Apartment 311

Ch | 83

Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Eighty-three: "Cheers and beers to 25 years"

I returned to Noah on the balcony, after a shower, and sat in his lap. He offered me a green grape and fed it to me. I bit into it aggressively after leaning it like I was going to be sexy.
Noah laughed at me and said, "That's hot," licking the juice from his thumb.

"Happy birthday. You're an old man now," I started the conversation. I eased into a chair across from his and stretched my legs out, putting my bare feet in his lap.

Noah chuckled and said, "Hand me my cane, I gotta make it to shuffleboard by noon." I laughed along with him as he rubbed my foot, then found myself staring at the features that made up his Godly face.

Noah leaned in and kissed my lips but only briefly because I pulled away.

"You want your gift now, or later?" I questioned, chewing my lip with anxiety.

"Is that a question? Now." He rubbed his hands together and I told him to close his eyes or continue looking straight ahead.

"Don't cheat!" I shouted from the bedroom, eyeing him.

I came back onto the balcony and said, "Open." Noah placed it on the ground and ripped the box open that I didn't bother wrapping.

His face went blank when he saw what was inside: nothing.

"I thought about what to get you, Noah, but I couldn't think of anything."

"Good, 'cause I didn't want anything from you," he said, pushing the box away. His fingers signaled me over so I stood and he pulled me back onto his lap.

"Well, there's this, but it's not that exciting," I said, digging a silver Gucci Ghost chain bracelet from the pocket of my sage green two piece Blair front tie Gingham romper.

"Appreciate it," he grinned, putting it on right away. I liked how he looked in bracelets, so why not? Might as well get Gael one next, too, since I'm a jeweler at this point - first Cassie, now Noah.

"Oh, and one more thing," I said, acting like I was reaching for something but instead, I stole a kiss.
Noah laughed against my lips and I backed away again.

His phone then rang and I saw that it was Rick so I let him answer it.

Minutes later, there was a knock on the door that escalated into a full-on beat. I stopped putting my clothes away and laughed, knowing it could only be two people: Gael and Cassie.

Being it was still early and Cass likes to take her sweet time getting ready for the day, she wore a plush white robe and slippers, her hair damp and wavy. Gael, on the other hand, was clad in a muscle shirt, a pair of shorts and socks like Noah. I think they're the real soulmates here.

"Sorry, we didn't order room service," I joked, pretending to shut the door on them. "No, I'm kidding. Come in!"

Cassie walked in before her boyfriend. "Don't mind if we do," she beamed.

"Noah is decent, right?" Gael asked, making me laugh.

"Duh," I said back to him. "he's on the balcony."

Gael led the way but stopped at the door to whisper to Cass while I lingered behind, waiting to get on the balcony, as well.

"Sit this one out babe," I heard Gael say, finally stepping outside onto the balcony.