I Blame Wattpad for My High Expectations of Men

Chapter 82 - We made this, baby.

~Monday, May 25, 2026 - Ace's Birthday~

~Lola Dino Rivers's Point of View~

"Baby, this is by far the best birthday cake I've ever had," Ace says with a mouthful of the German chocolate goodness as he joins me in the kitchen, bumping my hip with his. "You sure you made this?" I playfully scoff, causing him to smile.

"Look inside the dishwasher if you don't believe me," I retort matter-of-factly, chuckling when he places his now empty plate in the sink to turn me around.

"Homemade or not, you're still my favorite dessert of all time."

"What am I going to do with you?" I laugh, resting my hands on his chest when he picks me up to sit me on our new massive kitchen island. He parts my legs to stand between them, softly gripping my thighs as he goes to give me a chaste kiss on the lips. When he pulls away, I lick the icing that he's left behind. "Damn," I moan in pure pleasure. "Not going to lie, this is definitely some of my best work."

Ace lets out a hearty laugh, lowering his forehead on mine. He looks down at me with a sincere smile on his handsome face.

"Thank you for tonight, baby. You didn't have to do all this. Especially since we'll be celebrating with everyone this weekend."

"I know, but your official birthday is today. I couldn't not do at least this. I just hope you liked it."

"I loved it" -he kisses my nose- "almost as much as I love you."

"I love you, too," I tell him, leaning my head back to look up at him. "And because I love you" -I reach for the small box that I hid behind the vase of lillies on the island- "there's one other gift waiting for you."

"Another one?" He gapes. "Lo, you got me courtside tickets to the next Lakers game, a new Xbox One X" -well, that one was kind of a given since I broke his other one the last time he beat me at C.O.D.- "and a fucking Rolex. Baby, this is too much."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I jokingly roll my eyes with a dismissive hand. "Would you just open it already? I have a feeling you'll like this one the most...or at least I'm hoping."

For my birthday last year, with it only having been a week after our wedding, Ace finally brought me to the house that he had built for us four whole years ago. Now that we're finally living here, I figured the only thing that could possibly top that birthday gift is this one.

Smirking, Ace takes the present in his hand and I watch with much anticipation as he pulls the sparkly ribbon and wrapping paper apart. The nerve-racking wait is more than worth it, however, when he finally grabs the item inside, causing his eyes to meet mine in an instant.

"Please tell me this isn't another one of your pranks...," he says ever so slowly. "It's not National Opposite Day, is it?" He asks as his free hand dives for his phone inside his pocket. I stop him before he can grab it, though, chuckling at his shocked state.

"No, baby, it isn't a prank." I didn't think his eyes could get any wider, but I'm proven wrong when he looks back down at the 3x5 photo, asking me if I'm serious. I'm about to tell him that I am, when he surprises me by throwing the box on the table to lift me up and spin me around. "Careful now," I laugh as he shouts a bunch of celebratory profanities out of sheer happiness, "don't spin me too much."

"Shit, I'm so sorry!" He immediately stops, setting me back on the floor, only to kneel right in front of me. "I didn't hurt them, did I?" He places a hand on my stomach, looking up at me in all solemness. I shake my head with a smile, resting my hand on his, which he kisses before standing up to kiss my forehead as well.