I can't help but think of the words I said to him as I lay in his arms. My heart still aches for what I did. Clay turns to face me and says,

"This is no ordinary love that we have, and I can never have enough. Of all the things you've given to me, you're my heart, my soul, and my everything. Every night, I find myself falling more and more in love with you. I promise you, as long as I hear those three words, our love will never die."

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you, Ray." I lay closer to him and fall asleep. Feeling grateful and content with my everything. As I drift off, I can't help but think about how lucky I am to have found someone who loves me so deeply. Our love is a rare and precious thing, and I will cherish it always.

⁂

The next morning, when I awaken, Clay is trying but failing to silently leave the room. Before getting up, I spend a few minutes lying there. After I've brushed my teeth and thrown on some comfy clothes, I head downstairs; It's quiet. I head to the kitchen, no one is in sight.

Where the hell is everyone?

Strong arms wrap around my waist and swing me around, lifting me. Clay kisses me hard as I wrap my legs around him. I let myself get lost in his mouth; he sets me down on the counter. Strong arms wrap around my waist and swing me around, lifting me. Clay kisses me hard as I wrap my legs around him. I let myself get lost in his mouth; he sets me down on the counter. The sensation of his body against mine is electric, and I can feel myself getting lost in the moment. We continue to kiss passionately, lost in our own world. Eventually, we break apart, both of us breathless and smiling. I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with this man.

"Happy Birthday," He says with a smile, handing me a box.

"What's this?" I ask, eagerly opening the box.

"Your birthday present, well, one of them," He smirks. I open the box and pull out a silver bracelet; There's writing on it. I look closer.

From now until forever, We will always be together.

I pull him towards me and kiss him; our mouths part, and he draws me closer. I don't want to let go. I want to stay in our little bubble; I love our little bubble.

"Happy birthday!" Both Brie and Logan shout.

I place my head into Clay's chest in embarrassment. I mumble out a thank you, keeping my head where it is, as Clay laughs. I can feel his heart beating against my cheek, and it's the most comforting thing in the world.

"So I told Raven to take the next week off school because of everything. I'll be staying with her," Clay tells them.

"Hell yeah, vacation!" Logan laughs. "Me too, we can do so much," Brie states, "and have lots of fun." She smirks.

"Brie!" I shout, laughing. "I knew that would get you to lift your head," she teases.

Clay helps me off the counter, and Brie and Logan hug me. They force me to sit down while Brie makes breakfast. After breakfast, they hand me their gifts. Brie got me new thigh-high boots; the heels are high, which I love. Logan's next, I open it, and it's a journal encased in black leather.

"Brie says you like to write, so I thought maybe you would like it," Logan says, not sure if his gift was okay or not. "Thank you, it's perfect." I smile at him.

"Now for your next present," Clay says.

"What? You already gave me my present," I say, dangling the bracelet in front of him.

"Yeah, but this is more of a do than a thing. For the next few hours, you get to choose what we do before your party starts. "He looks at his watch. "Time starts now," He says, smiling.

I sit there thinking of ways to manipulate these fools. Knowing what comes first on the list, Brie bursts out laughing. "Shots!" She shouts. I nod.

"Come on, I'm all for drinking, but it's only eleven in the morning," Logan says.

"It's five o'clock somewhere," both Brie and I say at the same time.

Clay shrugs and grabs the bottle of vodka, pouring each of us a shot. "To the birthday girl!" Clay says, we all down our drink, and he leans in and kisses me. I can taste the liquor on his lips, but I stop myself from making this awkward.

The boys don't like the music we listen to, but they can't say anything because it's my day. The boys sit and look on. I don't bother to ask Clay to dance, so when he envelops me in his arms, I lose myself in the music and take a deep breath when I feel him on me. My thoughts are drowned out by the music, so I turn to face him and give him a passionate kiss while letting the music take over. I feel alive and free in his embrace. Everything else fades away and all that matters is this moment.

Happy birthday to me!