One Smile

36: The Wrong Pipe

Sam POV:

"Ben why are you like this," my mom asks while trying to hide her smile. Ben just offers her a shrug and walks away to the food table. Meanwhile I am stuck standing there with my mouth wide open. This surprise party is for me. I have never had a surprise party before.

I look around and I notice that it is only people that I would want here. No acquaintance or fake friends from school.

"Happy birthday," Jake whispers in my ear.

"You did all this? How? Why? Thank you!" I blurt while jumping in his arms.

"It wasn't just me. Naomi and your family had a lot to do with it. Now, let's go get some food."

When we get to the food table I almost have a heart attack. There is so many types of chicken, pasta, beef jerky, and a potato bar. I realize that I am a food addict as I look at the table full of my favorite foods. I am going to have to run miles to work this shit off.

"How am I going to eat all this? It looks amazing," I tell everyone.

"You don't eat all it. You snack on a few things Bella. There's no way you can even have one of everything," Antonio chuckles.

"I would be careful challenging her," Ethan says. "She will not only eat because she wants to, but she will eat more just to prove you wrong." Ethan offers me an awkward smile. Things are still rough between us but we are working through it. I am grateful that he is listening to me now and not on the offense all the time. I miss my brother and hate this controlling boy he's been lately.

"Challenge accepted Antonio." I grab a plate and grab at least one of everything. Which means Jake has to grab a plate and follow me because I ran out of room. "Thank you for supporting me in this necessary endeavor," I tell him with a cheeky smile.

"If I didn't, your clumsy ass would have knocked over this entire table. And Naomi may have murdered you on your birthday. Don't worry. Eat as much as you want, you will work it off later," he adds with a wink.

I gasp at him because my family is in the room. What if they heard? I would die from embarrassment. "Get your mind out of the gutter baby, I meant we are all going swimming," he adds before putting a loaded potato skin on my plate and walking away. Fine. Two can play at that game. You would think that by now I would learn not to be petty. A kidnapping, car accident, and a bruised twin should have taught me to think things through. It hasn't.

I follow him to the table and sit beside him. I put my hand on his leg as I lean over to grab the plate. I channel every single romantic book I have ever read to start my seduction. When I pull the plate over, I run my hand up his leg and hit his manhood way earlier than I thought. I thought white guys were supposed to have small dicks. This does not seem small. He chokes on his drink and everyone at the table looks at him.

"You okay there sweetie? I told you drink too fast," his mom says from across the table.

Jake clears his throat and pushes my hand off his lap. Step one, done.

"I am fine. Just went down the wrong pipe," he adds with a quick head shake in my direction. Like that will stop me.

The rest of dinner consists of me running my hand up his arm, tracing his leg, and brushing him as much as possible. I even feed him some food and lick the rest of the potatoes of the spoon after. Who knew books could teach you something. I try to keep it subtle because we are surrounded by family.

When everyone is done we decide to open gifts.

"Happy birthday sweetie," my parents say as they hand me a small box. I open it and find myself stuck staring at a simple gold band with the birth years of my family members engraved on it. Along with a gold bracelet with a middle finger on it.

"You can probably tell which one is from your father and I and which one is from your brother," my mom says while smiling at me. I give them all hugs and put the jewelry on right away. It fits perfect. I love it.

"Thank you. I love them so much."

I open up the rest of the presents. Naomi and Julie got me a couple of lingeries sets, that was embarrassing for me and my family. Luca was too interested in looking and received a smack on the back of his head from his dad. The Rossi family got me a beautiful necklace that has my birthdate in Roman numerals and apparently a tracker incase I ever get kidnapped again. Angelo instructed me to swallow the thin bar right away so it is not confiscated. Lovely.

Antonio and Ally got me condoms and a few outfits. My dad was not impressed with that gift but Ally just said she was trying to halt the tradition of kids having kids. Ben got me a bunch of candy and some hair scarves.

"Here Bella," Ange says as he thrusts a box in my hand. Everyone scoots forward excited to see what the future Don got me. I slowly lift off the top and my breath catches in my throat. It is a beautiful white gun with gold accents and my initials engraved on the handle. I trace the outline of the gun while everyone tries to see what is in the box.

"You are not allowed to take it out of the box until you and I start training. Jake is going to work with you too to make sure you know what you are doing. You will know it like the back of your hand," Ange explains while leaning back in his chair.

"It is beautiful. Is it normal to get a gun in this family? Not that I am complaining, I love it," I can't stop tracing my initials. The colors are perfect.

"Si, we all have one Sam. We are always protected but that does not mean you shouldn't be able to protect yourself as well. I will say, yours is almost as nice as mine. Just missing the diamonds," Angie adds with a chuckle.

I carefully put the lid on the box and finish opening up my gifts. I have never gotten this many gifts before and I feel so loved, but also so overwhelmed. Jake's family got us a trip to Italy for Christmas break. I have always wanted to go and am so excited to spend my break there with everyone. Kyle and Ellie got me a bunch of gift cards to my favorite restaurants, a gift card for a spa day, and two huge floor pillows.

"Wow. Thank you everyone. This is the best birthday I have ever had. Not just because of the gifts, but because I am surrounded by amazing loved ones old and new." I say looking around at everyone. I feel so loved and I have known some of these people for such a short amount of time.

"Now birthday queen I know you don't think I didn't get you anything," Jake says from beside me.

"Isn't this party the gift? It was perfect," I ask him confused. Everyone laughs at me and urges Jake to give me my gift.

"Close your eyes. Do not peek," Jake instructs.

I look at him hesitantly and close my eyes when Naomi and Ally start complaining about me taking too long. I feel cold metal press in my hand and hear lots of awes. It feels like some sort of large charm.

"Open," Jake whispers. I do and I yelp and bulldoze into him. He is holding a puppy. A beautiful black dog with grey eyes. I look down at the chain and notice that it is a dog tag with the name "Tank."

"He is a cane corso. We are going to get him trained so he can protect the home. I of course had to get him a friend," Jake adds as I look around and see that Ally is holding another dog. A white one. I didn't know that there were cane corsos that were white. "That is Angel. She is a straw cane corso." Jake adds. Both dogs end up in my lap and they attack me with kisses and licks.

"They are perfect Jake. Thank you! I love them," I can't look away from them. They are so cute. I put on Tanks tag and Angel jumps down from my lap to climb in to Jakes. "Traitor," I mumble as I squish tank to my chest. I then realize that they weren't floor pillows from Kyle and Ellie but dog beds.

"You have one last gift. You will get it later," Jake tells me while scratching the traitors ears.

"Happy birthday baby," my mom yells from across the room. I smile and look around again. Life could not get any better.