Edge of seventeen

Chapter 67

Asher had always known that Elliot's birthday would be special. But this year, he was determined to make it unforgettable. They'd been through so much together, and now that they were finally on the same page, it felt like the perfect time to show Elliot just how much he meant to him.

The week leading up to Elliot's birthday was a whirlwind of secret preparations. Asher had been meticulous, making sure every detail was perfect. He'd never been much of a planner, but for Elliot, he was willing to go the extra mile.

On the morning of Elliot's birthday, Asher woke up early, the excitement buzzing through him. He carefully placed the cake he'd ordered on the kitchen counter. It was a rich red velvet, Elliot's favorite, with cream cheese frosting and a simple, elegant design. Next to it was a small box, wrapped in deep blue paper with a silver ribbon. Inside was a ruby bracelet, something Asher had spent weeks searching for. It was valuable, yes, but more than that, it felt like the perfect gift—something beautiful and meaningful, just like Elliot.

Asher took a deep breath, glancing at the clock. It was almost time. He made his way to the bedroom, where Elliot was still sound asleep. The sight of him there, peaceful and unaware of the surprises waiting for him, made Asher's heart swell. He couldn't wait to see the look on Elliot's face when he realized what Asher had planned.

"Ell, wake up," Asher whispered softly, leaning down to press a kiss to Elliot's cheek.

Elliot stirred, a groggy smile tugging at his lips as he blinked his eyes open. "Mmm, morning."

"Morning, birthday boy," Asher said with a grin, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Got a surprise for you."

Elliot's eyes lit up with a mixture of curiosity and excitement as he pushed himself up on his elbows. "A surprise, huh? What've you got planned?"

"Come and see," Asher replied, standing up and holding out his hand.

Elliot took it, letting Asher pull him out of bed and lead him to the kitchen. When they got there, Elliot's eyes widened in surprise. "You got me a cake?"

"Of course I did," Asher said, wrapping an arm around Elliot's waist. "And there's more. Open that." He nodded toward the small box on the counter.

Elliot looked at Asher, then back at the box. He picked it up, carefully unwrapping it, and when he saw the bracelet inside, he froze. "Ash... this is..."

"Happy birthday, Elliot," Asher said softly, watching Elliot's reaction.

"Holy shit, Ash, it's beautiful," Elliot murmured, his fingers tracing over the ruby. He looked up at Asher, his expression a mix of awe and affection. "You didn't have to..."

"I wanted to," Asher interrupted, pulling Elliot into a hug. "You deserve it, Ell. You deserve everything."

Elliot hugged him back tightly, his face buried in Asher's shoulder. "Fuck, you're gonna make me cry, and it's too early for that."

Asher chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at Elliot. "There's more. We're going to the art museum this afternoon. And then..." He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he was going overboard, but the excitement on Elliot's face gave him the push he needed. "Then we're going to Paris. Tonight."

Elliot's eyes widened in shock. "Paris? Are you fucking serious?"

"Dead serious," Asher said, smiling at the disbelief in Elliot's voice. "We've got a week. I figured we could use the break."

Elliot stared at him for a moment, his mind clearly racing as he processed everything. "This is... Ash, this is amazing. I don't even know what to say."

"Say you're excited," Asher teased, nudging him playfully. "Because I am."

"Excited doesn't even begin to cover it," Elliot said, his voice thick with emotion. He leaned in, pressing a hard kiss to Asher's lips. "Thank you. Seriously, thank you."

"You're welcome," Asher said, kissing him back just as passionately. "Now, let's eat some cake before we head out. We've got a big day ahead."

The day passed in a blur of happiness. The visit to the art museum was everything Asher had hoped for—Elliot was in his element, pointing out his favorite pieces and sharing stories about the artists. It was clear how much this meant to him, and seeing Elliot so engaged and joyful made Asher's heart swell with pride. He could see how much effort Elliot put into trying to enjoy each moment, even though he had a feeling Elliot was still processing the enormity of everything Asher had planned.

When they got back to the dorm around 4 PM, they quickly started packing for their trip. Asher could see the excitement bubbling just beneath the surface of Elliot's calm demeanor. By the time 8 PM rolled around, they were at the airport, boarding their flight to Paris. The reality of the trip finally hit them when they were settled in their seats, the plane taxiing down the runway.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Elliot whispered, his hand gripping Asher's tightly.

"Believe it," Asher replied, squeezing Elliot's hand back. "This is just the beginning, Ell."

The flight passed quickly, with both of them drifting in and out of sleep. When they landed in Paris at 5 AM, they were exhausted but too excited to care. They made their way to the hotel, checked in, and took a quick shower before collapsing into bed. The comfort of the hotel room, combined with the exhaustion of the journey, lulled them both into a deep sleep.

When they woke up later that day, refreshed and ready to explore, Asher couldn't help but smile as he watched Elliot get dressed. There was something different about today—maybe it was the fact that they were in a different country, or maybe it was the realization that they were finally moving forward. Whatever it was, Asher felt more connected to Elliot than ever before.

They spent the day visiting some of Paris's most iconic sights. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame were just a few of the stops on their list. Everywhere they went, Elliot's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Asher couldn't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that he was the one who had made this possible.

By the time they got back to the hotel that night, they were both exhausted but happy. Asher couldn't stop smiling as they got ready for bed, his mind still reeling from everything they'd seen and done.

"You know," Elliot said as they climbed into bed, his voice low and teasing, "today was pretty fucking amazing. But there's one thing we haven't done yet."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Asher asked, his heart skipping a beat at the look in Elliot's eyes.

"This," Elliot whispered, leaning in to kiss Asher deeply. The kiss was slow and intense, filled with all the emotions they'd been holding back. Asher felt like he was drowning in it, the world around them fading away until there was nothing but the two of them.

They kissed for what felt like hours, their hands exploring each other's bodies with a newfound urgency. Asher could feel the tension building between them, the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface finally bubbling over. But just as things were about to go further, Elliot pulled back, his breathing heavy as he rested his forehead against Asher's.

"Fuck, Ash," Elliot murmured, his voice strained. "I want you so bad, but... we haven't even resolved our shit yet."

Asher nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know. We'll get there. We've got time."

Elliot smiled, a mixture of frustration and affection in his eyes. "Yeah, we do." He kissed Asher one last time, soft and lingering, before pulling back and settling down beside him.

Asher lay there for a while, his mind still buzzing from everything that had happened. He couldn't help but think about how far they'd come, from the awkward tension to this newfound closeness. It wasn't perfect, and they still had a lot to figure out, but for now, it was enough.