Mike Tyson: Happy birthday loser x

I'm not overly flamboyant when it comes to romance, but I think the kiss on the end of my text will please him to no end. Besides, he's seeing me later, so I can give him a proper one too.

It's been torture for me to not tell my friends what's going on between Hendrix and I. Nat and Lena more than Collins and Seb, purely because the girl gossip sessions are just that juicy. I know this will floor them completely. I mean, they've always sort of had their suspicions, but said suspicions were never that Elijah and I would be dating. They always said it would be a 'bone and home' scenario. You know, beat then yeet.

Not for me; I'm a lady.

Elijah's spent the morning with Tanya and Mason and he's due to pick me up in about an hour. We decided that our first date should be plain and simple, but still private, so we agreed to go to this cute little milkshake parlour just outside of town so we can make sure it's a proper date without fear we'll be caught out. That way, we can feel comfortable to act like a proper couple without having to hide.

I don't see that it makes a difference. If today goes well, we're going to have to tell people pretty soon. I don't know that I can hold it in much longer. It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep up this charade, considering we used to be attacking each other with our fists, not lips.

Adam and I never did dates. I mean, there weren't many places we could go at fifteen years old. We had to rely on our parents for drives to and from places, and even then, fifteen is an awkward age and you're just sort of figuring it out. Once we settled with each other, it was more visiting each other's houses, less so when he decided to tango with Jasmine.

This is a nice change. I'm excited. Really fucking excited actually. So much so, I've been sat cross legged on my bed ready for the last forty five minutes. I'm eager, sue me.

The hardest part, I want to impress Elijah, but I don't want him to think I'm trying to impress him. Therefore, I was pulling outfit after outfit from my wardrobe and drawers, pulling my hair out when I thought they were too dressy, too casual, horrendously uncoordinated, or just plain awful. This is why I so desperately need Lena to know about us. She's a god when it comes to outfit planning.

It took a while, and a few unhelpful brotherly verdicts, but considering the weather too, I decided to play it safe with a jumper dress, leggings and lace up boots. You can't fuck up with an outfit like that.

I've kept it simple with my makeup and hair too, because like I say, I'm not going out of my way to try and blow the socks off Elijah. Rumour has it, I do that already.

Daddy Hendrix: Don't forget my gift

Mike Tyson: You told me not to get you anything!

Daddy Hendrix: Stick a pretty bow on that booty and it'll be like all my birthdays came at once ;)

Mike Tyson: Everything about that sentence horrifies me

Not long after, he's here, being overwhelmed by my mother who thinks this date will lead to the making of her next grandchild. Seriously, Nancy is a lunatic.

I'm grinning like a Cheshire cat when I meet him downstairs and I can't help but feel completely and utterly nauseous at how whipped I'm being right now. How disgusting! Me, fawning over Elijah Hendrix like I haven't hated him for over a decade.

"Happy birthday." I mumble as I stand beside him. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side, pressing a kiss against my temple.

"Where's the bow?" He whispers to me as his lips linger, his warm breath fanning over the shell of my ear.

"On my underwear." I reply, low enough for only Elijah to hear me. He grins at me as though I've just told him he's won jackpot on the lottery. "We'll be off!" I call out to everyone that has crowded into the foyer to wish Elijah a happy birthday.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Oli calls from the threshold as he watches Hendrix and I climb into the car.

"Hardly narrows it down Oli!" I return, waving at him gleefully as the car pulls away from the pavement. "Happy birthday." I say again through a smile.

"Yes, you've said." He laughs, threading one of his hands with mine while the other rests on the steering wheel. "You look good." He says, casting a quick glance over my frame.

I wink at him and click my tongue. "I know." I say, although it's like the biggest weight off of my chest hearing that compliment. "You scrub up alright yourself Hendrix." He flashes me a boyish grin. "How's this morning been?"

"Alright. I don't expect much from aunt Tan, she's got Mason and the house, you know? But she bought me a couple bits and got me a cake and stuff." He goes on to say.

"Oh, we're definitely going back to yours for cake after this." I tell him pointedly. He rolls his eyes at me but continues to smile as we drive to the location of our first date.

~

The palour is cute. That's the best word for it. Sporting a chic eighties sort of theme, everything tacked in pretty pastel colours and just ultimately super cosy.

The menu too! Holy shit. I didn't even know it was possible to have that many flavours of milkshakes, and the deserts are just surreal. I won't lie and say it's cheap, but for the service and standard, I'd live here. Hendrix and I each get our own milkshake and I make sure to inform him that my hair is freshly washed so his drink should remain in the glass. He orders strawberry and I get cookies and cream and it's genuinely an orgasm in a glass. That good.

We share a dessert; a huge wedge of chocolate fudge cake with ice cream and whipped cream, but then I decide that it's too delicious, so we order another one for just me. "God this is so good." I moan, shovelling another spoonful into my mouth.

"Do you want to get a room?" He scoffs but wears a grin all the same. I scrunch my nose up at him as I continue to force cake into my mouth. "Babe, you've got some on your face." He says gentle, but I can hear the humour in his tone.

I edge forward and wait for him to wipe it off. "Babe, huh?" I ask once I've swallowed, leaning into his fingers that are skimming over the side of my mouth to remove the chocolate.

"Don't you like 'babe'?" He asks me seriously.

"I don't mind 'babe', it just surprising hearing it come from you." I say, tilting slightly to bite his thumb but he manages to pull away at the last moment. "Never thought I'd see the day where you'd be calling me 'babe'."

"Stop saying it now, you're making it sound like it's not a real word." He scolds playfully as he licks off the chocolate, reminding me of how I did just the same with the pasta sauce so many weeks ago.

"Okay." I say. "Babe."

"Come on shit head, finish your cake." I smile at him as I force the last piece into my mouth, despite my body protesting. I'll burst soon enough.

We finish and Hendrix pays, despite my complaints, saying that he asked me out so therefore, he's got to pay. Obviously, I counter the argument and say he shouldn't have to pay for anything on his birthday. He proceeds to say that I can pay him back in the bedroom to which he receives a slap upside the head.

"Where to now? Yours for cake?" I ask as I prop my feet up on his dashboard. He slaps my legs to which I grumble and drop my feet.

"You could seriously eat more after that?" He quizzes in pure bewilderment.

"Well, maybe later." I pet my food baby as I shrug, laying my head back on the chair as I watch Elijah. He's so handsome and when he's driving, oh boy. He just looks so casual and relaxed, but his shoulders look so broad and his jaw so angular. He's so good looking. But I'll never admit it.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something." He says slowly, pulling me from my trance.

"Shoot." I reply.

"You can say no," he begins sincerely, "but I was wondering if you'd come and visit my mum with me? I think she'll want to see me today." He tells me.

I reach over, running a hand over his shoulder and tracing his jaw with my thumb before cupping his neck. "I'd love you meet your mum Hendrix." He smiles at me, leaning into my touch ever so slightly, and I can all but feel the appreciation radiating from him.

Not many people know about Elijah's life at home, me being one of the very few that does. He's told me that it's because he hates that people treat him differently for it, tiptoeing around the subject and always causing a fuss over holidays and celebrations.

After he explained it, it made sense when he said talking about what happened only invites more questions. Like where is his dad and why does he live with Tanya and not him? He's not quite opened up about those details yet, but I'm sure in time, we'll get there. Until then, I don't mind being his shoulder to lean on.

We reach the cemetery in about ten minutes and once we're out of the car, I'm very aware of the different atmosphere that has settled upon us. I don't expect anything different; I know nothing about loss or grief, so I don't really know what to do. Hendrix does though, so when he wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close to him, I let him.

It's fallen cold, and dark too, but considering we're a week away from December, I don't expect much different. The graveyard is lit with regular lamps that hang over head, bright enough to stretch over every inch of ground, caress every headstone, glow from every laid flower.

He leads the way, down a gravel path then veering right until we stop.

Ellie Hendrix    1980-2013

A beloved daughter, friend and mother

"Your departure leaves heartache never to heal

Your love leaves a memory no one can steal"

He kneels beside her, resting a hand on her headstone as his other hand searches for me. I hold him tight, hoping this support will be support enough.

"Hey mum." He begins and I inhale, clenching my jaw in the hope it holds back the emotion. "I'm eighteen today. I wish you could be here to see me. I know you're watching though. I hope I'm doing you proud." He pauses, squeezing my hand slightly.

"I've met a girl – you know her actually. She's grown a lot since you were last here. She's beautiful, and I think you'd really like her. She keeps me on my toes, but you always said that's the best type of love." My free hand finds the back of his head and I thread my fingers through his hair slowly.

"I miss you. Every day. And I love you. Always." He presses a kiss to his hand and holds it against the headstone for a moment before standing. Instantly, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close to him. My arms find their way around his neck and we stand like that for a few moments, his lips pressed firmly against my hair.

"She'll be so proud of you Elijah. You couldn't be a better son." He tilts my head up and presses a kiss to my lips gently. I lay my head on his chest, facing the headstone and smile. "It's nice to meet you Ellie. Thank you for giving birth to your son today."

~~~

Okay but I got emotional writing this one🥺 I think because I know it's coming to a close. I'm so going to miss writing this book!