When Samuel returned from work, he was shocked to see the flowers gone. His keys went on the plate, and he called out to Kali. The house was silent, but the lights were on, and her car had been in the garage. He knew she was home.

"Kali!"

"I am coming."

She appeared on the stairs, wrapping her hair into a bun as she skipped merrily. "I guess there are no dinners on the patio today."

Kali stuck her tongue out at him, understanding that he was teasing her for her appearance.

"We are having dinner inside, in the living room today. I ordered."

"Hmm. What's on the menu?"

"Junk." She threw herself into his arms, and he caught her with a huff. With her feet dangling above his, she held fast to him by his shoulders. "Burgers, pizzas, hot pockets, fries, tasty fried chicken."

"Wow. What are you trying to eat away now?"

"The disaster of this morning."

She kissed him, and he set her down on her feet. "I told you it didn't bother me."

When the flowers arrived, he noted her dread when he read the note out loud. She was embarrassed. No doubt, wondering if his mind was travelling in the direction the card was leading. It might have worked if Kali didn't have the habit of hanging around his family or her own. Whoever wrote the letter was obviously unaware of how much of her movements she shared with him and how much he knew because of Ember and Winston.

When she wasn't with him, she was either at work, with her sister or friends. Ember was her number one call when she wanted to go out, but since his sister was away, she went out with colleagues or college friends. And she always took pictures.

The sender wasn't the only one that didn't notice. Kali, apparently, was also unaware of how much of her routine he knew. Maybe that said a lot about the amount of attention he paid to her.

"I promise." He reiterated. "I didn't believe whatever he was trying to sell. It didn't bother me in the slightest."

"It bothered me." she retorted. "It bothered me, and I didn't want to see it when I returned. I couldn't think of a single reason to have it in the house."

"Alright then, as long as you're comfortable."

She looked at him, taking his hand and stepping closer. "You really don't doubt me, right? About the flowers? I know I said it before, but it bothered me all day. We just agreed to date, and I would hate for you to think I am with someone else or I was with someone else."

He squeezed her hand back and kissed her cheek. "I might not have said it directly, but it doesn't bother me because I don't believe it. I might not be attached to your hip, but I don't believe there was any secret man in your life."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"Go up and change. I'll set everything up. Do you want to pick something to watch?"

"Anything is fine."

Samuel took off to their room and quickly changed out of his work clothes. He didn't take too long to get back down to find Kali putting the last pieces of their ordered dinner on the coffee table. Samuel helped by picking a few of their throw pillows and setting them down for seats.

"Ember called today," Kali told him as he sat beside her.

"Yeah, she called me too."

Samuel took a plate from the table and held it up as Kali dished a good serving of fries and chicken.

"Did she at least tell you when she is coming back?"

"Yeah." He murmured with a mouth full of chips.

"And?"

"I told her I wouldn't tell anyone."

"I see. She wants to surprise everyone again."

"I would guess."

"Then why tell you?"

"Because she loves me."

Kali rolled her eyes. "Why not."

"She didn't tell me when she'd be back." He confessed. "We were talking, and she slipped that she missed your birthday but didn't intend to miss mine. I figured she'd be back before then."

"Ah. We haven't even talked about your birthday."

"What should we talk about?"

"Are you into surprise parties?"

"I don't mind either way. We usually have dinner with my parents on my birthday, and that's it."

"No after-parties?"

"Sometimes. When I turned twenty-five, Peter threw me the biggest after-party of my existence." He leaned back as she threw her legs over his lap and scooted closer. "He took us to a beach resort, and we had the place to ourselves for the entire night. There were drinks and movies. Honestly, it went on for hours until I couldn't take it anymore."

"Didn't peg you for a party person."

"I am not, but if it's hanging out with my friends and family, I go where they lead."

"I like that." She beamed, offering him a side of her chicken. He took a generous bite. "Your birthday falls on a weekend, so I am sure we can go out to celebrate later. Somewhere nice to drink and cool off."

"Would you be planning it?"

"I think I have something fun in mind, but knowing Ember, she might want to be a part of it."

"Would be the first party in years she'd be planning for anyone in the family."

"It's quite lucky that all four of you were born so close to each other. That's two months of continuous celebrations."

"There's lots of eating. I think you'd love that part."

"My mouth's watering already." She waved a bunch of fries in his face before tilting her head back and wolfing them down. "If anything, I will handle the food at your party. It's going to be spicy and abundant."

Samuel groaned, pinching her leg. "Have mercy on the guests that might not have your strong constitutions. Plus, cooking for my birthday is the last thing you'll want to do."

"Why?"

"We'll be having dinner with my parents. Remember?"

"Oh, right. Not my kitchen."

He shook his head. "No. Not your house either."

"What if we have the dinner here, in the house? I get to handle the cooking without any of the awkwardness of doing it at your parent's house."

"You really want to plan everything?"

"I'd have help. Ember would handle decorations and whatnot. June, your new partner in crime—" she tugged on his hair, and he chuckled"—can assist me with the food."

"Got everything planned."

She scrubbed his jaw with the back of her hand, shuffling closer until her body was pressed against his side.

"It's all coming together as we speak."

"If you want to do it, then do it. I am sure my dad wouldn't mind, and if he comes, Mom won't be able to do anything but be there as well."

She muttered unintelligible words before sealing her lips over his. Samuel smoothed his hand over her calf, holding her firmly and pulling her even closer. Their lips moved leisurely against each other, slow and unhurried.

It was weird at first; the intimacy. It took getting used to, but even he could admit it felt good. The guilt didn't fade, but the weight felt less and less present each time they were together.

His hands ventured further, moving from her leg to her waist as she moved to his jaws and cheek. Her moist lips pressed against his skin, muttering another lost sentence before they were kissing again.

The doorbell rang. Kali caught him by the back of his head, holding him in place. "No. No. Don't move."

He chuckled, his hand still on her calf. She started to draw him in when the bell rang again. Puzzled, they both stared at the door, silently waiting for the third ring.

"Did you order something more?"

"No."

"I better go see who it is."

She slid her leg off, and he slinked to the door. Giovanna turned around the second he dragged the door open. She wore a shirt and shorts with a jacket for the cold. She looked a mess, like she had barely put herself together before coming over.

"Gio?"

"Hey." Giovanna sighed heavily, pointing to the suitcase she had behind her. "I was hoping to piss your wife off a little."