Love is a Flower

Chapter 7

Alex's pov

It's my twentieth birthday today. Matt and Noah have been busy most of the day so I've mostly been lounging around the house with Gabe. They told me happy birthday this morning but haven't done anything besides that.

Is it selfish that I expected gifts? I'm not a kid anymore so I guess it would make since.

From the other side of the couch Gabe gets a text. After a few seconds he stands up. "Wanna run to the store with me?"

"I guess." I stand up and follow Gabe to the front door. We both slip on shoes and he grabs the keys. As we drive I look out the window. I feel Gabe grab my hand but I don't say anything him.

"Babe, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." I respond quietly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." He says skeptically after a few moments.

I frown. Maybe they don't want me anymore. Matt and Noah are both successful small business owners, Gabe is a published author and I'm just a wannabe artist. I don't even have a real job except selling a few pieces. All I do is whine and complain about college and my family.

The car stops and I see Gabe turn to me. He pulls our intertwined hands to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.

"Baby, please tell me what wrong." I sniffle and turn to him.

"Nothing. Lets go inside." He sighs but exits the car heading towards the store.

Gabe grabs a cart and I pull up the grocery list on my phone. As we pass the dairy section I spot a tube of cookie dough. I put it in the cart and Gabe laughs wrapping an arm around my waist.

Gabe takes his time and visits unnecessary aisles to look at stuff. We get a few treats for the pets and a couples small house plants.

The bill is more than we expected but Gabe pulls out his master card and hands it to the cashier. As we put the bags in the trunk Gabe suggests getting ice cream.

"Just don't tell Noah or he'll get jealous." I laugh and slide into the passenger seat. He definitely would, I can see him now, pouting and crossing his arms.

We stop at Dairy Queen and each order a large blizzard. I order cookie dough and Gabe orders oreo. The traffic is thicker as it is closer to lunch time then when we left so by the time we are driving down our street we are both done with the ice cream.

I spot cars parked on the road. Is one of our neighbors having a party? As we get closer I see more cars in our driveway but none in our neighbors. Some of them I even recognise as Matthew and Noah's family's and my best friend's green jeep.

"Wait what?"

"It's a surprise party baby." Gabe says with a grin as pulls up near the house. He has to park further away than usual due to the other cars.

We get out and Gabe instructs me to go to the backyard and he'll put the groceries away.

I weave through the cars and when I get to the yard a chorus of surprise's and happy birthday's fill the air. I grin and spot Matthew and Noah coming towards me.

They hug me and wish me happy birthday again.

"Thank you. I didn't think you guys planned anything." I confess.

Matthew frowns. "Why? We always celebrate birthdays."

"I know but you guys were so busy I just thought-"