When It's All Said And Done (You're The One For Me) 1

Chapter Ten

    The next morning I awake to Emory standing over me.

    "Happy birthday!" She screams.

    I throw the covers over my head and next thing I know Emory is jumping on me. The blanket flies to the floor. I can't help but laugh. This girl is crazy.

    "Get up!"

    "Okay, okay!"

    Emory hops from my bed over to hers. When I check my phone there are already several birthday messages from my mom, my dad, Kaylin, other family members and distant friends. As I scroll through the messages, I realize there is no message from Rich. It's actually surprising considering how he's been blowing me up since I last saw him. I figured since today is my birthday he'd be trying extra hard to get my attention. I try not to think about it too much. Time to get dressed to enjoy my day.

    While in the bathroom, I hear a knock on the door. I walk out to see Tai.

    "Happy birthday love," he embraces me.

    "Thank you."

    I inhale the scent of his cologne. He smells so good!

    "I wanted to come by and tell you happy birthday in person and see if you wanted to get breakfast."

    "She would love to," Emory cuts in.

    I turn to her and all she does is smile.

    "You can come too," he offers.

    "You two go ahead. I have some homework to finish before class."

    "Alright then, you ready Kay?"

    "Yeah, let me grab my bookbag."

    Tai walks into the hallway and as soon as he's out of sight I hit Emory.

    "Ow!"

    "I'ma get you!"

    "Girl stop. You know you wanna go to breakfast with him. There's no need for me to be there. I'll just be a third wheel. Go on."

I exit our room and join Tai in the hallway.

"Ready?" Tai asks.

"Yeah."

We make our way out of my dorm. While walking, I feel my stomach growl.

"I hope they have something good in the café today," I rub my stomach.

"Café? We ain't eatin' in there."

I'm confused.

Tai crosses the campus to the area where his car is. I simply follow. The food in the dining hall is good, but going to an actual restaurant is better.

We get in the car and ride ten minutes away from the school's campus. Tai turns into the parking lot of IHOP.

"You didn't have to bring me here."

"Don't sweat it. I wanna do somethin' nice for you."

All I can do is smile. Why is he so sweet? My so called "boyfriend" hasn't even told me happy birthday yet and here is this guy taking me out for breakfast.

The hostess seats us and I browse the menu for the most inexpensive thing I can find that I actually want.

"Get whateva you want," Tai looks up from his menu.

"I'll keep it simple. I don't want to spend all your money."

Tai sucks his teeth.

"It's your birthday right?"