Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

77. I Love Surprises

77

i love surprises

Selah

Manhattan, NY | May 7, 2024

Today has been unlike any birthday I’ve ever had. I woke up thirty years old with a clean slate, in the arms of a man who adores me as I am. I couldn’t be more grateful. I know I just wanted to relax today, but he kept his word and gave me what I wanted. After brunch, we curled up with our pets, and I caught up on my current read before he sent me out of the house for pampering. He’s taking me out for a nice dinner tonight, and he was still firm about me not lifting a finger today.

He made me a hair appointment with Chess for a wash and style. I wanted my curls straightened with a few inches taken off. My curls always look so much better when they’re not weighed down, and she took the perfect amount off. As much as I love to embrace the curls, occasionally, I like to switch it up. I was a little nervous about what Greyson would say, but it’s safe to say he was more than happy with the outcome. When I got home, he kindly asked if he could wrap it around his fist just to test my new length. How could I deny such a reasonable request? It wrapped around three times.

I complete my look as I zip myself into a backless yellow maxi dress. Open-toe heels peek through my low slit. I’m secretly hoping that eggs aren’t cooked at the table tonight. I’ve asked for hints as to where we’re going, but he won’t budge.

I step out into the hallway to model for him, and he growls in approval when he sees me. He’s in a navy, silk button-down with dress pants, paired with a belt I can’t wait to watch him take off later. I honestly didn’t think we’d get out the door, but he insisted we had a reservation to make.

We’re on our way to the restaurant, and the ride has been nice. He drives with one hand and holds mine with the other. As I take in our surroundings, I begin to wonder where we’re really headed once it seems like we’re entering SoHo. I raise my brow and keep staring out the window until the very townhouse I expected to see comes into view. Greyson slows down the car, letting go of my hand as he settles into a parking spot on the street in front of Audrey’s house .

I whip my head over and give him a quizzical look.

“Reservations, huh? What are you up to? More importantly, are we overdressed?”

“I’m not up to anything, and we are not overdressed,” he assures me, helping me out of the car.

He’s right behind me as we head up the stairs, but it appears that no one is home. I hesitate at the door when he boldly turns the knob and motions for me to enter the house. I stand in the quiet foyer, and when I feel my anxiety heighten, I ball my fists and breathe deeply through it, rooted to the spot. Grey leans down, resting his forehead on mine, and rubs his thumb over my knuckles.

“Trust me, baby,” he whispers with a kiss to my cheek .

“I do,” I breathe out.

When we continue walking, he guides me with his hand on the small of my back. There’s no sign of anyone here, not even Ghost, who we should’ve seen by now. I pass through her huge kitchen to the front of a door that leads to her dining room. I pull the doors open, and I’m startled by a collective song of various voices shouting Surprise! with one rumbling from right behind me, and it’s Greyson’s.

The light flicks on, revealing a full spread on the table and familiar faces standing around, including my mom’s. Tears well in my eyes at the sight of her and the thoughtfulness of him. I didn’t mention it to anyone, but I was dreading spending my thirtieth birthday without her. We’d already spent so many years apart when I lived in West Chester, and now that we’re closer, I want to celebrate everything together. I planned to fly her in, but she said that she wouldn’t be able to get off work until next week.

Before I can speak, she yells, “Happy birthday, baby!” and rushes to greet me with a warm hug. After a moment, I hear her whisper, " Thank you " over my shoulder to Greyson. The girls come over to hug me, and Chess finally meets Greyson. I realize now that I never updated them about how much has changed in the past few days. I’ll need to sneak off to update them later, mama too.

When I introduce him as my boyfriend, the room erupts in whoops and cheers. I admire him over dinner, and my heart swells at how well he fits with us. He’s charming everyone and really hitting it off with Mom. The guys seem to approve, and I really love this intimate family dinner over going to a restaurant. He includes my family because let’s face it—that’s what they are to me.

I tell Greyson to meet me out on Audrey’s terrace to steal a moment away. I realize how quickly things have changed over the last several days, and I just want a moment to talk with him .

“Selah, why was your mom quizzing me about pinochle when I picked her up from the airport yesterday?”

I inquire, “She’s been in town since yesterday, and I’m just now finding out?”

“Don’t change the subject. She was fully aware of these plans and has been living lavishly at The Woodward since I dropped her off. You do not want to see that bill.”

“Good for her.”

He continues, trying to hide his smile. “Back to my question. Why does she think I’m an expert pinochle player?”

“Umm—I may have mentioned that as a joke when she was accusing us of having sex and we weren’t.”

“When was this?”

“Thanksgiving. She saw how you looked at me, like you’d swallow me whole. Mama knew it was going to happen anyway and told me to call whenever it did. If I said ‘pinochle’ three times you were a good neighbor and just once if you were a bad one.”

“So, the whole time, it’s a code word. I was looking it up and hoping to impress her,” he says, shaking his head.

I can’t hold back my laughter, and he eventually joins me.

I bring my eyes to his with a thought. “Greyson, when did you know you loved me?” I ask with a shaky breath.

“I could ask you the same,” he challenges. “On the count of three?”

I nod. He keeps eye contact, holding my face in his hands. Tears fall down my cheeks, and his thumb swipes them away.

“One, two, three.”

“March eleventh,” we say in unison .

He takes my lips in a demanding kiss, capturing my moans, and I quickly remember we have a party we need to return to. When we come up for air, I remind him of that, and he lights up as if he has an idea.

“Dance with me.”

“There’s no music.”

“There’s always music,” he counters, holding up his phone.

He turns on Lay It Down by Allen Stone. I place my hand in his and take his lead as we softly sway across the terrace. Meeting my gaze, he sighs contentedly as his free hand travels my bare back, stopping just before my ass.

He guides me across the terrace effortlessly and mouths I love you , and I mouth it back. It’s funny, like we’re still adjusting to the words and how they sound out loud. I break our gaze for a moment to peer reluctantly at the night sky or lack thereof. It's darkness. with faint signs of light. I love living in Manhattan, but I really miss stargazing. It was something small that brought me joy on even the worst day.

On nights like these, I wish I could see the stars.

“Wishing we weren’t in New York right now so you could stargaze?”

Seriously, how does he do that?

“How’d you know?”

“A wise woman once told me, ‘Everything is obvious when you’re paying attention.’” He dramatically dips me, and my eyes widen. He smirks and pulls me up, resuming the slow dance. “To know what’s going on inside your head is a gift, an honor that I don’t take lightly,” he adds with a sweet kiss to my forehead.

The song changes, and we don’t stop moving. I could get lost on a dance floor with him for the rest of my life, and I hope I do. I’ll never know the time, allowing me to make the best of every moment.

“Don’t look, but everyone’s watching. Tissues are being passed around. ”

I chuckle into his chest, and we keep on for one more song in front of our spectators. I eventually look up and see Mom and Chess crying. Audrey, Daya, and Eric are cheering, as expected. Rome, August, and Avery, the brothers I never had, stand there with soft smiles. If they cried, it would be in private. We head back inside to rejoin the party when Greyson stops me.

“Do you still hate surprises?” he asks.

“Yes, but only when you’re not involved. I love it when you surprise me—you leave no stone unturned. You are something else, Greyson Park.”

“You are everything, Selah Bailey.”

THE END