Always Us

happy birthday pt. ii

It's been a minute! Sometime in the past few weeks this book surpassed 200k reads, so a very genuine thank you to everyone who reads and re-reads. It makes me happy to know that all the time I've spent on these stories are still bringing people little dose of happiness 🥹

This one's for one of the sweetest commenters!!
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"You're not going to sing?"

"You're having too much fun with this."

Geeked out and wide-eyed, Olivia bit down on her bottom lip and nodded. It was her day to have fun. And she was going to milk it. "Go on," she urged.

He chuckled, flickering the lighter until the flame caught against the wick. The candle started to burn, and Olivia shimmied her shoulders, holding the flat sheet up to her chest.

His voice came out soft and gentle. "Haaappy birthday to you, haaaappy birthday to you." While he sang, her eyes bounced around every part of his naked body. "Happy birthday to my baby. Happy birthday to you."

She lurched at the foot of the bed, reaching for both him and the buttery pastry he went out to buy for her. Today was going to be—

Olivia sighed, clapping her hands together and looking down hopefully. Behind her shoulder, Spencer nodded enthusiastically. "Who wants to be a good girl and poop for mommy?" Met with a blank stare, she persisted. "C'mon, mama. You're overdue, and better now than in the middle of lunch."

"Where's that little scrunchy face we love so much?" Spencer egged on.

Eyes darting between the two lunatics, Sienna smiled gleefully. Her parents were staring down at her, wide-eyed and heads bobbing, and all she had to offer them was a giggle before shoving her damp toes back into her mouth.

Olivia nudged her husband with her elbow. "Try the song."

"The walls are thin here," he whispered.

"You want to be wiping shit off her back mid lobster roll?" she challenged. "Because I know it won't be me. Not on my birthday. No, sir."

"I'm sure she'll be in one of your parents' laps," he tried. "They don't let go of her. They can deal with it."

"Don't bring my parents into this," Olivia turned over her shoulder, her jaw dropping incredulously. "Not when they're paying for this whole trip. This is your child. You created this little shit maker."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't call my baby girl a sh—"

"Sing the damn song," Olivia hissed. Her patience was running thin.

Relenting, Spencer gave her waist a light squeeze and stepped around his wife. It was her birthday after all. "You ready, baby girl?"

The one year old's eyes twinkled in delight. Anything her dad did was magic. Not to mention, nothing seemed to make her happier than watching her parents make complete fools out of themselves.

Spencer went in on the first verse of the poopy song, and Olivia clapped along. Through the chorus, Sienna flung her legs out and started smacking her tiny palms together.

"She thinks it's funny," Olivia giggled, still keeping the beat. Then she pouted. "Even when she's being annoying, she's so cute."

Spencer stole a look at his wife, dressed and ready to go in her maxi dress. "You're cute."

Olivia shook her head, blushing. "Focus on the goal, Mr. James. We have ten minutes before the car gets—"

"So this is what we're doing at 26?"