30

LILA AND I are baking a cake when Lucas confronts us.

"So let me get this straight," he begins, sitting down on the kitchen stool. "You were never actually dating until last week?"

I look over at Lila and sigh. "Yea, pretty much."

"Damn," he whistles. "You even had me fooled."

Lila raises a brow, "It wasn't that hard to do."

He places a hand against his chest. "I'm wounded."

"If it makes you feel any better, Blake didn't know either," Lila informs him.

"Blake? Our Blake?" He seems deeply shocked my this news, and I cant say I blame him.

Blake is technically the smartest of us.

I chuckle and carefully take the vanilla cake out of the oven, careful not to burn my hand.

I look down at it and frown, "It's not supposed to be jiggly is it?"

Lila comes around me and winces, "Nope."

My shoulders deflate. "Well. So much for home baked goods."

She places a hand on my arm and I instantly relax at the touch. "Oh stop, he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless."

"Or he'll be too busy trying to kill me," I mumble, and Lila rolls her eyes.

"Come on," she tugs my arm. "Help me set the table."

I follow her to the living room where a large banner that says HAPPY BIRTHDAY is hanging.

Today is Lila's father's birthday and I've been trying to get on his good side ever since he found out that Lila and I's entire relationship was nothing but a ruse.

Safe to say, we've been taking baby steps.

Ms. Matthew's was kind enough to whack her husband and tell him to give me another chance, but I'm not sure he's listened.

I was beyond shocked when Mrs. Matthews gave me a hug and told me there was nothing to worry about. How that woman can be so forgiving, I will never understand.

I mean, she did drag me into the kitchen and threaten me right after, but still.

"Chase! Grab the plates!" Lila calls to me.

I swiftly grab the plates and then I hear the doorbell go off and I heave a breath before going to open it.

"You look like a stressed grandma," Blake says pointedly.

I look down at my pink and floral apron and grin. "Lila gave it to me."

He snorts, "Of course she did."

He steps inside, followed by Melody, who he's recently been seeing.

After Lucas's sister's birthday party, I told him to stop being a coward and finally talk to her. Long story short, they did a lot more than talk.

Her pink hair is cut to her shoulders, and she smiles when she sees me. "Nice apron."

"Thanks," I tell her.

I'm about to shut the door when another person barrels in. "I brought the juice boxes!"

Mrs. Matthews holds up an entire pack of juice boxes and pats my arm in a hello gesture.

"Chase, honey, you look wonderful."

I give her a side hug, and finally step around her to hand Lila the plates.

She rolls her eyes, "Finally. For someone who runs so fast you take forever."

I plant a kiss on her cheek and she suppresses a grin before shooing me away.

An hour later, we're finishing the last touches before Mr. Matthews walks through the door and we all scream surprise.

"Ow!" Lucas whines. "That was my foot."

"Sorry," Lila whispers.

I hear the jingling of keys before the light switch turns on and we all jump in our places screaming: "Surprise!"

Mr. Matthews nearly drops his bag and simply blinks at us.

Lila moves from behind the couch and gives him a hug. "Happy birthday, Dad."

"You did all this for me?" He asks, looking like a he might cry.

She gives him a pat on the shoulder. "It's not everyday you turn 45."

He presses a kiss to her forehead and his eyes move to me, "You helped with this?"

I swallow, "Yes, sir."

He walks toward me and I grow slightly scared.

That is until he pays my back and thanks me.

I'm so stunned that I just stand there with my mouth open.

"All right, let's party!" Mrs. Matthews says.

We gather at the table, piling food onto our plates. Lila's cousins run around everywhere, and people talk in every corner. Its so loud I cant hear my own breathing.

Its pretty much perfect.

At some point, Lila places her arms around my neck and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks for your help today," she whispers.

I chuckle, "No problem, Matthews. Besides, I know you secretly like me in an apron."

She slaps my arm and I pretend to be seriously hurt.

"You're a weirdo," she tells me, and I pull her close.

"You love it."

She presses a kiss against my lips and I know that's her way of agreeing.

"Ewww," one of Lila's cousins—Riley—says. "You guys are gross."

"I think they're cute," Grace says.

"Cake time!" Someone shouts, and I wince.

"About the cake..." I trail off at the sight of a two layer cake sitting on the table.

"I had a feeling you'd screw up the cake, you're not a very good baker," Blake says.

"This is the one time I'm allowing that insult because you just saved my ass," I tell him.

Mr. Matthews takes a seat right in front of the cake and says, "You made this?"

I nudge Blake before he can say anything, "Yep."

We all sing him happy birthday and watch as he blows his candles out, and as I look around the house I realize that I've come to have my own family.

And as I place my arm around Lila's shoulders, and grin at the way she smiles up at me—no restraint needed anymore—I realize I owe it all to her.

"Thank you," I whisper to her.

"For what?"

I just shake my head.

One day, I'll tell her.

But for right now, I stay in the moment, enjoying every second with her.

THE END.