times in a row and out of sheer joy at his success, I kissed him hard again.

"Aside from you, that's about the best gift you could have given me," I assured him, unable to let him know how incredibly proud I was of him.

I heard Meggi's footsteps and Rafe also looked in her direction. "Come to me tomorrow," he demanded. "Your friends are waiting for you."

I saluted him understandingly and ran the remaining meters towards Meggi. "Well you? We were worried that Rafe kidnapped you."

"Don't give him any ideas," I said amusedly and hugging her tightly, strolled back to where the others were dancing around the hot tub. The day seemed almost endless. And me? I was endlessly happy.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜