Friendship on Fire (40 page)

Sarah saw the awe in my eyes and reached out to check the price tag. I put my hand over hers.

‘I don't want to know. It's probably out of my budget and I don't want to be disappointed.'

‘No worries,' she said, until I moved my hand away. She flicked the tag over before I could stop her and grinned. ‘Not bad, we can afford this.'

‘We?'

‘If you need. I want this to be special for you. You deserve it. Do you want to try it on or do we just buy it?' she asked, taking the hanger to the counter.

‘Buy it. If it doesn't fit I'll bring it back tomorrow. I can't wait to get out of here. I don't belong,' I said, digging my hands in my jeans pocket.

‘We can go somewhere else after, if you like? It's late night shopping so everyone will be open for a while yet.'

‘Yeah, maybe I'll get some matching briefs. Less expensive,' I smiled at her.

‘You got it.'

My heart was thudding so hard inside my chest as we left the store. Sarah was ecstatic about our purchase and about helping me in my awkward quest.

‘You're sure about this, aren't you Daisy?' she asked, leaning forward to catch my eyes and read my face.

I stared straight ahead, not wanting her to see the scared look in my eyes. ‘Of course I am. I love him.'

‘Have you told him that?'

‘No. This will help,' I said, holding up the shopping bag.

‘I'm not questioning your decision; I just want to make sure everything is OK. You've been quiet about it since you told me. Are you having second thoughts?'

The more she questioned me about my intentions, the more I wondered if I should be questioning myself about my intentions.

‘No Sarah, I'm scared witless. Everyone has to go through it at some point in their life, so I'll get over it. Hey, is that Shana?' I pointed to a small cafe on the corner of the street.

Sure enough, sitting in a cosy window seat under a tall heater were Shana and James, most probably on the first date James was asking me about not long ago.

‘Good on them,' Sarah gushed. ‘They make such a cute couple, don't you think?'

‘Yeah, definitely,' I replied absent-mindedly. My head started throbbing with the amount of thinking I'd done lately.

‘Come on, you need a coffee. Don't die on me now. I've got a list as well, you know,' she said, linking arms with me and dragging me into the nearest cafe, away from Shana and James.

appy birthday, babe,' I whispered nervously, gazing deep into Nate's eyes as I handed him my humble wrapped gift.

‘What's this?' His eyes lit up and he turned it over in his hands. We sat on my bed, door locked. My brothers were working or at friends' places and my parents had gone out to dinner and wouldn't be home until late. My plan worked out perfectly.

‘There's more to come,' I mumbled.

He took the Nixon t-shirt out of the wrapping and instantly stripped off his shirt and put on the new one. A lump rose in my throat as I watched the show before me. He still had no clue what I had prepared for him. I heavily considered backing out and leaving it for another time, but I wanted it to be special for him, and a surprise. So it would happen one way or another.

‘I love it. Thanks, Dais,' he said in a husky voice, reaching out and pulling me closer to him. His kiss more than thanked me, and my body began to tremble under the pressure.

‘Hey, what's wrong? Are you cold?' he asked, concern furrowing his eyebrows.

‘Not quite,' I joked. ‘Close your eyes. There's one more present I haven't given you.'

‘Uh. Do my eyes really need to be closed? I like looking at you.'

‘Yes,' I replied firmly, going to my drawers and pulling out the black lace nightgown with matching underwear I found later while shopping with Sarah. ‘Give me a couple of minutes.'

‘Are you done yet?' he asked immediately. I watched his eyes like a hawk, terrified he would renege on our agreement and my plan would be exposed in mid-flight, that is, me naked.

‘No, be patient, would you?'

Mischief washed across his face. ‘I can hear clothes rustling. What are you doing?'

You,
I wanted to say back, but stopped myself. He would surely look then and my game would be over.

With a quick look in the mirror, I smoothed my hair and the gown and sat back down in front of Nate.

‘Now. Don't look yet. All you're allowed to do is feel, if that makes sense.'

‘It sure does. I like this surprise already,' he murmured.

I sat down in front of him and put his hands on my hips. His face changed straight away; I could tell it was taking all his self-control not to open his eyes and see what I'd done.

I tried to sit still as his hands roamed up my back, across my stomach, up to my shoulders. When I was sure he couldn't take anymore of the mystery, I decided to let him off.

‘Open your eyes,' I commanded. He did, and his reaction was what every girl hopes she would receive after putting herself out there.

He stared at me in my black nightgown, his jaw open. Then he raised his eyes to meet mine. ‘Daisy, you look beautiful. What's this for? If it's a joke …'

I took a deep breath and cut off his sentence. ‘I'm in love with you, and I want to show you that. This is your birthday surprise; me.'

Nate's face turned serious, mischief and awe gone. He reached out and gathered me to him, kissing me passionately, running his hands through my hair and around my neck. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held his neck to me, not wanting him to stop kissing me.

He stopped, watching my eyes intently, and asked, ‘Are you sure this is what you want?'

‘Yes. I want to be with you. Show me how to love you,' I whispered and without further question, he picked me up, turned and opened the covers. Sliding between the cold sheets, I watched as Nate took off his new shirt and jeans and joined me. His strong body was warm, complementing my silk gown and soft skin.

Reaching for the lamp, I flicked the switch off and turned to lie on my back, peering into Nate's face in the moonlight coming through my window.

I quietly begged my skin to tame its goose bumps as Nate rolled on top of my trembling body and kissed me again.

‘So how'd everything go for the big birthday date last night, mm?' Sarah asked the next morning, curiosity alight in her face.

Adrenalin coursed through my veins, as I was reminded, not for the first time today, of my wonderful night with Nate.

‘Perfect,' I said, hugging myself as we walked to the canteen for lunch.

She looked sidelong at me. ‘Was he surprised?'

I nodded, smiling. ‘He sure was. Pleasantly. But we were nearly late for school this morning. I was supposed to send him home after, you know, but we fell asleep and didn't wake up until about seven,' I giggled. ‘I had to send him out my window so my family didn't see him.'

‘Nice,' Sarah nodded her head in approval. ‘And it all went well?'

I knew what she was asking and I wanted to tell her everything. I would have, if I wasn't so shy about it myself. ‘Definitely a good choice of outfit … and yeah. It was a bit strange in some ways, but he was good to me.'

‘Wow, so much detail and yet so vague,' Sarah teased.

I threw my hands up in the air. ‘Sorry, I don't
exactly
know what you want me to say. Maybe you need to be more specific with your questions.'

‘All right. I'll wait a while, ‘til you're more comfortable with the topic, then we'll trade stories. Sound good?'

Relief flooded me and I grinned at her. ‘Deal. Thanks for being such a good friend. I've really appreciated having you around the last few months.'

‘No worries.'

‘Saturday night, beach party. Anyone and everyone invited. What do you think?' Nate asked me that night after another lesson in love.

My brain had turned to mush; I could barely think of anything else but him. ‘Great.'

‘Don't sound so excited,' he said, slinging his arm across my chest and kissing my shoulder.

‘I will, when the time comes. Until then, I'm enjoying what we have right now,' I murmured, blinking up at the ceiling.

‘We can have a bonfire, heaps of juice, lights. It'll be the biggest party of the year.'

‘Count me in,' I said in monotone.

‘What have I done to you?' he gasped in mock drama. ‘I've turned the hottest thing in the world into a zombie. How do I fix this?' He pulled me to his chest and made me look at him.

I smiled, staring at the minute features of his face, absolutely in love with his entire being. I had been missing out, until now. I felt closer to him than ever and I didn't want to give it up for the world.

ou look so hot tonight,' Nate gushed with alcohol slurring his vocabulary. ‘I don't know how long I can control myself around you.'