Sanctuary

Nearly two-and-a-half months passed and summer was over. I’m only getting better and I speak to my mom every week. My twenty-eighth birthday is tomorrow and I’m not all that excited to be quite honest; when you’re nearing thirty, birthdays aren’t exactly fun. Alex, on the other hand, is so over the moon about my birthday and it makes me shake my head. I was eating a bowl of cereal in the living room when I saw him walk down the hall rubbing his eyes like a child.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

“Good morning.” he mumbled.

“Come sit.” I said patting the seat beside me.

He did and placed his head on my shoulder.

“Didn’t sleep good last night?”

“Yeah.” he yawned.

“Then, go back to bed. You don’t actually need to be up right now.”

“I want to kiss you before you leave for work.”

“You’re adorable.”

He tends to have a different sleep schedule especially during touring than I do. I’m a morning person except on the weekend, so when I have to work either day or both during the weekend, I hate getting up in the morning.

“If you really want to kiss me before I leave, I’ll be leaving in less than ten minutes.”

He nodded.

A few minutes later, I finished my breakfast and I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came in six minutes later to put my shoes on, I saw that Alex had fallen asleep which melted my heart. I covered him up with a blanket and kissed his cheek before I left. I arrived at work with a smile on my face that I just could not wipe off.

“Hey Abby.” Jayla greeted.

“Hey.”

“Someone’s happy.”

“Yeah. Alex didn’t sleep well last night and woke up just to kiss me goodbye. It was ten minutes before I left and as I was about to leave, he had fallen asleep on the couch.”

“OMG. That is adorable.”

“He’s adorable. I even covered him up with a blanket.”

“So, tomorrow’s your birthday. Any plans?”

“Dinner and head out to a club.”

Not the club I was raped at, of course. I had a feeling that would be traumatic for me and I certainly didn’t need that for my birthday.

“Alex’s gotta be excited.”

“He is. This is the first one he’s been able to celebrate in two years. He’s actually more excited about it than me.”

“Because you’re not big on birthdays.”

She knows this why too.

“Well, as long as he’ll be there, the better.” she said.

I nodded.

When my lunch break came along, I received a text from Alex. It was a picture of him still wrapped up in a blanket.

Just woke up. Thanks for covering me up. Love you!

I was so glad he got some sleep; that man was restless last night.

Don’t mention it. Love you, too!

The rest of the day was incredibly busy which as stressful as that can be is something I enjoy. Coming home, I was running on adrenaline and eager to see Alex. He was as I left him, covered in a blanket.

“Hey.” I said, taking off my shoes.

“Hey. Have a good day?”

“A great day. You get some sleep?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’m gonna change and I’ll be back.”

I changed in record time and came back.

“May I join you?”

“Of course.”

He moved some blanket, so I could get in beside him before he covered me up. I huddled up next to him and felt an arm around my waist as I laid my head on his shoulder.

“I hated not kissing you this morning. Sorry for falling asleep this morning.”

“Don’t ever apologize for that. It’s something you needed. Oh, and I hated not kissing you, too, although I did kiss your cheek before I left.”

He smiled.

“How about we-"

I went ahead and kissed him; he kissed me back.

“I interrupted again. I apologize.”

“Another thing that doesn’t need an apology.”

I smiled.

“You’re right.”

“Glad to be home?”

“You have no idea. I’m tired.”

“Wanna head to bed, then?”

“No. I wanna sit here with you.”

He laughed.

“Ok, babe.”

I woke up the following morning in bed without Alex. It was ten o’clock and I felt refreshed which is something I'm gonna need to be today. I heard footsteps and smelled food as I sat up.

Am I getting breakfast in bed?

“Happy Birthday, Abby.”

He sat down a tray of chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and orange juice aka the first meal he ever made me. You’d think it’d be dinner, but no, it’s breakfast and you have to remember how odd we are.

“Thank you.” I said before I kissed him.

“My pleasure.”

“This looks delicious. The first meal you ever made me.”

I was so happy and this is how my birthday should always start.

"Good?"

"Yes. Want a bite?"

"Abby, this is your breakfast."

"Alex, I love you. You can have a bite."

"You sure?"

I gave him a knowing look.

"Now, open wide."

Without either one of us laughing, I put a forkful of pancake in his mouth.

"I'm a great cook."

"I know you are. Come sit." I said, patting the space beside me.

He eagerly sat down and kissed my cheek.

"Are you excited about tonight?" he asked.

"Not excited as I should be."

"Why?"

"You know why."

"I don't wanna argue, but that's ridiculous."

"I'm two years from being thirty, Alex."

He rolled his eyes.

"And I'm fourteen months from it. I'm looking forward to my next birthday."

He had a point, but then my mind, somehow, goes to when my friends and I celebrated Miranda's birthday and my new job aka the night I was raped. It doesn't make sense because it's not like we're going back to that club; it shouldn't bother me, but the correlation is unfortunately there as illogical as it is.

"Abby?"

I hadn't spoken for a minute and it was beginning to worry Alex. Ok. I need to take my meds.

"I know how ridiculous and stupid this may sound, but my mind went back to that horrible night I wish to forget."

I took my meds, then continued to eat my pancakes.

"That is not stupid. Trust me."

"Do you know that I refuse to go to that club tonight? I'm afraid it'll trigger a panic attack although I'm on meds and I'd much rather not have one of those on my birthday."

I sighed and sat my fork down since I finished my breakfast.

"I think that's the real reason behind you not looking forward to your birthday."

"It's bullshit, too."

"I agree."

“I’m gonna stop being so sad. I don’t need that on my birthday.”

“That’s my girl.”

I smiled.

“Ya know how much I love you?” I said.

“I don’t know. How much?”

I laughed.

“If I could stretch my arms out and not hit you in your gorgeous face, you’d know.”

“You’re such a dork.” he said, laughing.

“So are you.”

I turned to kiss him and really wanted to get in his lap, but the tray was in the way.

“This tray needs to move.”

“Why?”

Really?

“You know.” I said, giving him a look.

“Oh.”

He then moved it out of the way and I crawled into his lap.

“Thank you.” I said before kissing him.

"My pleasure." he said, tugging on my shirt.

"Birthday sex?"

"Birthday sex."

I can’t honestly say what kind of sex is better, our usual animalistic sex, makeup sex or birthday sex, but that’s perfectly fine with me. Afterward, I took a shower while Alex ate his own breakfast and once I got ready, I walked into the living room and called my mom via FaceTime. I haven’t spoken to my mom for my past six birthdays and I’m not about to miss another one.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom.” I said waving.

“Happy Birthday, Abby.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you having a good day so far? I know it’s not really that far into the day, but...”

“Great. Alex made me breakfast in bed. The first meal he ever made me actually: chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.”

I was definitely leaving out the part where Alex and I had sex.

“I’m assuming it was good.”

"It was delicious. How’s your day been?”

“The same. Tyler and I are gonna go out for the day.”

I smiled. I had spoken to my mom about him before and I’ve actually seen him when I would talk to my mom on FaceTime. He’s honestly an ideal boyfriend and couldn’t make my mom any happier.

“Has he proposed yet?”

“Not yet, but I know that the day will come.”

This is when I felt arms around my neck; I touched his hands.

“It will because I can’t imagine you not being with anyone else.”

She smiled.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Hi Carol.” he greeted.

It’s so fucking weird hearing my mom being called by her actual name.

“Hi Alex. How are you?”

“Wonderful. How are you?”

“Great. I heard you made my little girl breakfast.”

Mom...

Seeing my embarrassed face, he smiled and kissed my cheek.

“Yeah. I couldn’t imagine starting her day out any other day.”

Just add sex to the mix. Breakfast in bed and birthday sex is how anyone in a relationship should start their special day.

“You are too sweet.”

He blushed.

“I try.”

I fucking love him.

“Well, I’m gonna go let you ladies talk.”

“Bye Alex.”

“Bye.”

“So, what are you plans for tonight?”

“Dinner and dancing.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“It does.”

After maybe five minutes, we hung up and I placed my phone on the table.

“You have no idea how hot you look right now.” I said as he sat down beside me.

We turned to face each other and I couldn’t help but touch that amazing hair of his.

“Look who’s talking.” he said running his hand through my short hair.

I’ve had my hair short for years and I don’t plan on changing it anytime soon. I laughed and pressed my face into his shoulder.

“What’s so funny?”

“I don’t know. I’m just so happy I guess.”

He smiled and kissed me.

“That’s what you’re supposed to be.”

"I know." I said in a weird voice.

I began laughing again and had trouble stopping; let's hope this doesn’t turn into a mood swing like it did a few months ago and I had to up my medication. Turns out, my bout of laughter didn’t turn into a mood swing and I was ever thankful. I went out to get my nails and hair done an hour later with the girls before coming back home to get ready for the evening. Dinner would at six-thirty, followed by some partying at a club of my choosing. I had a dress in mind, but I didn’t feel comfortable wearing in it front of the guys. When I was ready, I walked out of the bedroom to the living room where I thought Alex was.

“Alex?”

I saw him walking back from the hall closet. He dropped his mouth when he saw me.

“Abby.”

“You like?”

“I love. New?”

“Semi. I bought it when my mom was here. I wanted a little sparkle. I am the birthday girl, after all.” I said draping my arms around his neck.

“Well, you are absolutely beautiful.” he said with his arms wrapped around me.

“Thank you, Mr. Gaskarth.”

I kissed Alex with him returning the favor.

“My pleasure, Ms. Shaw.”

“Shall we go to dinner?”

“Yes, we shall.”

I grabbed my purse and off we went. Although I refuse to go to that cursed club, I did decide to go to the same restaurant we went to that night.

“You know, this is the same restaurant us girls went to that night?” I said as we walked through the parking lot.

I was so excited that there were no words.

“Is it?”

“Yeah and it’s almost where I took my mom when she came to visit.”

This was when I began swinging our arms back and forth.

“Are you sure that you’re 28?” he asked laughing.

“Pretty sure.” I said laughing.

We walked into a busy restaurant, but that was okay.

“Hi.”

“Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked.

“Yes. Shaw. Party of 10.”

She sat us at our table where we waited for our friends. I always like to be early when I have something planned.

“Would you like anything to drink?” our waitress asked.

“Water, please.” I said.

“Iced tea, please.”

“Just water?” he asked after she left.

“I’m gonna be drinking tonight. I’ll stick to water till then.”

“Can I drink?”

That was one of the dumbest questions I have ever heard; the man loves his alcohol.

“Of course you can.”

A huge grin appeared on his face like he was a child; I shook my head. Five minutes later, a couple of my favorite people, Miranda and Jack, arrived; I got up immediately and greeted them.

“Happy Birthday, honey.” Miranda said, hugging me.

“Happy Birthday, Abby.” Jack said, hugging me.

“Thank you, guys.”

“Abby, you look gorgeous. When did ya get this dress?” she said.

“When my mom came to visit. I thought this was appropriate, seeing that it’s my birthday.”

“I thought you hated your birthdays.”

“Well, I had a discussion with Alex and found out the real reason why. That is a conversation for another day.”

“Ok. Gotcha. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Within ten minutes, our six other guests arrived and the night had officially begun. It was so awesome being able to gather his friends who were like my brothers and my friends; the only thing missing was my mom, but the fact that I actually talked to her and saw her today made that okay. That whole dinner, I was itching for a drink and Alex could tell.

“Want a drink?" he asked taking a sip of his beer.

"You have no idea." I groaned.

"Want some?"

I actually thought about it which surprised me.

"Why not? From then on, I'm drinking girly drinks."

I grabbed his beer and drank some. Beer isn't exactly one of my favorite ways to drink, but hey, just a little until I get drunk later with my alcohol of choice would do it.

"Thank you, love."

"You're welcome."

About an hour-and-a-half later, I was having an amazing time, but now, I was ready to go. I quietly excused myself to the restroom when I felt a hand on my arm, startling me.

"Where are you going, birthday girl? We have a surprise for you." Miranda said.

Did she just say surprise?

"We?"

"Me and Alex."

I smiled and turned to see him smiling back at me.

"What is she talking about, Alex?"

"Look forward, babe."

I saw a cake being brought in. I was speechless as I sat back down as I heard everybody sing Happy Birthday, but the voice I focused on the most was his.

"Make a wish, Abby." he said.

I already had what I wanted. I blew out the candle and sat back.

“What did ya wish for?”

“If I tell you, it’s not gonna come true.”

He made a face, so I shook my head.

“Just kiss me.”

He kissed me and I responded with a kiss.

“Thanks for the cake. It looks delicious.” I said to my two favorite people.

“It’s red velvet with cream cheese icing.” he said.

My fave!

“I love you guys!” I squealed.

The cake was so decadent and had to be the best red velvet I’ve ever had. Once I finished my piece of cake, I turned to my right which was where Miranda was sitting and had a piece smashed into my face; that caused everyone to laugh which included me. I then proceeded to smash cake into her face. As I was grabbing a napkin to wipe my face, Alex wiped some of the cake and icing off my face and ate it. A lightbulb went off and I decided to kiss him which ended up with cake on his face; he was laughing up a storm as he wiped icing off his face.

"You look so sexy with icing and cake on your face." he said as I cleaned my face.

“So do you.”

I had a feeling some photos that were probably being taken tonight were gonna show up on social media which I couldn’t be more excited about.

“Is everyone ready for the after party?” Miranda asked.

Every single person was in agreement.

“I can’t wait to get drunk!” I said skipping through the parking lot.

“I can’t wait to see you drunk.”

“You’re going to love it.”

The man has seen me drink, but he’s never seen me wasted and that’s going to happen tonight. Once at the club, I got carded of course which makes me feel young.

“Sista, what would you like to drink first? It’s on me.”

“Oh wow. What to drink, what to drink. A margarita sounds good.”

“One margarita please for the birthday girl and a mojito for me.”

“Cheers!” she said as we clinked glasses.

Everyone order their own drinks while Alex ordered his normal beer; as this would be his first really seeing me drink, it would also be the same with him. Sure, I’ve seen him wasted on ATL dvds, but this is gonna be up close and personal.

“I’ll see you in a little bit. Okay?” he said.

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

We went into opposite directions for some time.

“How’s your night been so far?” Brielle asked.

“Fantastic. Hell, my day’s been amazing from the start?”

“Did you have birthday sex?” Kendra asked.

I shook my head.

“Of course, but it started out with breakfast in bed which was also the first meal he ever made me.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling too much.

“He’s too much.”

“And I spoke to my mom via FaceTime. I wasn’t about to have her miss a seventh birthday.”

“I love that you made up. Sounds like life is perfect right now.” Miranda said.

“It is.”

I was finishing my second drink when I saw Alex in the middle of the dancefloor. I sat it at the bar and walked over to him all the while laughing; I tapped his shoulder and immediately got his attention.

“Hey handsome.”

“Hey, beautiful.”

He pulled me in for the most intense kiss we had since this morning.

“You taste sweet.” he asked as we separated.

“Cherries.” I said licking my lips.

“How am I supposed to last tonight with you being so damn sexy?”

I was wanting some of him too, but I figured a couple hours or so of partying were needed before we had our own fun at home.

“I don’t have an answer for you, Alex. You’re gonna have to figure that out for yourself.” I whispered into his ear.

I began walking away when he pulled me back into him and wrapped his arms around my waist causing me to laugh.

“How many have you had?”

“Three.”

It’s been an hour and he’s downed three beers. How am I not surprised?

“Well, I’m gonna go get another drink.” I said.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Not at all.”

I ordered one for myself and ordered a beer for Alex.

“More cherries?” he asked.

“Yes.” I said biting off the cherry from the stem.

“You’re killing me, Abby.” he groaned.

I smirked. I was proud of myself; I was driving my man crazy.

“You’ll be fine.”

Ten minutes later, I was done with mine and so was he. I ordered another one and was giggling while pulling on his hand.

“Dance with me, lover boy.”

And boy, did we dance. I grinded up against him, kissed him like there was no tomorrow until I heard my name being called.

“I’ll see ya later.” I said blowing him a kiss.

“Abby! Let’s do shots!” Miranda exclaimed.

I stumbled while I made my way to the bar.

“What kind?”

“Tequila.”

I did a couple shots and slammed each one onto the counter.

“That’s how you do it! Woo!”

Everyone got a hoot out of my behavior.

“How about- how about- one more?”

I was so wasted and felt so fucking good. One more drink and I was ready to fall on my ass; someone caught me before that could even happen. I turned around to see Alex.

“Hi.” I said connecting my lips to his.

“You wanna get out of here?”

He was almost as wasted as me.

“What about everybody else?”

“They’ll be fine.”

“Ok. Let’s go.”

He called an Uber and soon we were gone. We stumbled into our house, not disconnecting our lips; he slammed the door shut and went into our bedroom. He unzipped my dress and it slipped off just like my panties, followed by me practically tearing off his clothes.

“The wall.” I breathed.

He threw me up against the wall with the utmost intensity including those eyes of his.

Fuck.

I hooked my legs around his waist and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Now.” I said as he was at my entrance.

He smirked and paused which caused me to growl. I kissed his jaw hoping to change his mind.

“Please. I need you inside me.”

And in he went; what a glorious feeling that was. I moaned and somehow managed to get closer to him.

“Thank you for listening to me.” I said after a rough and passion filled round of sex.

“My pleasure.” he said as we laid in bed together.

“I had an amazing day and I’d go through it all over again and again if I could.”

He smiled and kissed.

“And I am elated that I was part of today. Happy Birthday, Abby.”

Notes