A Little Cinderella Moment

Chapter 90

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yells before there's a round of applause and my dad comes over and gives me his special daddy hug.
"Happy birthday baby girl," He kisses the top of my head and steps aside so my friends, all of my friends can embrace me in a hug. I can't believe it. I'm speechless, almost to the brink of tears.
Blinking away unshed tears I hug Jen, Greg, Selena, Lucas, and my friends from North Carolina, Brianna, Ocean, and Charlotte. I can't believe this my girls from NC are here in California. Is this the surprise my dad had planned? In a group hug with my NC girls, I had to ask. "How did you get here? When did you get here? How long are you here for?" Everyone laughs because I'm a blubbering mess asking so many questions.
"Slow down girl and catch your breath," Charlotte says. "Your dad bought us tickets to fly out to surprise you for your birthday." Oh, my god I think I am about to cry.
"We got here a couple of hours ago to help your dad set up and make this day more special for you," Brianna said.
"But" Ocean states, "We are only here for the night, with it being so close to Christmas we are here for you to celebrate your birthday and we gotta fly home tomorrow." I hate how close to Christmas my birthday is sometimes and this is one reason why I do hate it today.
"What time do you leave tomorrow?" I need to know how long I have with my friends. If it's just for the night I'm happy because I've missed them like crazy and I'm so happy they are here no matter how short their visit is.
The girls look at each other before they all say "Noon." Wow, that doesn't give me long with them at all.
"Okay. Well, um I guess we better make the most of it. Shall we get this party started?" Toni sets a playlist to play on Alexa just as Chase hands me a glass of punch.
"Happy birthday sweetheart," He kisses the side of my head and hugs me into his side as he introduces himself to my NC girls.
"Oh, we know exactly who you are good lookin'." "Our girl here has not stopped talking about you to us." "You certainly are more handsome in person than in your picture." "Does your ass really look so good in those white football pants?" "Where did you take our girl on your first date?" "You are aware if you hurt our girl, you have three country girls on your ass, right?" The girls rattle off to Chase. What is this an interrogation? You would have thought they would have come at him in a less aggressive approach but no not my girls.
"Woah ladies one at a time, please. I can only take on so much information at once." Chase tells them so the girls go over everything slower one at a time. "I think I'll start with the easiest question first if that's cool with you ladies?" They agree with his request. "For our first date, we went to Pacific Park, rode a few rides played a few games, and ate a lot of junk. We then drove out to go horseback riding where Savannah here showed me how to ride." Chase placed another kiss to the side of my head giving me the praise for something I loved to do back in North Carolina.
"Hang on there one second," Jen interrupts us. "You rode a horse?" We both nod, "I don't believe that. No way did you my twin brother get on a horse." Chase pulled out his phone and showed Jen the pictures of us on our horseback riding adventure. "I'm sorry I still don't believe it I'm looking at the pictures, but I don't believe it."
"How come Jen?" I ask her. How is it so hard for her to believe this?
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Jen asks Chase as he shakes his head.
"Tell me what?" I look between the two of them.
"Chase has a fear of horses. Has been since we were maybe four years old." Chase is staring daggers at Jen wanting her to stop talking. But in typical Jen style, she ignores it and continues with her tale. "We traveled to Kentucky to visit our grandma and there was a county fayre there. Chase ran away from our parents to go to the helter-skelter that was there but was unaware of his surroundings, fell over, and spooked a Shire horse." Oh, God no not a Shire they can be scary when spooked. "As you guessed seeing a big beast like that on its hind legs will scare the shit out of any kid. And ever since that day, Chase has been nowhere near a horse or even had the balls to face his fear."
"Until today," Chase claims. "I faced my fears for the woman I love, and I didn't want her to know about that thanks, Jen. But Savannah," I turn to look at Chase just as he cups the side of my face and strokes my cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I would do it over and over again as long as I got to see that smile on your face every time I do."
"You did that for me?" I can't believe he did that.
"I would do about anything for you sweetheart."