Right Place, Wrong Time

66. Wish Come True

The rest of the week passed in a blur of happy moments. It wasn't long at all before Joey's birthday arrived, and as sad as she was about having to leave the next day, Lauren focused all her energy into giving him the most perfect birthday possible, their first as a couple.

She woke up to him gazing at her, the softest smile on his face.

"Good morning," he said, when her eyes opened, stroking her face.

"Happy birthday." She kissed him sleepily.

"The best birthday," he murmured.

"Can I give you your present now?" she asked, reaching out of bed and dragging her bag closer by the tip of her finger.

"You didn't have to get me anything. You already came here," he said, stroking her hair.

"Which didn't even cost me anything," she reminded him. "Here." She handed him a wrapped box.

He toyed with it, giving her a look that would be disapproving if it weren't so grateful.

"I can't take it back," she said. "So you might as well open it."

At last he unwrapped the box, then opened it up and pulled out a watch.

"Do you like it?" she said.

"I love it, Lo, thank you."

He was about to kiss her, but she touched his wrist. "Turn it over!"

She watched his face eagerly as he did so and saw the engraving on the back.

"Co-ordinates," he said, looking at her questioningly.

"Ann Arbor," she smiled.

He smiled back. "Our place." He ran his finger gently over the engraving, then flipped it back over to strap it onto his wrist.

"You don't have to wear it right now," she said.

"I want to. I'm never taking it off."

She tapped his wrist. "Don't wear it in the shower."

He laughed, pulling her close and peppering her with kisses until they had to get out of bed for breakfast with his parents.

"Is there anything you want to do today?" Denise asked him, as she put a plate in front of Joey.

He looked at Lauren, laying a hand on her thigh. "I just want to hang out."

Her heart warmed. Parties were much more his thing than hers, but he was happy just to spend the day chilling with her.

His parents had a hammock out in the shade, and Joey and Lauren lay there together while his parents went shopping for the barbecue they were having later. Joey kept his foot on the ground to rock them gently back and forth, one arm around her, stroking gentle circles into her skin. She lay with her head in the crook of his neck, her hand on his chest. The shade kept the heat off them but the air smelled of summer.

"I could get used to this," Lauren sighed.

"Me too," he said, squeezing her shoulder.

She twisted to look up at him. "Do you think we could have a hammock one day?"

"We can have whatever you want."

She nuzzled back into him, and he kissed the top of her head. This was complete bliss. For everything that was still uncertain in her life, not yet knowing where she'd end up, a career without security, this was one thing she never had to worry about. She had a future with Joey. A whole lifetime with someone who was her safe place, a love that was unconditional.