Just Pretend

Chapter 91 - Happy Birthday Part 2.

"Mar, why are we here?" Noah asks clearly confused as the uber stops right outside one of his favourite restaurants.

"Because it's your favourite place to eat. Duh." I reply like it's obvious, getting out the uber.

"Yeah, but it's sushi, you can't eat anything." Noah half grumbles getting out the uber thanking the driver.

"I know. I haven't gone completely pregnancy brained." I say dryly closing the car door joining Noah on the sidewalk.

He looks at me slightly defeated, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"What? Don't give me that look." I groan not wanting to ruin the good mood.

"Why are we here Mar?" Noah asks again taking my hand in his own, his eyes searching mine. "We haven't come here since we found out about her and that's for a good reason."

I feel bad, he's right. We used to come here all the time, at least once a month, usually more to be honest. Whenever we couldn't be bothered to cook or even if we were driving out this side of LA we'd always make a point to eat here.

"Because it's your birthday Noah." I say simply desperate for some normality.

"That's not entirely right." He frowns slightly.

"It is and before you start I called ahead." I say with a knowing smirk.

"You what?"

"I called ahead, asked what I can have, what they can make fully cooked, what's actually safe." I tell him watching his expression shift from confusion to something softer.

"You did that?" He asks quietly and I give a small nod.

"Of course. This is your favourite place to eat and I didn't want to bring you here and just watch you eat. Girls gotta eat too." I try keep it light, my voice teasing.

"Mar..."

"Noah please." I plead like I'm desperate to prove it. "There's actually loads that I can have, Tempura, teriyaki, fully cooked rolls. It's not all doom and gloom."

"You went to all this length for a sushi place." Noah laughs but it doesn't land.

"No, I went to all this length for your birthday. You deserve to eat at your favourite place on your day." I remind him sounding like a broken record.

"I don't care about the sushi." Noah says finally his jaw shifting slightly.

"I know but I do. You haven't had it in months because of me." I mumble truthfully.

"That's not why-"

"It is." I cut in gently, closing the space between us. "Maybe not completely, but it's part of it. And I don't want everything to feel like it's something we have to give up."

I finally see it click for Noah. The understanding of everything I wasn't saying finally laid out bare.

"I get it. One night that feels like it's completely us again." Noah whispers calmly.

"Yeah. Plus you are allowed to enjoy things, y'know." I smile reaching for his hand, feeling his fingers thread through mine.

"I enjoy you." He says and I can't help but roll my eyes, feeling warmth spread to my cheeks.

"You're still getting sushi." I tell him and he huffs out a laugh, shaking his head.

"Okay lil' mama you ain't gotta tell me twice." Noah winks pulling me towards the doors of the restaurant and I follow without hesitation, glad this tiny thing still belongs to us.

                                                *

"Okay I admit it I really missed that place." Noah chuckles as we walk up our driveway.

"See, I knew it was a good idea. Might have been my best yet." I smile at him whilst unlocking the front door.

"Maybe we could go back again soon. Y'know like how we used to." He says softly watching me as I open the door.

"Yeah, I'd love that." I step inside trying to stop the smile from my face growing too big, slipping off my shoes allowing Noah to go ahead of me. "I'm gonna go and get changed, I'll be a sec."

"Yeah, okay." He hums already heading towards the kitchen and I linger in the doorway ready to see it unfold, my phone in hand set on record.

The house is quiet, just the sound of his footsteps and then the muted click of the light.

"Happy birthday Noah!" Voices chorus together and finally I let my smile crack, warmth spilling out before I can even try to hold it in.

He completely freezes, like his brain hasn't caught up with what's happening.

He stands in the doorway eyes darting between everyone and then back to me, brows furrowed but a smile tugging at his lips.

"You sneaky lil' shit." Noah chuckles holding his out for me. I slip mine into his, and he gently tugs me closer, pulling me into him—like he needs me there, right in the middle of it all.

We head into the kitchen together, a sea of familiar faces. Our ususal gang plus a couple extras from our housewarming. Noah's friends really, but over time they've become mine too.

"Happy birthday dude." Nick grins, stepping forward first pulling Noah into a quick, firm hug, clapping him on the back.

"Thanks man. I did think it was strange that you weren't at laser tag." Noah replies, pulling back with a knowing look. "You too Sade."

"Yeah man, someone had to set this shit up. No way Margo could move all this heavy stuff around so sacrifices were made." Nick nudges me lightly.

"Thank you, seriously." I whisper to Nick and Sadie as Noah makes his way around the room catching up with people who made the effort to be here.

"Of course. It takes a village." Sadie smiles pressing a drink into my hand.

"I appreciate it guys, really." I reply.

"Mar, anytime and we're here." Nick says his voice soft, more sincere than his usual teasing.

"So are we gonna celebrate or just stare at him like he's an exhibit?" Folio announces commanding the room and I just shake my head at his outburst.

"Give him a minute he's processing." Jolly laughs pouring himself a beer.

"Sheesh, I've processed let's get this party started." Noah laughs moving through the bodies of people back to me. "Well Miss Brown, you did good." Noah presses a kiss to my forehead as music begins to loudly play through the room.

I shrug as he pulls away, a smirk playing dangerously on my lips.

"I try." I whisper looking up at him, his chocolate pools engulfing me and I almost forget how to breathe until I hear the click of a camera. I don't even have to look over to know Brian just captured one of my favourite moments.

"He's relentless." Noah chuckles glancing over to Brian who just grins then quickly snaps another photo of us before disappearing.

"He's kinda the best." I argue gently and Noah nods in agreement.

"Yeah, he is." He smiles, his fingers lacing through mine. "C'mere—let's go say hi."

Noah tugs me toward the sea of familiar faces, and even though I'm tired, worn out, and desperately want to put my feet up, I let him pull me along.

Because at the end of everything... he's the most important.