Destined

Thirty Nine

It was Vince's birthday.

And I was extremely excited. It was Saturday, a whole two weeks after that fiasco with Reese and our trip to the Scribes Library Museum. I'd like to say I was over it. The whole lie of omission. In some ways, I was. I mean, after our extraordinary week together, I definitely wasn't still brooding about it.

Yes, I had reacted childishly. I mean really, I'd been telling myself all day before that dinner not to let her get to me and that's exactly what I did. I showed her that I wasn't secure in my relationship. It didn't really matter because Vince put her in her place. She had called that very night, apologizing. I bet she was really trying to find out if we'd broken up, I wonder why since she'd seen me kiss him, and Vince really laid into her.

He, in many more words, told her that she was never, ever to pull that kind of crap again. Then he told her she needed to stop calling him Vee and touching him in any way he deemed inappropriate. He was going to cut her off entirely but I told him not to. I wanted to prove that I trusted my boyfriend implicitly.

And then after that we'd had our little trip to the museum and I'd made him dinner when we got back, I work wanders with pasta. And thereafter our whirlwind influx of dates. I'd seen him every single day that week which had made the week that followed quite strange because hadn't seen him much, if at all this week. With my exams and and the fact that I was making his gift, I'd been a bit preoccupied. I'm sure he thought I was avoiding him, which I guess, to some extent, I was. But not because I was angry or anything. Working on his birthday gift needed my utmost attention and secrecy. That and the girls and I were throwing him a surprise get together.

I knew he wouldn't want a party. So instead, we were just doing something small, drinks, dinner, a cake, no big deal. Besides, he'd been busy too. Since he was helping the soccer coach, and the guys had a match today, they'd been training everyday this week. Not to mention his actual job as a writer. He'd call me after a training session, sounding tired and ask if he could see me and I'd made up excuse after excuse.

Monday it was catching up on studying, Tuesday, it was girls' night, Wednesday I let him come because I didn't want him to think I was blowing him off. Which he did think because it was the first thing he asked me but my hug and very enthusiastic kiss said otherwise so he let it go. Thursday I told him I'd left campus to help Maddie with an errand. Which I had, except the errand was mine. Friday, I could hear it in his voice he was at his wits end but I told him I'd see him at the game because I was putting my final touches on his gift.

And the game was today, on his birthday. I got up and showered pretty early, going into the kitchen to make my signature blueberry muffins. By the time I was done, all the other girls were up and dressed ready for the game. Liz and Talia were dressed in their boyfriends' jerseys and I knew Maddie was a bit sad about it but she tried to put on a brave face and came with us.

The game started at ten and we got there a little after nine, skipping out on our defense class for the day. The bleachers were already filled with fans from all over the university and some from the opposing team. Luckily, when your boyfriend was on the team, you automatically got a seat in the front row near the locker rooms. And when you were friends with a girlfriend of a player, well you got the same treatment.

I went to find Vince immediately I got there. He was along the path-way that led to the locker rooms, talking to a player I had never met before who thanked him and rushed off to join his team mates in some drills. He turned and a look of surprise filtered over his face when he saw me.

"Kristina," he said.
"Happy birthday," I hugged him.
He hugged me back, "Thanks," he said.

I breathed him in. Despite seeing him for a short period on Wednesday, I'd missed him. Even though it had been my choice to avoid him. But his gift took time to create.