Chapter Thirty-one

Alexia woke up to the aroma of a delicious breakfast and to the sound of Hayden singing a happy birthday song. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and beamed.

“Awww…breakfast in bed and a happy birthday song? I have hit the jackpot,” she said.

Hayden finished singing and placed the tray of food on her laps when she sat up. Then he kissed her forehead and handed her a single red rose.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” he said and sat down on the bed.

“Thank you,” she replied.

The tray of food contained a plate of pancakes topped with strawberries, chocolate chips and maple syrup. There was a cup of coffee, with a small milk container and a saucer containing some sugar.

“Awwww…you remembered how I like my pancakes, but you still don’t know how I take my coffee,” she commented.

“You take coffee in a very weird way,” he said, running a hand through his freshly cut hair.

“It’s not weird,” Alexia whined as she added a small spoon of sugar, a drizzle of milk, and one chocolate chip into her hot coffee.

“You just put one chocolate chip into your coffee,” he deadpanned.

“So? I like the flavour it gives it,” she argued.

“It’s weird, darling, it’s weird,” he said, standing up.

He went to the wardrobe and brought out a few wrapped boxes, and a carrier bag emblazoned with a designer’s logo.

“You got me presents too?” she exclaimed, “Oh thankyou thankyou thankyou! You’re awesome!”

She placed the tray to the side and jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He chuckled and quickly dropped the boxes so he could squeeze her back.

“Like I said, anything for you,” he whispered into her hair. They remained like that for a while, until she released him.

She looked at the boxes, then at his face and he chuckled again, “Do you even have to ask?”

Alexia skipped and clapped her hands, then she started tearing off the ribbon on the smallest of the boxes. When she opened it, she took out the one thing that was there.

A MasterCard Black Card with her name on it. Alexia Luther.

“Oh. My. Gosh! You got me a Black Card. With my name on it!” she squealed.

“That’s not the only thing. Keep going,” Hayden replied.

She tore into the next box, excited. It contained a MacBook Pro. She snapped her gaze up to him, and he gave a small nod, smiling.

The last box contained a pair of white Nike Air Max sneakers. She squealed loudly again.

Finally, she got to the designer carrier bag. She removed the tissue that was used to wrap the contents and gently lifted out a black dress with a lace yoke and satin bodice, and a satin-and-silk bottom. The sleeves were long and sheer. The dress looked like it would cinch at the waist and fall to her knees.

“How did you know my dress size?” she asked.

“I…uh…I asked Athena,” he replied.

He sat down beside her, “All these things are just tokens of appreciation. They don’t capture the depth of what I feel for you. I would do them plus a million things a million times over just for you and you alone.”

Tears sprung to Alexia’s eyes and she wiped them away with the back of her hands. “Ayyyy…don’t make me cry on my birthday,” she sniffed.

Hayden wiped away the tears with the pads of his thumb, then he kissed her forehead.

He stood up, “I…still have work to do. I already invited your friends over, and since you have a Black Card now, go to the mall, or the spa. Treat yourselves. The key to the Toyota is on the table. When you come back in the evening, I have one more surprise for you. Wear the dress and the shoes, please,” he enumerated.

He bent down to kiss her again, then left the room.

Alexia screamed happily into the pillow, then comported herself. She finished her breakfast then headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth and take her bath.

***

When Alexia got downstairs, Vanessa and Athena were waiting for her. While Athena was beaming with smiles, Vanessa folded her arms and had a miniscule smile on her face. As soon as Alexia came closer, Athena popped a party-popper in her face, then hugged her.

“Happy birthday, Lexi!” she yelled elatedly.

“Thanks,” Alexia said. Vanessa also hugged her very briefly, “Happy birthday, Alexia.”

Athena presented her with a small wrapped box, and Vanessa handed her a book with a ribbon flower on it.
“Open mine first, pleeeease!” Athena pleaded with her.

“Fine, babe, chill,” Alexia said and unwrapped the box. She opened it and found a gold charm bracelet resting in the velvet cushion. She raised it up and it glinted in the light. The charms were a wolf head, a crescent moon and a pair of boxing gloves.

Athena raised her wrist and Vanessa followed suit, “Matching bracelets!” she squealed.

“Thank you so much, Athena. This means a lot,” Alexia said and hugged her friend.

“Mine’s next,” Vanessa pointed out meekly.

“Right.” Alexia removed the ribbon on the book and read the title, ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.’

“I have always wanted to read this. Thank you, Vanessa,” she said. Vanessa nodded graciously.

“Now, it’s spa day, ladies. To the mall!” Alexia yelled, jingling the car keys.

“Shouldn’t it be to the garage, then to the mall?” Vanessa quipped.
“Ugh. Whatever, Vanessa,” groaned Athena.


***


Alexia drove the car into the garage. She and her friends have had a whole day of fun. They went to the movies, a spa, a hairstylist’s and then they ended the day by shopping.

Their purchases were loaded in the trunk of the car, and some were in the backseat with Vanessa. No sooner had she parked the car than her friends jumped out, leaving their purchases in the car.

“Hey!” she called out, “Who’s going to help me with all these? And how are we going to separate what each person bought?”

Both of them gave shallow excuses and walked briskly out of the garage.

Alexia groaned and carried out the bags herself. She walked into the house slowly, laden with the weight of the bags with her.

Then, she noticed that the common room was totally dark.
“Hello?” she called out, “Why is it dark in here?” she muttered to herself.

Suddenly, someone turned on all the lights and a crowd of people yelled, “SURPRISE!”

She yelped and dropped the bags in alarm. Then Hayden stepped forward with a cake and candles, singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Everyone joined in.

He moved closer to her and smiled, “Happy birthday to youuuuuu!” They sang.

“Blow out the candles and make a wish.”

The startled look on Alexia’s face had melted away and she was all smiles. She blew out the candles, closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them. The crowd whooped and cheered.

Hayden cut a piece of cake with his fingers and fed it to her, then he kissed the icing off her lips.

“Don’t do that with my daughter in my presence,” an authoritative voice boomed from behind Hayden.

“Dad! Mum!” she exclaimed happily and hugged her parents.

“Happy birthday, Lexi,” they greeted her.

“Oh, I’m so happy you’re here! You didn’t tell me you were going to come to the party. I wasn’t even aware that there was going to be a party!” she ranted.

“That’s why it’s called a surprise party, you ditz,” Hayden said, she slid his hand back around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her temple. Then he faced her parents.

“Thank you for coming, Mr and Mrs Luther,” he said.
“It was nothing, Hayden. We’re glad to be here for our Lexi,” Cynthia Luther said, smiling.

“Mum, Dad, I’ll see you later before you go, okay?” she promised. Her parents nodded in agreement, smiling.

Hayden guided Alexia away to the thick of the party. Music was playing through the home theatre system and a bunch of people were playing games on the game console, while others were at the snack bar or the refrigerator or the mini-bar where Ace was the bartender.

Vanessa was at the bar, chatting casually with Ace. To outsiders, however, they looked nothing but casual. Her head was tilted forward and Ace bent down, leaning against the counter. Their heads were almost touching, and Ace had a smile on his face.

Hayden cocked his head towards them and said softly to Alexia, “I think there’s something between them.”

“You read my mind! I have been noticing the two of them having these rushed, hush-hush conversations, and Vanessa is always spacing out, with a confused look or a smile on her face. It’s weird,” replied Alexia.

“Ace too. The other day, he had some purple lipstick on the corner of his lips, the same shade as the one Vanessa wore that day,” he commented.

Alexia tilted her head to look at him properly, “Do you think they’re mates?”

“It’s a possibility. I mean…you and I are mates, and you’re a Huntress while I’m a werewolf,” Hayden replied.
“Fair point, I guess. Do we ask them?” Alexia said.

“Nah. Let them continue some more. It’s interesting to watch.”