Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 60

Isla

I didn't know how it would go when I came to his house just ten minutes ago. I didn't know anything other than the fact that I messed up.

Julian gives me a smile and then ducks down to press a kiss on my lips. Pulling back, he says, "Okay, I want to show you the cake first."

"The cake?" I ask, and he nods, letting go of my face and moving closer to the table. He leans down and takes off the covering of the round box, and my eyes widen at the cake. It was an exact replica of the cake I wanted—the picture I found online. I had sent it to Julian with the full expectation that it wasn't going to turn out to be the same. I mean, I sent it just a few days ago, and the cake looked complex.

"My aunt was happy to make it," Julian says, and I cannot tear my eyes off the cake. It was a heart-shaped cake with soft pink frosting. There was some decorative frosting on the sides; everything was themed. It had pearls, and I didn't need to even look close to see that it was shining. It was perfect. When I duck my head to see clearly, I can see the writing on top of the cake.

Dancing Queen. Young and sweet. Only 17.

The numbers were the largest ones on the cake, and it was done to perfection. Everything is tied together. I look up at Julian, giving him a smile, and say, "I didn't pick that writing."

"I knew you liked that song," he says with a shrug. "I thought the cake would be fitting."

"It is," I say with a nod. Feeling my heart warm at the thoughtful gestures all around, I smile larger. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he says, then drops his voice to a whisper. "And," he says, reaching for me. His hand goes over my head, and I stare at him until the room darkens. I believe he turned off the light. Soon I see his silhouette moving, and a few moments later, I find that there were candles lighting up on the cake. I see the number 17 coming to life, and then Julian moves away.

He stands behind me now, a hand planted on my shoulder as he moves his head in between my shoulders. "We have to be quiet," he says in my ear. "But you deserve a song," he says, and I hear the quiet sound of the song's lyrics coming from my phone. Then I feel him place a hand on my waist, and softly he starts to sing. He sings happy birthday to me, keeping it short. But I love the gesture all too much either way. After the song ends, he says, "Happy birthday, my sweet Isla Nova."

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Make a wish," he says into my ear, and I duck down to do so. I feel his hand on the back of my hair, and I realize he was holding my hair up. Feeling my heart so full of love, I blow out the cake. In time, Julian turns on the overhead light when I glance back at him. He gives me a grin and says, "Good?"

"I loved it," I say, and I glance at the cake. "And the cake looks so good."

"Which we will eat in a moment," he says, but then plans to put his hands on my shoulder. Looking into my eyes, he says, "But there are a couple of things I wanted to grab before that."

"Julian, you didn't have to get me gifts," I say, but he only shakes his head. "Stay right here," he says, and I watch as he runs out of the kitchen and toward his room. A minute later, he returns to the kitchen with his hands full. In one hand, I saw some pretty flowers, light purple. They instantly made me smile. On the other hand, he was holding a box, and there was a little stuffed animal on top of it as well.

My smile widens as I say, "You went all out for my birthday."

"I had to," he says with a smile. "It's not everyday that it's your birthday."