“Depends on the surprise. I’m not a fan of strippers.” He shoots me a look.
I flick him off until Sophie sits on my lap. She tells me to be nice and I roll my eyes. While they talk about what is and isn’t okay for birthdays, I start looking forward to mine. Sure it’s months from now, but if Sophie is determined to celebrate them all, I’ll show her exactly how fun strip clubs are. I think she’d have a good time in VIP.
Sophie nudges me. “Hey, bring your head back from outer space.”
“Not my fault the orgasms you give are good enough to make me see stars.” I tease.
She giggles and Holden rolls his eyes. “So, next weekend I have to be prepared for a party?”
“It’ll be small,” I assure him. “Just people we know and a surprise guest that Sophie knows.”
“The only surprise will be the presents.” She promises.
Holden sighs. He’s turned down birthday celebrations in the past since we got back from duty. I’m sure that there’s some guilt there. We all feel it poke us every now and again, reminding us that we’re alive when others aren’t.
But life is for the alive. If nothing else, Sophie reminds us of that on a constant basis. She adjusts on me and I steady her hips. “Unless you want round three, you better be careful.”
“Considering how much stamina you guys have, I don’t want to hear any comments about you all being old.” She huffs.
I chuckle and Holden kisses her quickly. “I have a few more things to take care of. I’ll keep this birthday stuff in mind.”
Sophie watches him walk away, but I see her focus on the prosthetic. She nibbles her bottom lip. “What if I got the wrong size for the wrap? What if he hates it? I’m so bad at presents.”
“You could wrap yourself up with just ribbon when you give it to him. I bet he’d love anything delivered that way.”
She shoves my shoulder. “I’m serious. You guys read me so well and give me such amazing things beyond sex. I feel like I’m in the dark.”
“We love you.” I kiss her cheek. “Which means anything you give us is a prize, not a present.”
She thinks about that for a moment and nods. We set up a multiplayer first shooter game and get to work kicking ass. When she stops firing, I look over to see Roman with his tongue down her throat. She moans and gets on her knees to kiss him back even better.
I swat her thigh. “We’re still in game, sweets.”
“Kay.” She says when Roman releases her. “How was your day, gorgeous?”
“Bothersome.” Roman sits beside her, eagerly stealing Sophie for himself.
She keeps playing but asks him what’s wrong. He shrugs. “In my head a lot lately. Wondering what I’m missing out on when I’m at work or thinking about work.”
“We could visit Italy again in a few months.” I offer. “Time with family always makes you feel better.”
“We could also go to Rio.” He considers. “The beaches are lovely there, plenty to do, very different from Hawaii.”
“I think Paris sounds nice,” Sophie adds in. “There are so many museums, so much history. It’s romantic and the nightlife is great. At least from what I hear. There’s something for everyone, no matter their mood.”
My eyes flick to Roman and he nods to me. Holden isn’t the only one with a birthday coming up. Sophie talks more about the Louvre and Monette’s gardens and the cobblestones and the food as we play.
Once the match is done, Roman tips her back and kisses her hungrily. Nick joins us after a moment and glances at the two actively making out on the couch before nudging me. “All good?”
“We were playing ‘where in the world should we go’.” I chuckle. “I suggested Italy again, to clear Roman’s head. Roman says, Rio. Sophie says Paris.”
He smiles warmly. “Ah, the art.”
“Exactly!” She drags herself from Roman to point at Nick. “I knew you’d understand. We could wander all day and never see all the paintings and sculptures.”
“Maybe Nick should paint you.” I elbow him. “He could use some practice on his nudes.”
She giggles and Roman gives up on claiming all of her attention for the time being. When she insists on us ordering dinner, I see something shine in his eyes, something that’s been there since we left Hawaii.