Happy Endings: A Hessa Story (3)

Chapter 26: Hardin

My 24th birthday... ah, now that was a good birthday. Though, it did start out in a horrible way. I remember it was raining terribly that day, and the umbrella that Tessa shoved into my work bag had a huge tear in it and wouldn't even open for me. I showed up to work not onIy late, but drenched head to toe. I had to work that day with back to back meetings for five hours straight. Five. Fucking. Hours. It was hell on earth, but it was a hell I knew all too well since it was my career. I told Tess I didn't want to make a big deal out of my birthday because I didn't, and still don't, find my birthday a day worth celebrating, and she knew that. Any surprise party was strongly unadvised. My 24th birthday was the first birthday I spent with Tessa since we'd gotten back together, so I came home to possibly the best birthday surprise I'd ever received.

When I entered the apartment, soaking wet yet again from the storm, I found the apartment empty. All the lights were out, which I thought meant that people were about to jump out and shout 'surprise!'. I paused for a moment and waited for the horror to begin, but only silence followed.

"Tess?" I called out into the small apartment. Landon and Nora had moved out into their new place so they could be all romantic and gross as newlyweds, so it was just me and her.

"Hellooo?" I took a step forward and peered around the corner. Looks like she obeyed my wish of no surprise party.

'Is Tessa even here? Where the hell could she be?' I thought to myself.

I took my dirty, damp shoes off before continuing to walk around the apartment in search of anybody. I continued down the hall to our bedroom, where I hoped she was laying across our mattress completely naked, but when I opened the door, I was met with an empty bed.

As I walked back towards the living room, I saw a small flicker of light coming from the kitchen. I peered my head into the room and noticed the source of light was from the flame of a small candle lit on the counter. I sauntered further into the kitchen to investigate when my vision suddenly went black. Small hands blocked me from seeing anything else.

"Look who's home..." I hear the voice of the person blocking my vision with their hands say. "Guess who?"

I recognized that sexy, high pitched American accent instantly. I knew it was Tessa, and I knew she knew I knew.

"Not sure, could I get a hint?"

I felt her breathe on my neck."Hmmm, I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and you once told me I'm the person you love most in this world."

I took a moment to act like I was thinking hard about who it could possibly be. "Of course! The kid who makes me coffee in the Starbucks across from work!"

"No... guess again."

"Well, there's two blonde kids who work at Starbucks so it could be either one of them-"

Her hands uncovered my eyes and shoved at my back. "Hey!"

I turned around quickly and grabbed her wrists to keep her from shoving at me again. "Hi, baby." I smiled down at my love. It was dark, the only source of light still coming from the candle on the kitchen table, so I can only see her silhouette.

She turned me around again and pushed me towards the light. As I got closer, I realized that the candle was attached to a cake.

"I bet you the baristas at Starbucks couldn't make your favorite chocolate cake as well as your girlfriend."

"Well, said girlfriend is the only person who knows how to make my favorite chocolate cake."

Saying the word 'girlfriend' again was so strange to me. Each morning I woke up and expected to be back alone in my Chicago apartment. Being together with her again felt like a dream for so long, especially spending my birthday with her.