Overboard

Chapter Thirteen

*Three months later*

I took a deep breath before blowing out the eighteen candles on my cake. Niall was the first to clap, cutting off the chorus of happy birthday that my parents, brother and friends were singing, much to my delight.

“Photo!” my mum grinned, holding up her camera and aiming it at me like a loaded gun.

In panic, I grabbed Niall and pulled him into me, smashing my lips against his to hide my face from the camera. He didn’t complain, his lips parting under mine as he kissed me back deeply.

“Ugh get a room would you,” Harry called out.

“I don’t complain when you and Louis are basically sucking each other’s faces off, besides it’s my birthday I can kiss my boyfriend anywhere I want and you can’t complain, it’s a rule,” I told him, narrowing my eyes.

Louis chuckled and Liam and Zayn joined in, grinning at the pink-cheeked boy with the curly hair. Zayn and Liam were standing at the edge of the kitchen counter at my parent’s house, Liam standing behind Zayn with his chin resting on his shoulder while Harry and Louis were separated by my mother who was pushing in everywhere to try and get a clear photo of my face. Niall still had a firm but comforting grip around my waist, his fingers digging in gently to the soft material of my short black dress.

“Open your presents now! Come on this is so exciting,” my best friend, Lilly, cut in, grinning hugely at me.

“Only if mum promises to put the camera down for five minutes,” I said, my eyes flicking over to my camera happy mother.

“Come on Lana, let’s just relax with the photos for a little while okay,” dad intervened, slowly prying the camera from mums hands.

Lilly grabbed my hand and towed me through to the living room, Niall still hanging off my waist. The other lads and my family followed closely behind, all crowding around as I nestled myself on the sofa between Lilly and Niall. Hunter was the first to hand me a present, a small rectangular box that was terribly wrapped with a little bow on the top.

“I think the fact that you wrapped this yourself is present enough,” I teased lightly as I pried open the wrapping, careful not to wrap the shiny gold paper.

“It took me ten minutes and I’m never wrapping another present in my life,” Hunter said, folding his arms over his chest.

“I’m not complaining, it’s sweet,” I grinned, slipping the last of the paper off the reveal a slender white box with silver specks on it.

I cautiously took the lid off and laughed. He couldn’t have picked anything more perfect.

“Do you like it?” Hunter asked as I pulled the thin silver chain from the box so everybody could see the small boat wrapped in palm trees dangling from it.

Harry, Louis and Niall beamed at the necklace. It was such a perfect representation of how we became friends and where I fell in love. Niall slipped it from my fingers to fasten the chain around my neck, the boat resting close to my heart.

“It’s perfect, thank you so much Hunter,” I said, reaching up to pull my younger brother in for a tight hug which he tried to pretend he didn’t enjoy.

“Mine next,” Lilly all but screamed, handing me a small white envelope.

“If it’s something expensive you’re taking it back Lilly,” I cautioned, taking the envelope.

“Just open it.”

I pulled the envelope open and out fell two concert tickets. With wide eyes I looked up at Lilly who was biting back a smile. I looked back at the tickets and felt a cheek-splitting grin spread across my face.