We agreed that we would keep my birthday quiet. I’m not big on celebrations, so we were going to just do lunch on Monday. I didn’t want Forrest to know that Sunday is my fortieth birthday, knowing he would make a fuss and buy some expensive present that wasn’t necessary. I’m not worth it. And I was so wound up about not knowing what was going on when we left the office that it didn’t even occur to me it was to do with my birthday that I was trying to forget about.

“Hey, it wasn’t me. I wasn’t told until this morning and was sworn to secrecy!” she screams back at me.

The plane is full of all our friends. Nic and Tori, Rem and Elouise, Cherie, and of course, Flynn and Felisha.

I turn back around to face the man who is responsible for this explosion of noise. “Why?” I ask.

“Because, like I told you, you’re special to me. And this is just the beginning of me showing you that. No one should let a big birthday go past without a party. I knew you wouldn’t leave the house on Sunday, so yes, I’m kidnapping you, and instead of a day, you now get the whole weekend to enjoy the celebration of my beautiful Harper.”

I don’t get a chance to reply before his hand takes the back of my head and draws me to him. Our lips collide, and he is reminding me in case I forgot that he owns my body, but what he doesn’t know is that whether I like it or not, he owns my soul too.

Who can stay mad at a man who is trying to make me feel seen, no matter how hard I try to hide?

“You know, you are more sickening than any of us were, big brother.” Flynn hands Forrest the beer that he ordered for him once we were in the air and had leveled out. I decided that just a sparkling water was all I needed to calm me down. Alcohol on an empty stomach probably isn’t the best idea, but I’m not admitting to Forrest I didn’t eat today. That is not the smartest move in a confined space.

“That’s what manly charm looks like. Time to step up your game.” Forrest smiles at me in the seat next to me, with Felisha and Flynn opposite us.

And something inside of me has me wanting to defend him.

“You should hear what he says when you’re not around, it would burn your ears.” I take a sip of my drink, and Flynn almost chokes on his beer.