Eve POV

The next morning I wake up with small kisses on my face. My tired eyes open and I see Harry hovered over me with a grin. His lips touch my cheek then the nip of my neck. "Good morning," He hums against my skin.

"Morning," I say through a chuckle.

"Happy 25th birthday," My boyfriend says. His green eyes look into mine and his hands hold mine.

"Thank you," I say with a gentle grin. His body is between my legs and his lips lean down and kisses my cheek. "What time is it?"

"Nine," Harry answers.

"Wow, you let me sleep past seven." I say causing him to chuckle.

"I told Anna to come make breakfast around ten, because I wanted you to sleep in and you usually wake up at eleven without an alarm," I laugh a little and smile. My hands rest on his sides and I kiss his cheek.

"I'm going to take a shower," I say with a yawn. "Then I'll feed Doug,"

"I already fed and walked him," Harry informs me with a smug smile.

"Where is he now?" I ask.

"In the living room with a bone," A twitching smile curves on his pink lips. His hands that were once intertwined with mine run down my sides and rest on my hips.

My eyes look back into his and a grin still remains causing me to chuckle. "Let me go to the bathroom, okay?"

Harry nods and rests beside me so I can leave our mattress so I can pee. I also have morning breath and want to brush my teeth.

When I return to our bedroom I see Harry on his phone typing. His eyebrows are narrowed down as well. "Doing emails already?" I question him.

"No, it's my sister telling me to tell you Happy Birthday from her and her family," He locks his iPhone and places it on the nightstand. I sit back down on our mattress and look to Harry who's looking at me.

"Tell her I said thank you," I say.

"Will do," He grins a little.

"How long will it take for us to not be awkward with each other?" I ask my boyfriend who chuckles.

"A while," He grins. His head tilts into mine and his lips kiss me. My hands rest on his back and his hands cup my cheeks firmly. The warmth of his hands cause my body to tingle.

Harry's lips soon travel down to my neck causing my head to tilt to the side. This allows him more access to my skin.

This isn't a bad way to start off my morning.

***

After Harry and I both took a shower, we sat down in the kitchen for breakfast. Anna made waffles with eggs for breakfast. She also said Happy Birthday to me, which I thought was nice.

It's currently noon and I'm sitting on the couch in the living room.

"You keep looking at the clock," Harry says to me with a slight chuckle.

"My Dad usually calls on my birthday at eleven every year. It's odd, I know. But he's been acting a little off lately. Should I call to make sure he's okay?" I ask my boyfriend. I'm worried about him not being okay.

"I'm sure he's fine, but if you want to double check you can." He tells me. I nod and grab my phone that is on the end table beside me.

I dial my Father's number and he picks up on the third ring. "Hello?" A voice says. It's a woman's voice that makes my eyebrows narrow.

"Um, hi. Is uh, Patrick there?" I look to my boyfriend who has furrowed eyebrows.

"Oh, yeah. He just got out of the shower." The woman informs me. "Babe, someone is on the phone for you," I hear her tell my Dad.

He has a girlfriend?

After that it's just muffled speaking. "Hello?" I soon hear his voice.

"Hey Dad, I am just wanted to make sure you were okay. It sounds like you are, so I'll um let you go," I ramble.

"Oh jeez," He says. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"You've been acting strange the past few weeks, and I was just checking in," I say. My fingers play with the hole in my leggings.

"No, I'm great. Thanks for worrying though,"

"I'll let you go, you sound busy."

"Okay. Merry Christmas darling."

"Merry Christmas," I reply back. I soon hang up the phone and place it down beside me.

My Dad forgot my birthday.

I look to Harry. "Well, that was weird." I say.

"Did he have someone over?" He asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"Isn't that a good thing that he's with someone?" He asks me.

"Yeah," I answer. "It's just weird,"

"How?"

"He's never been with anyone since my Mom died. Or he has, and he didn't say anything to me," I say. "Do you think my brothers know?"

"Possibly," Harry says. "Or maybe this is his first girlfriend since your Mom passed and he just didn't want to tell anyone,"

"Maybe," I say.

"Did he say Happy Birthday to you?" My boyfriend asks.

"No," I say. "But that's okay. He doesn't have to say it to me every year, you know? Like my brothers are usually always busy on Christmas Eve with their wives family and such so they don't think of me, which I of course understand. Well, I don't have a wife, but I understand why they don't call up," I start to ramble.

"Oh, okay." Harry gives me questionable eyes.

"Anyways, I'm going to make some tea. I'll be right back," I stand up from the couch and pull the sleeves to my sweater down to cover my hands.

Harry POV

Once Eve walks away I grab my phone resting beside me.

Me: call your sister to say happy birthday douche

Daren: merry Christmas to you too

Daren: i was gonna call her tomorrow; i'm at my wives sisters house for brunch

Me: douche bag

Daren: stop calling me that

Me: call her

Daren: my dad usually calls her on her actual birthday then Mason ,Ethan and I call the following day

Me: your dad forgot

Daren: he had one fucking job

Daren: he's too busy with his new lover

Me: how long have you known?

Daren: since June

Me: ....

Me: Eve knows now

Daren: my dad finally told her?

Me: no

Me: she's been worried about him so she called and she answered

Daren: he's been acting weird because he's getting some

Me: i don't need to know that

Daren: it's obvious

Daren: how's it going? 7 years clean? hahaha

Me: 0 days clean

Daren: you know that's fucking gross

Me: hehe

Daren: douchebag

Daren: i didn't want to know that

Daren: ...

Me: did you call

Daren: i was about to text her

Me: ...

Me: really?

Daren: it's the same thing

Me: ...

Daren: i'll call her later

Me: i would like her happy on her birthday

Daren: i'll have Mason call her

Me: fine

Me: why did no one tell Eve your Dad has a girlfriend?

Daren: cause she's Eve

Daren: she's sensitive

Me: you don't think she'll be happy for him?

Daren: she didn't open up to my wife until I dated her for a year

Daren: well

Daren: I met Erica when I was 20

Daren: Eve was 12 so that's a bad example

Daren: anyways, Eve never liked any of the girls I , or my brothers dated. my dad really likes Zoe

Daren: zoe is his gf

Daren: so imagine how Eve would treat his gf

Daren: i mean we all met her and she's really nice

Me: ...

Me: have you met Eve?

Me: she made pb&j's for homeless people last week

Daren: you'll see

Daren: she can be a sassy asshole

Me: don't call her an asshole

Daren: nooooooooow you act like a bf

Daren: mr. i show up 2 hours late

Me: shut up cock sucker

Me: did you text your sister?

Daren: i did

Daren: and she said

Daren: thanks

Me: did mason call?

Daren: he and Ethan texted

Me: you all suck hairy ball sacks

Daren: it's not my fault my dad forgot

Me: it doesn't take much effort to call

Daren: i'll call her when i get home

Daren: stop being up my ass

Me: ._.

Daren: merry Christmas

Me: thanks

I lock my phone when I see Eve walk into the living room with her tea. She blows on it so it becomes okay to drink.

She sits down beside me and I rest my hand on her lap. "Did you want your gift now?" I ask my girlfriend.

Her hazel eyes look to me. "I told you I didn't want anything,"

"Everyone should get one thing on their birthday," I grin a little. "I'll go grab it," I stand up and head to our bedroom.

Her Christmas gift is a new car. Her rental car now is fucking garbage. Like it's actually falling apart. Her birthday gift is a diamond ring.

No, it's not an engagement ring.

I thought Eve deserved to have a real diamond ring. She usually always wears jewelry that has fake diamonds and I wanted her to have a real one.

I know the gifts I got her aren't thoughtful, but I'm not creative with gifts.

I return back to the living room and see she's sipping her tea. My hands are behind my back. I sit down beside Eve who looks at me. Her eyes are questioning.

I give her the small wrapped box. I take the mug out of her hands I place it on the end table. Eve slowly unwraps the small box and she stares at it.

She opens the tiny red box and looks at me. "It's not an engagement ring," I say. "I wouldn't have gave it to you if it was," I chuckle a little. "I thought every woman deserves to have a real diamond that's part of their jewelry collection." I tell my girlfriend. "Kris told me your ring size," I add.

"You didn't need to get me something like this," Eve says. Her eyes look up at me. "I was expecting like a pack of gum or socks," She chuckles a little.

"You're worth more than a pack of gum or socks," I kiss her cheek.

"Thank you Harry," She presses her lips against mine.

"No need to thank me," I stroke her cheek.

"I love you," Eve tells me.

"I love you more," I smile softly. Her eyes stare back down at the ring. "Is it okay? I had Sophia help me," I admit.

"It's perfect," She tells me while looking back up at me. "Thank you,"

Eve POV

It's around four o'clock and my phone rings beside me. I'm in my room organizing my clothes that Rose washed yesterday. My eyebrows furrow a little. Kris already called me wishing me a happy birthday. I don't know who else would call.

I see it's my contact name is my Dad. I click accept and press my phone against my ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, Eve," My Father says. "This is pretty late but, happy birthday."

"Thank you," I say.

"Sorry for forgetting," My Dad says.

"It's fine," I murmur.

Silent falls for a few moments.

"So what's her name?" I ask finally.

"Zoey," He pauses. "She prefers to go by Zoe though,"

"How long have you guys been a thing?"

"Since April," I bite my lip.

"Why didn't you tell me you were dating someone?" I ask.

"You're not the easiest with that stuff. You gave Erica the cold shoulder when she was dating Daren,"

"I was 12 and didn't like anyone my brothers dated. I'm twenty five now," I say. "Have they already met her?"

Silence falls and my eyes sting. I don't know why, but I feel sad now. "They have," My Dad tells me. "A few times."

"When?"

"The first time was in June and since then there were some dinners and stuff,"

"Oh," Thanks for the invite.

"I didn't know if you would want to meet her," My Dad tells me.

"It sounds like you didn't want me to," I say.

"It's not that," He lets out a shrug.

"Then what?" I ask. "I'm tired of everyone looking at me like a baby. I don't care if you're dating someone, and it's none of business if you are. I wouldn't expect you to not date after Mom. And I hardly remember her so I have no reason to not like your new girlfriend," I rant.

"No one is treating you like a baby," My Dad defends.

"You guys always have treated me like a baby," I say.

"How?"

"You didn't let me wear shorts that went above my knee," I bring up.

"Some guys are pervs and I didn't want something to happen to my daughter," My Dad explains.

"I still got raped so that didn't work out well," I find myself blurting out. "Then, you never let me help out around the house," I bring up.

I hear him shrug. "Most kids would enjoy the fact that they didn't have to work at 14,"

"But I felt bad that everyone was worrying about me and not themselves. I'm thankful that you guys wanted me to grow up semi normal, but I wanted to chip in," I say. "Even with chores you didn't let me help," I add.

"Eve, I did what I was thought was best for you. It was hard being a single fucking father and raising a daughter. I didn't know what to do with you, and I tried my best to do everything right. So, I'm sorry you're offended that you haven't met my girlfriend. You'd just find something wrong with her cause you're never satisfied with anything," My Father raises his voice at me while speaking.

Tears start to brim my eyes.

"I'm sorry," My dad says moments later. "I didn't mean to raise my voice,"

I just want to be involved with things. I feel like an idiot that I didn't know he's been with someone for eight months. "Um, have a nice Christmas with your girlfriend," I find myself saying.

"Have your brothers called you?"

"They never do," I say. I hear him huff over the phone.

"I'll see you at dinner tomorrow?" My Dad asks.

"I'm gonna stay home," I say while looking at my lap.

"Eve I didn't mean what I said. I just didn't want you to find out that I'm with someone the way you did. Come to dinner,"

"No, I'm uh, just going to say home. I'll um, talk to you later." I soon hang up my phone and wipe my eyes.

I soon see Harry emerge into our room with a tilted head. I look away from him and to my lap. My boyfriend sits beside me and wraps his arms around my body.

"I hate my birthday," I say against his chest.

"Don't say that." Harry tells me. "Tonight will be fun, I promise. We will have fun making fun of old rich couples that I know you like to joke about," I chuckle a little against him.

"Is taking me to dinner going to be hassle?" I ask timidly.

"No, far from." His lips kiss my cheek. "I love you,"

"I love you too," I mumble against my boyfriends chest.

A://N

this chapter was supposed to be like 1000 words but i kept going lol

i'm not gonna write about eve's birthday dinner most likely

tysfm for 200k reads!! that's just fucking amazing, thank you so much!

sooooooo

i'll be posting the sequel to this very soon

probably the next chapter will be the last for this book ???? i haven't made up my mind yet lmao

comment goal: 40???

~lauren