Hey guys! So this is a long time coming but if some of you remember, I launched two bonus chapters in 2014 which you had to pay to read. All of you who bought them and supported me, I cannot thank you enough <3 It truly means a lot to me! Some of you couldn't purchase them and were disappointed that you couldn't read the chapters. Over the years, I've had a lot of questions about why you can't read the bonus chapters, we had to privatise them for a while but now they're available for free! YAY. I'm so so so excited for you all to read them :D Please do leave a comment if you enjoyed the chapter. There's one more that I will be posting soon and it's Cole's POV of a very special chapter ;) ENJOY my shortcakes <3

He Brought You Kit-Kats, That's My Job Not His

When I remember the events of this date, the 15th of August to be exact,in previous years there's nothing really that stands out. I don't have any spectacular and unforgettable memories tied to this day so it stands to reason that it doesn't hold a lot of meaning for me. Of course there's a bit of lying involved in when I say that. Here's the truth, no matter who you are and no matter how old you are, you'll always have that tiny glimmer of hope inside you on your birthday. The day feels special even if realistically speaking, there's nothing special about it. It's the day you were lucky or unlucky enough, depending on how life's been treating you, to have made your grand entrance in the world. Big whoop right? Who cares, and once you hit a certain age, getting older loses its appeal.

I try and convince myself every year that I will have no big hopes for my birthday. Given my limited social circle and our even more limited celebratory options, there's no space really for going all out. In the past, especially with how my family was in pieces and how they usually forgot the day's significance I would spend hours in a foul mood. My best friends made an effort to cheer me up and would as per tradition bring me chocolate cake with Nutella frosting. The cake would come from my favourite bakery which was an hour away from town so it was special that they'd get it just for me. I'd get touching presents and the day would end on a kind of a high note. But something always felt missing and I'd always have this gnawing feeling in my gut that one shouldn't have on their birthday at least. At the time I thought it was there because of my pitiful and unrequited love for Jason Stone, a childhood crush that had grown into becoming so much more over the years. It broke my heart so him with someone I had once considered my sister, my best friend. I had told Nicole all about how I basically worshipped the ground Jay walked on and that the only thing I wanted was for him to feel if not the same then something similar.

Too bad she forgot about all that the day she decided to rip my heart to shreds by dating him.

Now the all that useless anguish makes my smile because now when I think back to all those nights I spent missing someone who never really saw me for me, I realise that what was lacking was not a person but a feeling.

Love.

I'd been missing that floating on air kind of love that makes your life infinitesimally better just because you're near that person. Your heart's happy all the time, you feel so giddy, so lucky to be experiencing something so wonderful everything feels like a dream. I'm lucky enough to find that powerful, all consuming love and even though it came from a place that shocked the ever loving heck out of me, I consider myself utterly blessed to have it in my life.

Yes, best birthday present right there.

I hear his quiet breathing as he sleeps next to me and observe his stunning face. Even now, reaching nearly a year since he came back into my life it's still hard to believe just how gorgeous he really is. His thick black eyelashes are longer than mine and fan his face, his jaw covered with the perfect two day stubble. A straight nose, high cheekbones and full lips, Cole is devastatingly beautiful if I do say so myself, messy hair and all. But the best part? The best part are the eyes, eyes so blue and stormy that it's impossible not to get lost in them. And when those eyes look at you with so much adoration in them? Well, that's when you realise that there's nothing better in the world than being loved by Cole Grayson Stone.

I didn't wake up this morning thinking about my nineteenth birthday, nope it wasn't the first thing on my mind. The first thing actually was that today would be the last weekend before we started the next chapter of our lives, college. Cole and I were both going to Brown and freshman orientation would begin in a week. Yes, I'm scared and nervous and excited all at the same time but mostly there's just a lot of contentment. I'm going to the college of my dreams with the man of my dreams. There's not really much that could improve upon that.

Smiling, I get out of bed, pulling on Cole's discarded t-shirt as and tug on my panama bottoms as I make my way to the bathroom. Once I'm finished there, I set things up for a special breakfast for us. Cole's new apartment is finally starting to feel like home after we went and raided IKEA the other day. When he'd first moved in, the thing had been in dire need of a lot of DIY'S. Thankfully his roommate, Eric turned out to be a really nice guy who started working with us as soon as he showed up. The landlord however is a really piece of work, a man in his late fifties who refuses to admit that he needs to fork up some money and put in some serious maintenance work. I'd switch between spending a couple of days here and in my dorm room and would even go back home when I could as it is only an hour and a half away. I miss my brother the most and as I check my phone I get slightly emotional at the voicemail he's left me. Travis has been such a huge support system in the last year and at a point where I felt like I was utterly alone he'd stepped in to take a place my parents had long since vacated.

Blinking back some surprising tears, I remind myself to call him as soon as possible and start whisking some eggs. Cole's been giving my cooking lessons because and I quote, 'My girlfriend can't become a Kraft meals hoarder, what's that going to do for my reputation?'. Mostly I just think he's worried I'll starve to death one day if I'm snowed in and can't get to the frozen meals isle. You've got to love the sentiment even though I might just stab him with my kitchen knife if he complains about my egg poaching technique one more time.

Given the day I think it's okay to feel nostalgic and just contemplate how much my life has changed. From one birthday to another, it feels like I'm an entirely different person. For one I'm not pining over what I thought was true love and secondly I'm not tempted to break out my mom's anti depressants. After a long time, it feels like I can truly be me, quirks and all. Losing the amount of weight that I did, it felt like I had to shed a lot of things that made me, me. But Cole has brought back a lot to the surface and now, having left behind a place that does not hold the best memories for me there's unlimited room for me to grow into my own and today feels like the starting point for that.

Strong arms wrap themselves around my waist just as I'm beginning to make coffee. I'm pulled into a warm, firm not to mention very naked chest as my boyfriend greets me today. Kissing the spot beneath my ear, he whispers in that husky morning voice.

"Happy Birthday Tessie,"

I melt against his body and close my eyes, internally swooning and enjoying being surrounded by his scent which of course is of my favourite cologne and his cotton sheets. It's a heady sensation as he trails kisses down my jaw and neck. Needless to say it's a promising start to the day.

"Thank you." I wrap my arms around his and for a moment enjoy the silence of the early morning. The apartment complex is near the University so it's always fairly busy and noisy outside but given the time, it's as silent as can be and allows me to revel in the moment.

"I tried waking you up last night but a nuclear weapon couldn't have managed to do that." He chuckles and the laugh vibrates deliciously through his chest.

"I had a Skype session with the girls and then my roommate. She wanted to discuss the decor and I basically told her to get anything that isn't pink or sparkly."

He pulls me closer to him, his arms tightening. "That bedspread your mom sent over still giving you nightmares?"

I shudder visibly, thinking about my mom's way of making peace between us. The day I'd moved my things onto campus she'd come armed with her Amex and proceeded to use it for all kinds of evil. Though we'd been in a well established and classy store, someone had unfortunately informed mom that neon pink and shimmer was what made you the coolest of co-ed. It was a massacre and she was an unstoppable force as she threw in one glittery mess after another. Given the fact that she had been making a solid effort to fix our relationship, I'd only objected once and the hurt look she'd given me made me throw up my heads in defeat. If it took furnishings that would look like the combined upchuck of Barbie and the Pink Panther to make progress with her then I would take it.

Not that I've actually put those things in my room, mostly when she comes to visit I arrange a lunch outside or when I have fair warning I tend to throw around the things she's bought that I've stashed under my bed. It makes for fun times.

"Don't remind me, please." I whine but quickly stop when Cole's hands slip under my shirt or rather his shirt, they come to rest lightly on my ribs and my breathing turns shallow.

"It's a special day."

"Hmm." My mind has been turned to mush as it always does when he's touching me. I don't know if there will ever be a day when his touch doesn't make me lose my mind.

"I've got plans." He whispers in my ear, "Big ones."

I gulp, goosebumps break out over my skin and not just because of his wandering hands.

"Would you like to be less cryptic?"

"I can try but what would be the fun in that. This is your first birthday with us together, you think I don't think I've thought about it, endlessly, madly, obsessively..." He kisses my jaw with each word.

"I get the picture but I...I don't want you to feel pressurised into doing something just because it's my birthday. The fact that we're here, together it means more to me than anything you could buy me."

He turns me around is his arms and pulls me closer, " You can't sweet talk your way out of my plans but I appreciate the sentiment. Don't be scared, I'll try and restrain myself."

Frowning, I think about the last time he told me that he would restrain himself. "Remember when Jay came to visit us last week?"

He scowls, his relationship with his step brother is still a touchy topic, no matter how hard I try to make them act civilised towards each other. "Yeah, so?"

"Remember how I told you to hold in any caveman tendencies around him?"

His scowl becomes deeper, "Is there a point to this? You're ruining my birthday spirit."

I grin, "You told him, no wait ordered him to keep a five foot distance from me at all times. Not to mention you made me change around a hundred times before drowning me in the baggiest hoodie you own which you insisted I wear over your folded over sweats. You wouldn't even let the poor guy hug me when he first came in and mauled me in front of him ever chance you got. How is that restraining yourself?"

" It was completely necessary. The idiot's still in love with you and he keeps giving you those freaky puppy dog eyes which you're a sucker for. If I'd let him touch you he would've felt you up for days. And the nerve of him, he brought you Kit-Kats, that's my job not his. "

If he weren't being such a territorial pig at the moment I would totally find his anger adorable. Oh okay I do find his anger adorable, and the possessiveness? Oh my the possessiveness, as much as it can be annoying at times it's just as equally sexy.

"Just try not to bite his head off if he ever shows up again okay? That's all I ask. Now tell me you'll be on your best behaviour today and listen to me when I tell that you're not allowed to do anything crazy. No serenading quartets, nothing that might involve public humiliation because I tend to go through that enough on my own, no calling my parents and trying to mend fences. Got it?"

He salutes me, "Yes ma'am."

I laugh, "I've got to get ready goofball, it's my turn for the morning shift."

He lights up like a mean girl wearing pink on wednesday, " Brilliant, that gives me just enough time to carry out my diabolical plans for you." He lets out evils laughter and I roll my eyes. Excited Cole equals immature and defiant Cole which basically means that he's not paid attention to a word I've said. When he's concocting one of his schemes, he might as well have the attention span of a flea.

Showering quickly and for the sake of the day wearing my favourite skinny jeans and a white tank top with lace detailing, I get ready to work at the bookstore near campus where I got a job about two weeks ago. Cole found it for me since he's working in the kitchen of a bakery of a nearby cafe. Yes, Cole's job involves copious amounts of baking and yes that means that he almost always smells like chocolate, yum.

The bookstore caters to all ages but mostly the owner makes it about the little kids. That's obvious once you enter the Alice in Wonderland themed reading area and see the plate of themed cookies that are handed out to buys. The place is full of whimsical decorations which may or may not have been the result of several trips to Disney Land. I don't ask questions, just smile and work the cash register. My boss is a kind lady in her mid fifties who seems to be besotted with my boyfriend as she may have on multiple occasions tried to grope his butt. It's a nice butt what can I say.

"Good morning Sylvia," I smile at her as I enter, she's sitting behind the counter lost in a children's book at that but gives me a massive smile when she sees me.

"Happy Birthday honey!" She comes all the way around to hug me tightly. "You should've told me that it was your birthday today, I would never have scheduled this shift when you should be out celebrating with that handsome young man of yours."

"He still has plans for the evening and I want to take as many shifts as I can before classes begin but thank you Sylvia, you're the best boss ever." I kiss her cheek and she heads to the back room to carry out some inventory.

There's a plate of cookies on the counter as usual but one of them is wrapped in foil and has my name written on it. Smiling to myself, I bite my lip as my unwrap my first present of the day from Cole. He's obviously using the fact that he works at the very cafe that sends us the cookies to his advantage. Once the foil is removed, I see a cookie in the shape of the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon which makes me grin foolishly for the rest of my shift. I am tempted to never eat the thing and treasure it for life but what a waste that would be. And if I know Cole then he probably made it himself. You never turn down the man's baking, never.

The shift both flies by and drags on as I'm distracted half of the time and the because the children have started going back to school, we don't get a lot customers. I use the time to send Cole a text with a picture of me eating the cookie and then reply to everyone else's birthday wishes. Surprisingly I have one from Nicole, a simple 'Happy Birthday' but that itself seems monumental after years of her treating me like scum of the earth. I shoot off quick thank you's and promptly at 2 pm end my hour shift. Waving a goodbye to Sylvia, I take a detour on my way back to Cole's apartment and head to the dorms.

The campus is filled with students who have already moved in and more will arrive next week. My social anxiety hasn't completely gone away so it's still difficult to be around a bunch of strangers my own age. The other day an extremely cheerful girl wearing negligible clothing nearly pounded on me asked if I wanted to rush her sorority and I completely freaked out. If Cole hadn't rescued me I would have required a paper bag to breathe.

But the trick is to keep your head ducked down and not make eye contact. Maybe when school starts I'll be more comfortable, knowing a lot more people but right now it's definitely a daunting task to go all the way across campus.

As far as rooms go, its a standard box sized dorm room which ends before it even begins. There's enough space for two beds, two desk, two rather minuscule wardrobes and a couch. My mom's insistent of sending a mini fridge and a microwave along with a state of the art home theatre system but because I wish not be that girl that seems to be rolling in money I've declined. If I need any of those things I'll buy them with my own money. Taking allowances from my parents, especially my mother seems like taking blood money. It doesn't feel right after everything she tried to do to Cole and my relationship. Although she's come around now, it's still difficult to forget how unsupportive and manipulative she'd once been.

I push thoughts of her aside and notice the drawing on the white board we've placed on the wall so that we can leave each other funny messages. My roommate, Sarah and I get along well. She's the straight laced, studious type and comes across as a bit serious but once you get to know her she brings out her inner Texan and can make you laugh for hours. Though we haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time together, I know that she's definitely someone I can become close friends with. It's confirmed because on the white board she's drawn a very freaky looking cartoon version of me with a big 'Happy Birthday Roomie' next to it. She's not an art major that's for sure but her gesture touches my heart. There's also a neatly wrapped gift lying on my bed with a card which makes me all kinds of emotional. I remind myself to give her a big hug when I see her next.

Next I sort through any mail I've received and roll my eyes at the cheques I've received from both my parents. These are older ones since I've slacked on the mail department but they have got to stop bribing me into talking to them. I haven't cut off all communication, especially not with my dad. It's just strange for me to keep them an important part of my new life when they didn't pay a speck of attention when I lived under the same roof as them. The cheques will go towards my savings, if I'm taking the blood money then I might as well use it for something worthwhile. Cole and I both have scholarships and our jobs help us supplement our income so it's not like I really need the money but if they feel like spending then who am I to object? Besides, it's extremely probable that they've forgotten my birthday and I'll just take the money as a present.

Stashing all my letters and cards in the desk drawer back in my room, I draw a speech bubble over Sarah's drawing of me and write thank you with a big heart next to it. As I'm leaving, my phone rings. The fact that Cole's put Trouble by Ray LaMontagne as his ringtone does crazy things to my heart all the time. I answer immediately.

"Quick question." He says abruptly without a proper greeting.

"Okay, shoot."

"What size dress do you wear again?"

I pretend to gasp and feign being affronted, "Did you seriously just ask me that question?"

There's silence on the other end and I can't believe Cole fell for my 'I'll always be sensitive about my weight act'. I break the tension by laughing, "I'm a size four. Why?"

"No what you are in mean. I can't believe how a fragile soul like me has survived being with you for so long."

I crack up walking on the sidewalk and people look at me funny. 
"You poor baby. What can I do to take the hurt away?"

"You can start by going to that shop across that's a block away from the apartment, you know the one whose window you drool at whenever we're walking home."

"I do not drool! Monique's has beautiful dresses and I admire them."

"You drool Tessie, but I still love you."

"Okay Mr. Compulsive Liar why do you want me to stop by Monique's and why am I telling you the terrible secret that is my dress size?"

"Because I already knew what it was and was confirming it, you think I'm not well acquainted with..."

"Cole!" I admonish, my face heating up because of what he's implying,

"What? I was going to say measurements. Wait, what did you think I was going to say?" I can tell that he's smirking. Ah the nerve of the jerk! He loves to embarrass me because he knows how I still can't talk about the fact that we're having...that we're being intimate.

Such a douche sickle.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Tessie and go the shop. I'll see you at home. Love you." The call ends yet again abruptly. Absolutely puzzled I make it to the quaint boutique which carries a lot of clothes that I've been lusting after recently. Monique's definitely suits my style, a bit girly and feminine but casual at the same time. The colours are soft and muted and with a few bold pieces around that are definitely wearable. I love it here and if I weren't being stingy with money I'd love to buy everything in this shop.

But I'm not sure why I'm here today. As I look around for a clue a gorgeous woman with dark hair and skin the colour of warm caramel steps out from behind one of the clothing racks. I've caught glimpses of her a few times but since I usually avoid this place like an alcoholic avoids a bar I haven't seen outright how good looking she is.

"Hi, welcome to Monique's, I'm Charlotte and if I'm assuming correctly you must be Tessa?"

She has a British accent, girl crush moment right here.

"Yes, umm I think my boyfriend may have talked to you."

My jaw becomes nearly unhinged as a light flush colours her cheeks when I mention Cole. She giggles and shakes her head as if reminiscing fondly over something, something clearly involving him. My curiosity and annoyance immediately peaks.

"You've got quite the handful in that one. He's such a charmer and so sweet. No bloke I've ever dated could've put up with going through each and every dress in the shop just to find the perfect one for me."

Gritting my teeth, I find the girl crush being incinerated as soon as it developed. Clearly she has a thing for Cole, who wouldn't? Especially when he goes around doing things like this for me.

"There's a dress here for me?"

"Oh of course!" She stops day dreaming and runs to the back of the store and comes out carrying a garment bag. As she unzips it I hold my breath because I know that whatever's in that bag is going to mean a lot to me. As she pushes the dress out the first thing I notice is the colour, a serene Grecian grey that I've always been partial too. Then as I see the dress in its entirety and am wonderstruck because it's so unbelievably gorgeous and so suited to me style.It's in an icy grey shade, a frock style dress that has small vertical tucks on the front, full skirt billowing out from a fitted waist, and a satiny sheath shimmering beneath delicate chiffon. But then I notice it, smacking myself for not realising what it is that Cole's trying to do here. At the waist, there's a simple,thin slightly embellished belt in a chain style which glimmers beneath the lights. The dress that is in front of me is a less ornate version of the dress Cole bought for the ball we attended back home. The ball that single handedly changed everything between us. I'm so touched and so in love with that guy that I cannot wait to rush home and kiss the life out of him.

"The belt was a personal touch, he requested it highly and I must say it adds a lot to the outfit. He wanted to get it wrapped but I think maybe you should try it on and see if it fits."

She squints at me as if sizing me up and makes an expression that suggests that she doesn't think I'd fit into a size four. Too bad, anything weight related has stopped hurting me.

"I think my boyfriend is a good enough judge of what fits me, you know how it is." I try to not sneer and for a minute she looks embarrassed at her behaviour but quickly schools her expression to one of polite disinterest.

"Oh of course, let me pack that for you. It's been paid for and there's a card in the bag for you that he insisted you read before going home."

I grab my beautiful dress and say goodbye to the mean lady who made it clear that Cole and I can come see her any time if we ever have any more dress needs. Cole is so not going back to see the cradle robber ever again.

Sitting in the lobby of the apartment complex, I hug the bag my dress is in closer to me and open up Cole's card. The illustration on the front of a guy holding a can of whipped cream and the caption of 'I'm whipped for You' makes me laugh. Then I read the note he's written inside it for me.

Dear Tessie

Happy Birthday babe, It makes me so happy to know that I can share this day for you. I hope it doesn't scare you that in the past, before there was even the possibility of us happening, I would write an entire email to you on your birthday. Most of them are still in some junk folder and someday I might even let you read them but for now I think my pitiful yearning might scare you. I love you so much and it stuns me everyday that despite the fact that I'm a monument fuck up you still stick around. The dress reminded me of you and of us, it reminded me of the day I realised that I had a shot with you. It's only appropriate that you wear it today. Here's hoping I can make this day as special for you as you are.

Love, Always

Cole.

P.S. You better not show this note to anyone, it'll destroy my 'tough guy, don't touch my girl vibe okay?

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I finish reading his sweet words. God, how did I get so lucky? How is it that after never thinking that I'd ever find someone who'd accept me for me, I ended up with a guy who loves me so unconditionally that it's almost painful? It shows that you can find what you're looking for in the most unexpected places.

I skip the elevator and rush up the stairs, which isn't the brightest idea when you're carrying a dress box but I couldn't wait anymore. With trembling hands I unlock the door and pray to God that Cole's roommate isn't around. When I'm met with silence, I carefully place the bag on the coffee table and head to Cole's room. That's where I find him, drying off his hair with a towel looking like he'd recently showered. Leaning against the doorframe I study him silently and let my emotions surge through me. Some may say it's unhealthy, the kind of feelings I have for him but guess what? You only get those feelings once you find the right person and if you've found that person and they're still in your life then you're the luckiest thing on the planet.

He notices me in a space of two-seconds and the corner of his mouth lifts into a smile. "Did I pass on my stalker tendencies onto you?" He asks, throwing the towel towards the bed and closing in on me. I say nothing, there isn't really a need to. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kiss him thanking him through the action. He responds earnestly, his arms going around me, nearly lifting me off the floor. We make out like our life depends on it for what seems like days and then pull away to catch our breaths.

"I take it you liked the dress?"

"I like you."

"I more than like you Shortcake."

"I know."

Taking me by the hand he leads to the living room and sits me down on the couch. Kneeling in front of me, he clasps my hands in his, and looks at me with a kind of passion in his eyes that lights me up inside.

"You have the dress and hopefully the card explained how I feel. Now I'm going to leave and come back in around an hour. I want you to think that it's our first date and that this is the first time we're about to explore this undeniable explosive chemistry between us." He winks at me, breaking down the seriousness. "We never did the dating thing properly did we? I never gave that experience and I want to, today, always. All our dates will be like that first nervous as hell, scary and yet amazing date with the person you've always wanted to go out with. Deal?"

Dumbstruck and emotional, I can only manage to nod.

"Not that I think you need to put on any makeup or do something fancy with your hair. You know I prefer you natural but do what you need to do. I'm coming back in an hour to whisk you away." He kisses my cheek and gets up.

Still in a trance like state, I sit there and let his words sink in. Just as he's going out the door I call out, "Hey Stone! I lied, I don't like you. I actually really love you."

"Never doubted it for a second babe." He yells back, 'I love you too."

He knows I sometimes need to hear those words on a daily basis, mostly because I've been deprived of them for so long. He's never embarrassed about it and tells me that he loves me all the time. It doesn't make them any less meaningful because I know he means them every single time.

I get ready feeling ridiculously giddy. My hair's curled into thick loose waves that fall around my shoulders, for makeup I go for a slight smokey eye and a glossy lip. Once everything's set hair and makeup wise I slip into the dress that fits like a dream, take that Charlotte from England!

Wearing the dress takes me back to the night of the ball and how special I felt in the ridiculously expensive ball gown Cole had gotten me. It made me feel beautiful, at a time when I was still coming to terms with the fact that someone as gorgeous as Cole could be interested in me. Wearing the dress now, reminds me of how naive that girl was. Looks have nothing to do with why Cole loves me and he's made an active effort to tell me that as many times as possible. Now when I wear this dress, I wear it knowing that were it Fatty Tessie staring back at me from the mirror, she would be lucky enough to have the same boyfriend as I did.

The clock tells me that my hour's nearly up and I spritz on some perfume before slipping into my oxblood pumps and grab my black clutch containing the essentials. As soon as my phone tells me that its 7 pm there's a knock on the door. The thought that Cole's knocking at the door of his own apartment makes me smile.

Heart racing I open the door for him and the first thing I see is a big bouquet of calla lilies, my favourite flower and then my heart stops when I take in the person that's holding them out to me. Somewhere in the hour that he'd given me Cole's managed to change into a different t-shirt, a black one with a slight v-neck that exposes his toned chest, on top of it he has a black blazer and he's also sporting black jeans. He knows how obsessed I am with him in black on black and with good reason. He looks utterly magnificent and drool worthy.

"You look..."

"Tessie you look..."

We both start at the same time and laugh at ourselves. "I think I should go first since that must be the first date etiquette right? Tessa O'Connell I have never in my life seen a more beautiful woman than you." He says emphatically, extending the bouquet to me. Accepting the flowers, I let him in and go about finding a vase for them.

"Don't you think that's too cheesy for a first date?"

"Hey I said I would try, I'm only human and you look...my god you look flawless."

His words affect me like they usually do, just picture it this way a compliment from cool feels as good as cutting open a chocolate lava cake and having chocolate ooze out from the molten centre. Yes, it's that exquisite of a feeling.

"I put the vase in the kitchen cabinet where the plates are." He points out and it makes me realise how silly we're being pretending like it's our first date. But silly or not, it's one of the greatest ideas Cole's ever had.

He takes me in as I walk back towards him adding a little sway to my hips which makes him gulp. We get ready to leave when I remember, "Isn't it mandatory on the first date for the protective father or brother to put you through the Spanish Inquisition? I can't believe I'm robbing you of the experience." I do genuinely feel gutted about it.

He chuckles as he allows me to loop my arm through his elbow and walks us out. "Don't worry about that. I already called Travis and asked him to threaten to chop my balls off if I hurt you. He was more than happy to comply."

"Ah, now I feel much better."

We sit in his Volvo and I let him open the door for me this time because we're pretending. Soft music plays from the stereo as we head out.

"I think this is the point where we make awkward small talk."

"It doesn't have to be awkward. If you're with the right person like we are, you hit it off right from the start." He tells me with all seriousness.

"Okay, so tell me all about the girls in your past."

He gives me a mock stern look, "Uh uh that's too big of a question on a first date. Why don't you ask me about my favourite movie, that's standard protocol."

"But I already know what you favourite movie is. It's not like I haven't seen Anchorman five hundred thousand times."

"Shh, you're ruining the first date experience."

I snort and for the rest of the ride I ask him silly questions about things I already know about him.

The place we go to for dinner is definitely fancier than any we've been to before. "A beautiful birthday girl deserves royal treatment." Cole tells me as the maitre'd seats us. We're in a very rustic yet sophisticated Italian restaurant surrounded by people who scream money. I feel a little out of place even though my parents are probably more of the same. Cole senses the tension and grabs my hand from across the table.

"Relax, it's just you and me here. This day is about you and I want you to enjoy okay? Breathe."

He calms me and doesn't make me feel stupid about my mini freak out. We eat outrageously great seafood pasta and talk about the most random things. I'm having the time of my life getting to know my boyfriend all over again.

I'm so enamoured by our conversation and by Cole that not only do I not notice our dishes being taken away but I almost miss the song when it starts to play over the speakers. The moment I realise the significance of the song that's playing is when Cole gets out of his chair and offers me his hand.

"May I have this dance?" My hand goes to my mouth, this is the first time I'm listening to the song after our dance and the rush of memories it brings is insane. Shaking just a bit, I stand on jittery legs and walk towards the dance floor. Cole gives someone a thumbs up, maybe the person who's playing the song. All my attention is focused on this boy who makes my life better everyday he's in it. And so we dance to the sound of Edwin McCain singing 'I'll Be' to us, wrapped up in each other without a care in the world.

Sometime later we exit the restaurant and head back to Cole's car. At this point I'm so happy that it would be more than okay if we go home and snuggle. But knowing Cole I know that the night isn't quite over yet.

"Where to now?" I say as we begin to drive away.

"Its time for dessert of course." He grins

"But I couldn't possibly eat more." I groan in protest.

"So wait, if someone say your boyfriend baked you his special Nutella triple layered brownie cake, you couldn't eat that now?"

I gasp and slap his thigh, "You did not!"

"I did too."

"Gimme! Where is it?" I look around the car manically, wishing that the cake would somehow magically appear. My behaviour is completely rational given just how sinfully delectable the cake is.

"You'll just have to wait and see."

"You can't torture me like this Cole, it's my birthday." I huff and plop back into my seat.

He chuckles, "Babe just wait a little, it'll be worth it I promise."

I hold onto those words until we find ourselves back at the apartment. Eying him suspiciously, I remain quiet until he's unlocking the door and leading me in. I have no idea how he's done it, but the apartment is shrouded in candlelight, the only source of illumination. The coffee table and the couch next to it has fairy lights strung onto them and in the middle of it, sitting pretty as a picture is my cake with a single candle on it that's still to be lighted.

"How did you..."

"I had help, Eric is apparently a very cooperative guy and a romantic at heart. He and his girlfriend helped."

"This is, this is so incredible Cole. The night has been perfect." He bends down and swoops me into his arms carrying me to the couch. Setting me in his lap, he lights the candles and whispers in my ear, "Make a wish beautiful."

And so I do.

I'm moaning at the first bite of cake when Cole leaves to get something from his room. He comes back carrying a distinct looking robin's blue bag from a jewellery store girls dream about. Gasping, my eyes are glued to him as he comes back to sit next to me and offers gives me the matching blue box that's inside.

"I wanted to get you something that'll always remind you of us and of how much I love you."

With trembling hands, I open it up and my eyes widen at the sight before me. Even in the darkness, the diamonds shine and I trace over the bracelet almost reverently. I cannot for the life of me produce words that would explain just how much this gift means to me. It's not about the expensive jewellery but more about each individual charm. As Cole gingerly takes the box from me and clasps the bracelet onto my wrist, I study them.

There's a pink ice cream cone for obvious reasons, there's a tiara, something that suspiciously looks like a chocolate bar, a heart with my gemstone, the peridot in it and lastly there's a ring, dangling right in front of me and teasing the heck out of me.

"Do you like it?"

My answer is to crush my lips to his and kiss him and to kiss him in such a way that tells him that he's the most important person in my life and that he makes me happier than I've ever been. We lose ourselves in each other, forget about time and space. It's a blur of rushed hands and frenzied lips after that but before we cross that line, I ask the most important question.

"Was that really a ring there?"

He smiles crookedly, "You're not freaking out, I guess that's a good thing?"

"But wh-what does it mean?" My heart pounds heavily, oh god.

"You're smart enough to figure it out. It's what you think it is but you know what it means don't you?"

"I don't want to assume." The ring charm means a kind of commitment we've never discussed, it alludes to a future that I've barely allowed myself to dream about but it's oh so real now. But does he mean what I think he means? Does he know how significant and life changing that little charm is?

"Whatever you're thinking you're probably right. It's a promise for sometime in the future, I'm just preparing you for it." He winks at me

Holy crap.

There is no way on earth this birthday will ever be forgotten. 

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