"I love it when you do that."

"Mmm. Yeah?" My finger slid over Jayden's lips.

"Yeah."

"Mmm. I also love it when you do that, but if you don't stop kissing me, I won't be able to make dinner."

"Are you going to cook?"

"Yes. And I have a secret assistant." I laughed, taking a step back from Jayden.

"A secret assistant?"

"Yep. Evelyn's Recipes."

"She was an excellent cook."

"Carmen told me. I'll try to cook some of her recipes."

"Sounds good. I have more work to do, too." He buried his hands in my hair. "We'll pick up where we left off tonight."

I kissed him gently and bit his bottom lip. "You can bet on that."

After I went back to the caravan, I looked at Evelyn's notebook. Beer ribs with potatoes. It sounded easy and delicious, and I had all the required ingredients.

I cut the ribs, seasoned them with spices, and added beer. Then I cut the potatoes. I put everything in a pan, covered it with aluminum foil, and put it in the oven. "Ha! Now let me see how you'll manage to burn this time!"

"Are you talking to the meal?" Jayden asked me with a laugh.

"No." I turned to him. "Okay, yes. Could you not laugh at me? Did you finish your work?"

"No. But your parents called." Jayden handed me his cell phone. "I think it's about time we got you one of these, too."

"No, thanks. I'm fine like this."

He kissed my forehead. "Okay. But call your mom. I told her you'd get back to her."

Jayden returned to the garage, and I dialed my mother's number.

"Savi, how are you, honey? What are you doing?"

"Hi, Mom. I'm cooking."

"You're what?"

"C-o-o-k-i-n-g." I spelled it to her. "Do you know that word?"

"Very funny. Of course, I know it. Who do you think cooked for you when you were little?"

"The chefs from various restaurants?"

"Okay. You're right. Anyway. Tell me what happened. Did Dominic sign the divorce papers?"

"I wish. But he thinks it is more fun to blackmail me."

"What do you mean?"

"Give me that phone!" Dad's voice came from the other end of the line. "Savi! What is Dominic doing? What is he blackmailing you with?"

"Oh, nothing, Dad. Don't worry."

"Tell me, Savi! Don't keep us in the dark."

"Okay. He wants me to give him back my wedding ring in order to sign the papers. But I sold it, then Emilio bought it, and now it's in Dominic's possession. But he won't admit it. He wants either the ring or $500,000."

"I'll kill him!"

"Yeah. Get in line. But kidding aside. Don't worry. I've hired a lawyer, and he'll do his job." I hope.

I heard Dad's sigh through the receiver. "Okay, honey. And what are you cooking?"

"Beer pork ribs with potatoes."

"Is there a room in your caravan for one more person?"

I started laughing. "I wouldn't hurry over. So far, everything I've tried to cook has burned. But if this meal turns out to be good, I promise you that the next time you come, I'll cook it for you."

"Okay. We'll leave you to enjoy your activity now. See you soon, honey."

I looked at the oven after hanging up. Evelyn's recipe said to cook for about an hour at low heat, so I headed to the garage to return Jayden's phone.

As I stepped over the threshold, I saw him hanging over the front of a car with the hood open. Sophia was next to him.

My stomach clenched. This girl was not about to give up on Jayden.

My insecurities and fears only fueled the fire. I took a step to the right and stood behind another car so that I could watch them in secret, fully aware of how pathetic I was.

Jayden was doing something to the car, and Sophia kept circling around him.

"Done. A hose had come loose," he said.

"Thank you, Jay!" Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck. "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything, Sophie," he told her.

"You are amazing!" she exclaimed, and the next moment her lips were on his.

One second. Only a second before Jayden pushed her away. A second that seemed like an eternity.

"What are you doing, Sophie?" He slammed the car's hood down.

"I... I guess I got the signs wrong."

"What signs? I told you I'm in love with Savi. And I won't let your actions hurt her."

Sophia took a step back. "You really love her."

"I do."

"I'm sorry, Jay. I promise it won't happen again."

"Hopefully. Because otherwise, we can't continue to be friends."

Yes. The fear of being hurt again was rampant—a fear of being betrayed. But at that moment, I decided. I decided to trust again.

I quietly left the garage without being seen and returned to the caravan.

Jayden didn't mention anything about Sophia. I didn't ask him either. I'd decided to trust him.

The meal turned out to be perfectly tasty.

In the following days, I tried more of Evelyn's recipes. I didn't get everything right, but I made good progress.

***

The next Saturday, I opened my eyes to see a tray with coffee and breakfast beside me. Not a day went by that I didn't wake up like that. But this time, there was something different. On the tray next to the plate was a red rose.

"Happy Birthday, stranger," Jayden said after seeing that I was awake. He lay down next to me in bed.

"How did you know?"

"Charlie told me—apparently, my girl didn't think it was important to do so."

"I was going to tell you."

"When?"

"Today?" I shrugged.

"Well, you may not feel like celebrating, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to make your day special."

I moved the tray and rolled on top of Jayden. "Let's start with a special morning then, shall we?"

The moment I leaned in to kiss him, he pushed me gently away. "You should have breakfast."

"Are you rejecting sex?"

"Oh, no, never. I'm just postponing it off for a while." He got out of bed. "We're leaving in a bit."

I took the tray and sipped the coffee. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see. I'll wait for you out front when you're ready."

"Okay."

I ate quickly, took a shower, and got dressed.

Jayden was waiting for me outside the caravan on his bike.

I climbed in behind him, and we drove off. After about an hour, we parked in front of an... amusement park?

"Um, Jayden. Is this your idea of ​​a special day?"

"Not much fun around. I had to improvise. Come on." He looked around. "Have you ever shot a bow?"

"No."

We walked around the park. There weren't many people. Most of the facilities were not even working, probably because it was too early.

But that didn't seem to bother Jayden. We went directly to a shooting range.

The experience was enjoyable. I had never considered shooting a bow. Who would have thought of that? But I loved it when Jayden got behind me to show me how to shoot. He placed his hands on mine, guiding me to notch and release the arrow.

Bullseye.

"Omg! Jayden! I hit it!"

He kissed my cheek. "Did you like it?"

"Yes!"

"Go on alone now."

I stood confidently and took the next arrow. I strained the string.

The next shot landed more than a meter from the target.

"Damn it!"

Jayden laughed. "Don't be mad. It takes practice. Watch."

He took the bow from my hands and stood before the target after drawing from the bucket of arrows next to his feet.

Bullseye. Next one. Bullseye. Another. Bullseye. One more. And one more.

I watched his rapid movements with awe. The focused look. The ease with which he shot the arrows. It was rather sexy.

"What do you think?" He turned to me questioningly.

I bit my lip. "You don't want to know what I think."

He chuckled. "I sure do want, but I assume these thoughts are not for here..."

"Correct," I said with a half smile.

"Okay. So, let's move on with more proper activities for this place. How about the Ferris wheel?"

"Umm. Okay."

We went on the Ferris wheel. It was my first time. Even as a child, my parents had not taken me to amusement parks. 

Afterward, we ate cotton candy. Then we got on a roller coaster—so many screams and laughs!

"Do you often go to places like this?" I asked Jayden.

"No. It's actually my first time."

"Hmm. You're surprisingly good at shooting a bow for your first time..."

"It's my first time going to an amusement park. I didn't say it was my first time shooting a bow. I practiced shooting sports as a kid."

"Okay. That explains the accuracy."

"Yeah. Now, let's go."

"Are we going home?"

"No."

"Where are we going?"

"It's time for lunch."

"O-okay."

We got back on the bike. Jayden put a blindfold over my eyes.

"Um, Jayden. Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see in a little while."

We drove off somewhere. I couldn't see anything. My heart raced madly.

It felt as if we'd been riding for hours when I felt the speed drop. We parked at last.

Jayden helped me off the bike and led me somewhere.

"Can I take this bandage off now?" I asked.

"Not yet. Just keep going. Be careful."

I heard a door open. Jayden stood behind me and untied my eyes.

We were standing in the doorway of the cabin. A carpet of rose petals led to the living room. I stepped forward. A champagne decanter, two glasses, and plates of food were arranged on a rug in front of the fireplace. Small candles twinkled on the sides. And in front, there was a huge basket full of red roses.

"Wow!" I turned my head back. "Jayden!"

No words. It was surreal. Like in a movie.

Magical.

I walked over to the basket, crouched in front of it, and inhaled the scent deeply.

Wow!

"Jayden, it's amazing!"

My eyes filled with happy tears that I hadn't known I was capable of.

"Happy Birthday, Savi!" He gave me a hand to stand up and kissed me. "I love you."

I cupped his face in my hands. "I love you!"

"Come on, let's eat," Jayden suggested after a long kiss.

We sat on the ground.

"Sushi?" I exclaimed.

"You mentioned you adore sushi."

"I adore you!"

Jayden took the chopsticks, caught a roll with them, and held it to my mouth. "Am I doing well?"

"With what?" I asked as I swallowed.

"Holding these things." He gestured with the chopsticks. "I practiced."

"Really?"

"Yep." He threw them back over his shoulder. "Well, you saw I can use them, so I don't need them anymore." He reached down and picked up a roll with his fingers.

"You are amazing."

"Wait." Jayden got up, walked over to the table, and turned on an old record player. I had forgotten that such a thing existed. "We also have music. Will you dance with me?"

"I'd love to," I answered, blooming in happiness.

We danced and danced. Lost in the moment. Lost in each other.

"I'm not going to say no to sex now," Jayden whispered to my ear.

I jumped into the air and wrapped my legs around his waist—my arms around his neck.

He carried me to the other room.

More roses. A bed covered all in roses.

***

I lay in Jayden's arms, stroking his chest, feeling his skin. And I couldn't believe it was all real.

He reached for his phone and looked at it. "It's getting late. We have to go."

"Why don't we stay here for the night?"

"I'll have to get up early in the morning." He sighed. "A customer is going to bring his bike in for repairs."

"Well, okay. I have no right to complain. I had the most amazing birthday!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

We got dressed, put out the fire, and left the cabin.

My smile never faltered on the ride back.

We parked in the garage and walked to the caravan. But suddenly, a feeling of dread began to creep over me. I shook Jayden's hand. "Why is it so dark? What happened to the la—"

I couldn't finish my question.

In an instant, hundreds of small lights hanging on the caravan and the surrounding trees lit up.

Dozens of balloons flew into the air.

"Surprise!" The voices of my friends filled the courtyard.