Falling for my boyfriend’s Navy brother
Chapter 306
I can’t stop watching him.
He hasn’t said a word since the lights turned on, since everyone screamed surprise and a flood of people came into view–people we love, people we trust. Everyone’s here. And Asher… Asher’s just looking. Slowly. Quietly. Like he’s trying to absorb every single detail without giving anything away.
His jaw flexes. His eyes scan the balloon clusters, the table covered in his favorite food, the cake with a shaky chocolate 24 piped on top. He looks at the fake gear on Max, the face paint on Mila, the literal cutout of the Grinch someone (probably Anna) stuck in a corner beside a plate of dumplings.
And then his eyes find mine.
I lift my chin, standing tall under his gaze, my heart thundering like it always does when he looks at me like that–like I’m the center of something. Like I’m
his.
He walks toward me slowly, everyone else falling into soft laughter and chatter behind him, and when he reaches me, he leans in close, brushing his lips
over the shell of my ear.
“You’re the best,” he whispers, low and warm. “For this.”
A soft breath escapes me. I blink fast, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat.
“I thought you deserved a big birthday surprise,” I say, lifting my hands to rest against his chest. “I felt awful that I’ve been so busy lately. I made you think
I forgot.”
“You didn’t need to do any of this.”
“I wanted to.”
Truth is, he never even mentioned his birthday. Not once. Not in passing. Not in a joke. I only found out because a few months ago, Rooster said it while recounting some mission story and I’d written it down immediately.
Three weeks ago, I double–checked with Rooster, confirmed the date, and started planning. Rooster said the last three birthdays Asher had were all during deployments. That they passed like any other day, or worse–days when things went south. No candles. No cake. No one saying, I’m glad you were born.
Yeah. That doesn’t work for me.
If he’s mine, then he gets celebrated. Even if it’s chaos. Especially then.
“I got all your favorite things,” I say, nudging my nose against his jaw. “The dumplings, the noodles, the beef satay, the rice balls. And there’s that weird spicy jelly drink you like in the fridge. Boomer thinks it’s gross.”
“Boomer’s wrong.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head and then pulls a small bag from behind his back.
“And I got you yours,” he says, voice a little smug now. “I picked it up for you when I thought this was just another day in rehearsal.”
I blink, take the bag, and my heart leaps when I see the sushi brand logo printed on the side.
1:49 pm
Chapter 306
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Princess, you threw me a tactical–themed surprise party with balloons and Squidward. I have to match your energy somehow.”
I laugh, leaning into him, and for the next few minutes, it’s just the two of us, standing in the middle of this room full of people, noise and music buzzing around us like static. But all I feel is him. Steady and warm and here.
Soon, the others trickle in–first Mila, who flings her arms around Asher and calls him “Birthday Bro,” then Boomer with a clap on the back and a look that says I know you hate this, but suck it up. Rooster smirks and gives him a beer. Max launches into a chaotic monologue about how this proves he could
totally survive Navy SEAL. training.
“I mean, look at me,” Max says, gesturing to his cargo pants and way–too–tight vest. “Don’t I look like I belong? I’m a natural.”
“No,”
nd Rooster say in unison.
T
of his drink. “You’d
e away the whole team’s location in five seconds.”
You’d forget to w
arugs. “You’d get
ghter erupts fr
ght?”
Mila til
rse.”
3
contagious. Even Max laughs, grinning wide and unboth
Haters. But I do look hot,
kward. Stiff. His hands are shoved in his pockets and
long after, and no one really notices.
4
- d. Someone lights the cake candles and yells at
side.
him be hugged. Celebrated. Seen
he deserves. Ever
hday, man before giving a small
scowling. He tries. Kind of.
Jaxing into it. It’s one of those rare, soft scowls the kind that shes his
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
