Forever

Part 19

It was the night of Nick's birthday party. Sarah had kicked him out of the house the night before, sending him to stay with Jose, so she could get everything ready. Caro and another girlfriend, Angela, had spent the night, helping Sarah set up. They had just finished setting candles around the entire perimeter of the pool and were sweaty and exhausted.

"Remind me again why you didn't just hire someone to do this?", Caro complained, fanning herself with her hand.

Sarah laughed. "I think we're done! The bartender is setting up, the DJ should be here any minute, and the food is coming at 6...I don't know...". She ran her hands through her hair, overwhelmed. "Does it look ok? I want it to be perfect". She stepped back, surveying the pots of white roses scattered through the yard, and on the glass stage set up over part of the pool. 

"It is perfect" Angela said, linking arms with Sarah. "He's going to love it".

Caro played with Sarah's hair. "Everything looks great, mama. Let's have a drink, relax a bit before we need to get ready".

The doorbell rang before she could answer. She rolled her eyes and made an exasperated face. "Go, girls, start the party. I'll be up as soon as I can".

She answered the door, a floral delivery person standing there. "Oh, no", she said, "I already received my delivery".

"For Sarah?", the delivery person asked.

"Yeah, that's me"

The delivery person checked his clipboard. "No, these are definitely for you".

"Ok", she laughed. "Give me one second". She ran back to the kitchen, grabbing some cash from her purse, to tip with. She handed the person the money, taking the flowers. "Thank you". She closed the door, pulling the card out, reading it as she made her way back to the kitchen. 

'I miss you - Nicky', the card read. She smiled, picking her phone up from the counter and dialing Nick's number.

"Hi baby" he answered, on the second ring.

"Baby" she said, leaning against the counter, running her fingers over the flower petals, "they're beautiful. Thank you. But, you're so silly! It's your birthday. I should be sending you flowers!".

"Just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you"

"I can't wait for you to come home. I missed you last night. Pepe missed you too" she said, referring to their dog.

"Where is he? Put him on the phone".

She laughed, calling Pepe as she put Nick on speaker. "Pepe! Come say hi to daddy!"

Pepe scurried into the kitchen, Sarah scooping him up. "Hi daddy!"

"Pepito, amorcito" Nick said into the phone. Pepe tilted his head one way, then the other. 

"Oh my god, baby! He's listening to you. It's so cute!" she laughed, kissing the puppy on the head. 

"Is everything ready for tonight?" Nick asked Sarah. 

"Pretty much! I put Ang and Caro to work and we just finished up. I'll have to send them a nice bottle of champagne tomorrow. As soon as the DJ gets here, I'll start getting ready".

"What are you wearing?".

"You sound like such a perv" she teased, deepening her voice "hey, baby, what are you wearing?".

He laughed heartily. "I love you, mami".

"I love you too, Nicky". The doorbell rang again. "Oh! That's probably the DJ! I'm going to let you go. Relax, baby, sleep, eat, enjoy your day. I need you on your toes tonight"

"Alright, mami. I'll see you later"

"Say bye daddy!" she said to Pepe, who barked in response, making them both laugh. "Bye, baby", she said, hanging up the phone and answering the door. She let the DJ in, showing him where he'd be setting up. She let him know the bartender was set up on the patio, and he could feel free to ask for a drink or whatever he needed, and that she'd be upstairs, getting ready. 

"Hey babes" she said, finally escaping to join her friends in the bedroom. She flopped down on the bed, laying down. "Guys, can you believe Nicky sent me flowers? Today of all days?".

Angela clutched at her heart "That's adorable!"

"You guys are gross" Caro said, fighting a laugh. 

Sarah stuck her tongue out at her, reaching her hands out "Help me up. I stink. I need to shower".

The girls pulled her up off the bed, laughing. She quickly jumped into the shower, reappearing with one towel wrapped around her body, another around her hair. She went to her closet, pulling out a large shoe box. "Guys" she said, pulling out a pair of bright orange thigh high boots with ornate cut outs. "Aren't these the sexiest?"

"So hot", Caro agreed.

"But, I don't know. Do you think it's going to leave marks on me? Like, am I going to have patchwork legs later, when I'm trying to be sexy for my man?".

"Fuck in the dark. Those are amazing. Wear them." Caro commanded. 

The girls popped a bottle of champagne and took their time getting ready, Sarah running down once to let the caterers in. 

She played with her hair in the mirror, trying to decide on hairstyle.

"What time is Nick coming?", Angela asked, checking her reflection, smoothing down her dress.

"I told him not to come before 9, so he'll be here at 8:30". Sarah said, making the girls laugh. "I figured we'd do the cake around 11, 11:30, so people who want to leave early can, but we have the bartender an d DJ until 4am". 

"Ok, selfie time!" Caro exclaimed. The girls squeezed together for some selfies, doing a few silly faces before posing nicely. Caro posted them on instagram before they all slipped into their shoes and headed downstairs. They chatted excitedly until the guests began to arrive.