Asha's birthday.
Asha, James, Luke and I celebrated it at our home cafe down the beach ; Drinking, laughing, talking.
We clinked our glasses, for a new healthy year of Ashas ; full of joy, luck and love.
James got us all tickets for the next hockey game in two weeks. For the team the four of us have always been rooting for trough the screen.
When the conversation passed to the upcoming spring break, Luke mentioned his upcoming visit back home to England, which was really quite far from us.
"I've heard english women were the most beautiful. Why don't you go and finally look out for someone?" James nudged him teasingly.
Luke's eyes rolled back.
"Can't a day go by without your mention of other women?"
"No, why? I want you to find the woman of your dreams" James took a sip of his drink. Then he seemed distant again.
A pause followed.
"Woman of my dreams" Luke huffed under his breath. James raised a brow, yet decided to leave it.
When Luke looked up and caught my gaze, I smiled; hoping for him to understand.
I blinked. He smiled back at me.
Then I started examining Asha.
He needed a new hair cut. I reached out to ruffle trough his hair when he caught my hand. He stared at me for a few seconds and my heart started picking up on pace.
Slowly, he lead my hand towards his mouth, pressing a long kiss on it.
When he pulled back, Asha intertwined our fingers, with the other hand pulling my chair closer to his.
When he leaned in, James cut in.
"I know the two of you cannot get enough of each other and stuff bla bla .., but really...does that have to make you incapable of keeping your hands by yourselves? Seeing physical contact is disgusting" And that's when Luke choked on a laugh.
"Oh, and that says you of all"
"What is that supposed to mean now?"
And so both of them finally got into a once again wittily heated conversation. Just as typical. And I was glad.
I felt Asha's breath close. I felt him against my neck—his arm wrapping around my torso—his chin settling on my shoulder. "Elany" He whispered. My head leaned against his.
"Asha"
"Thank you for today..." He said.
"...Thank you for organising this"
"But you haven't seen your present yet" I whispered.
When we got home I stopped him right in front of the door.
To that, only surprised blinking followed.
"Okay" I turned to him "I don't know if I'm crazy or amazing for this, but I know how much you've been wanting her, and I've been too honestly"
I've had Luke to pick her up and bring her here, when Asha's birthday dinner started..,he had come late.
"Her? What do you mean?"
Only grinning. I unlocked the door, slowly opening it.
"Darling.." I said "Meet our new family member"
And that was when we started hearing barking and the sound of little paws tapping. Running rather.
A.black little maltipoo came running towards him, trying to jump up his legs.
Asha gasped. He gasped, knelt down and I closed the door behind us.
"A dog, Elany. You got us a dog" Pure excitement was to hear out of his voice.
I got down next to him, watching him pet her. Full of love he looked, when he asked:
"Azy?"
I nodded.
"Azy"
He immediately pressed a kiss on Azys head, and so I saw tears rolling down his face.
"Azy" He whispered quietly.
"Asha?"
Not a second had passed, when I felt the pressure of his arms around my torso. Asha nestled his face into the crook of my shoulder, muffled words following.
Some words I could still make out.
"I love you, Elany. Not just for this. For everything." I pressed a kiss onto his forehead.
