this love • gracie abrams

021 bear cage

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
bear cage
•

AFTER charlotte got over her cold and after gracie got over hers when charlotte gave it to her four days later, jude and charlotte finally got to planning their twenty third. initially, it was just gonna be something lowkey, but after immense begging from marcus for them to have another blown on party like usual, they caved under one condition. no family members are allowed to enter to kill the vibe. anyone else in the world was allowed to show up except a parker that wasn't jude or charlotte.

leading up to the day, jude and charlotte were complete messes, running around to rent a house for the night, book a bouncer, their dj, rent a photo booth, spending way too much cash at party city, booking bartenders — doing everything they did yearly for their annual house party of the year.

the night before, charlotte and him spent about an hour in the liquor store to pick out basically everything in stock. gracie didn't go with since she was too busy finalizing her purchase on her gift for charlotte, which she plans on giving her the night of their party or the morning after, depending on how drunk they both are. she also has a day planned out the day after so she can treat her to her birthday with just the two of them in a more relaxed way which she was hating having to keep a secret with how excited she was. aside from the main gift she has for charlotte, she also had to go buy something for herself — an outfit if you will. it was something she was overly nervous about since she won't know charlotte's reaction until much later the night of the party, but she went through with buying it in hopes things go well.

however, the thing she was the most nervous about was the night after jude and charlotte's birthday, since the two wanted nothing more than to go eat out at their favourite diner joint with her, sadie, marcus, caleb, matthew, lily, sydney, and olivia. gracie wasn't at all comfortable enough to go out and have food with that many people in public, she's avoided it well these past few months but she realized that this was one she sneak away from. so, she selfishly kind of hopes the hangovers in the morning they all have last all day.

"good morning," she whispered, kissing charlotte's face softly and laying on top of her. "happy birthday, pretty girl."

charlotte opened her eyes and smiled as gracie kept kissing her nose, cheeks, lips, forehead, jaw, "thank you," she giggled, wrapping her arms around gracie. "what time is it?"

"nearly eight."

"oh god, you woke me up this early? on my birthday? gracie how could you," she whined, joking pushing her off and rolling over to her side.

"well who else am i gonna give twenty three kisses too?" gracie asked, pulling her back over to continue pressing her lips on her.

"just kisses? worst birthday ever," charlotte chuckled.

"mm, don't worry," gracie lifted her head for a second to look at her, "you'll get more later." gracie finished her job and got up, stretching and going to their practically combined closet to find her shorts.

"nooo, come back," charlotte frowned, reaching her arms out.

"i will later, i have to go workout and you can get more sleep. gonna be up all night anyways."

"but you went to the gym yesterday, come sleep with me," charlotte begged.

gracie shook her head, thinking about the dinner plans for tomorrow night, "i'll be back before you even get up, i know it." she walked back over to the bed and held a long kiss to charlotte's lips, pulling away after the moan from charlotte, "i love you. i'll pick you up some coffee on the way home, where from?"