certain things

35.

"Sam," I hummed, not making the move to get out of bed. "Sammy, you gotta get up."

"I don't wanna." I mumbled into my pillow and I heard Liam laugh as he sat on the bed next to me.

"C'mon, I made you breakfast." He bribed and I looked up at him, peeking one eye open.

"Pancakes?" I asked and Liam smiled, nodded. "I suppose I can make that work."

Liam laughed and picked me up from the bed, making me squeal. He carried me, bridal style, to the kitchen and sat me down at the table, going over to the stove. Liam came back with a plate of chocolate chip pancakes and a bowl of fruit. He sat down across from me and we dug in, me sighing in happiness at the taste of the pancakes. Damn, they were good.

"Thanks for this, Li." I smiled and he leaned over to kiss me.

"Anything for the birthday girl." He smiled and I finished up my food, taking the dishes to the sink. "No, you have to go get ready."

"Why?" I laughed as he took the plates out of my hands.

"Because I'm taking you out today." I hesitantly nodded and left the kitchen.

I walked to the bathroom and plugged up the flat iron, grabbing my brush. I combed through my long hair and began straightening it, trying to get every wavy piece. I started on my makeup afterwords and stuck to eyeliner and mascara, putting on a thin layer of foundation. I went back to the bedroom and to my side of the closet, trying to figure out what to wear.

"Liam? What am I supposed to wear?" I called out, cocking my head to the side.

"I put it on the chair." He yelled back so I walked over to the chair, looking at the outfit on it.

I pulled on the ripped jean shorts and black tank top, slipping on my thrift shop sweater that I found in the men's section. It was my favorite. I rolled the sleeves up to my wrists and stepped into my Converse, grabbing my black beanie. I put it on and grabbed my phone and wallet, leaving the bedroom.

"Ready?" Liam asked and I nodded, following him to the car, getting in the passenger seat.

"Where are you taking me?" I wondered and Liam smiled, pulling out of the driveway.

"It's a surprise." Liam smirked and I rolled my eyes. "Here, put this on."

Liam handed me a blindfold so I gave him a look saying 'are you kidding me' and Liam just smiled, urging me to put it on. I did as he said and Liam grabbed my hand across the center console, making me smile a little. We rode in silence and soon enough, Liam stopped the car, putting it in park.

"Can I take this off now?" I asked and Liam told me no, getting out.

He opened my door and helped me out, keeping his hands on my shoulders so I wouldn't fall down while walking. After a minute, he stopped me and came to be in my front. Liam pulled off the blindfold and stepped the side. My eyes adjusted to the light and I looked at my surroundings. It was the small pond that Liam and I used to go to a bunch when we started college.

"Liam," My voice faltered and he just smiled, nudging me forward.

I walked a little and noticed a bunch of pictures hung up on the trees. They were all of Liam and I starting from when we were babies up to last week. I walked around, looking at all of the pictures and couldn't help but smile at the one from when Liam proposed.

"When did you do this?" I asked, turning around and Liam smiled.

"It's a secret." He smirked and I laughed, going over to wrap my arms around him. "Do you like it?"

"I love it." I said and stood on my tip toes to kiss him.

After a while, Liam led me to a blanket that was sat down in the grass right next to the pond. There was a picnic basket and I sat down, watching him pull out some cookies. I laughed a little and took one, taking a bite. I immediately knew that Karen had made them because they taste exactly like hers. I decided not to say anything because of how excited he was.

"So, we have reservations with everyone for dinner at six but we can do whatever you want for the rest of the day." Liam swallowed his cookie and I smiled, nodding.

"Let's just stay here for a while." I said and Liam nodded, moving the basket out of the way.

Liam and I laid down on the blanket and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. I rested my head on his chest and looked over at the pond, watching the wind move the water around. Liam pressed a kiss to my forehead and I sighed in content, tangling our legs together. We laid in silence, neither of us feeling the need to say anything. We spent a lot of time like this.

"Wanna guess what I got you?" Liam asked after a while and I hummed in question. "For your birthday?"

"I thought this was my present." I motioned to the pictures and Liam laughed. "Liam, you know how much I hate when you get me stuff."

"And that is exactly why I do it." He smiled contently and I rolled my eyes, watching him intertwine our fingers in the air. "But seriously, guess."

"A dog." I mumbled and Liam smiled.

"Nope." He shook his head. "You'll just have to find out later."

"You are a handful." I laughed and Liam gasped.

"How dare you?" I laughed against his chest and Liam did too, running his hand up and down my back. "I love you, Sam."

"I love you too, Li." I mumbled. Man, this is a good birthday.