GRACE''S POV


    It''s my birthday


    I''ma do what I like


    I''ma eat what I like


    I''ma kiss who I like


    It''s my birthday


    As the pulsating beats of the chorus of Anne Marie''s ''Birthday'' reverberated through the stereo speakers, I found myself unable to resist anymore. As I brushed my hair, my head swayed with the rhythm as I lip-synced every word, fully immersed in getting the tone right.


    I''ma do what I like


    I''ma wear what I like


    I''ma party tonight


    Goddamn, it''s my birthday


    Everybody love me


    Yeah, yeah, yeah, look at me, gimme money


    Damn, it''s my birthday


    I stopped to properly apply my lipstick. I smacked my lips together and gave myself a charming smile in the mirror. I straightened and admired myself in the mirror, my eyes lingering on the neckline of the dress, the emerald ne Sydney made for me, my entuated curves and the slit of the dress.


    "Damn! I look good," I drawled as I swirled before of the mirror, my heart filled with immense joy. Joel is definitely going to love it!


    It was a weekday but I had taken the day off dressed to the nines in the sexy dress I recently designed. Joel had asked that we meet upter today but I have decided to surprise him.


    I slipped my feet into my favorite heels and picked up my back. "All done!" I chirped and reassessed my


    look in the mirror for thest time.


    I turned off the stereo. My eyes swept through the room onest time to be sure I wasn''t forgetting anything then I walked to the front door. After I''d locked the door, I brought out my phone and took a selfie. I smiled, impressed at how hot I looked. I was about to send it to Joel when I stopped. I turned off my phone and tucked it back in my bag.


    I


    If I sent him the selfie, he would definitely guess that I was already on my way to his ce which would ruin the surprise


    I got in my car, turned on Anne Marie''s ''Birthday'' again. sang out loud and bobbed my head to the music as I drove to his apartmentplex.


    The security guard was waving at a kid walking a puppy when I got there, when he saw me his smile faltered slightly.


    "Hey man," I grinned at him, "How''re you doing today?"


    "Grace! I''m good." he grinned, "You look really good."


    The security guard at Joel''s apartmentplex was a really nice man and he and I had be a little bit more than acquaintances since I frequent here often


    I blushed, "Thank you."


    Then he looked up, "You here to see Joel?"


    I drew back and gave him a weird look, "Ofcourse, who else? He''s around, right?"


    He bit his lips and shook his head, "I''m not sure."


    I waved my hands in the air, "No worries, I''d just check if he''s in or not."


    His eyebrows creased and he looked like he was about to say something but then his brows smoothed and he smiled. "Alright then."


    I frowned as I proceeded up to his apartment, if Joel wasn''t going to be around, he usually informed me so what''s with the guard saying he wasn''t sure if he was in? I shrugged, maybe he stepped out for a bit and he didn''t see him return.


    I paused at the door and smoothed down my dress and patted my hair. Then with a deep breath, I turned the knob and the door opened to reveal a shirtless Joel, trembling and hunched over on hisrgest couch, slender fingers gripping his shoulders.


    My heart momentarily skipped a beat then it started to beat rapidly as the scene made more sense.


    Joel''s hand clenched the side of the couch tightly, his back muscles flexing as he vigorously thrust into the woman beneath him. Her legs were entwined around his hips and his face was buried in the curve of her neck, their harmonious moans gradually got louder by the second. Their shared moans faded into silence and their movements ceased as the soft thud of my bag hitting the floor echoed in the room. My heart squeezed tight in my chest and for a brief moment, I couldn''t breathe as Joel''s sweaty face turned to me. He frowned and muttered something to thedy.


    I watched as he awkwardly detached himself from her and dragged up his trousers but he remained seated on the couch. Thedy pulled down her gown then with her elbow propped up, she rested her head on her palm and faced me with a scowl.


    "Who is she?" She asked in a condescending tone.


    Again, Joel muttered something to her then he faced me, "Why are you here now?"N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    I drew back, shocked. "I just caught you cheating on me and this is the first thing you say to me? You sit there and asked me why I am here," 1 felt my heart burn with hurt anger.


    My voice quivered with hurt and disbelief as I interrupted him, the words catching in my throat, "Joel, how


    could you do this to me?" With each syble, the bitter taste of tears touched my mouth, their salty taste staining my tongue. As I blinked and more tears cascaded down my cheeks, blurring my vision. I squinted and confronted him, my voice barely above a whisper, "Of all days, it had to be my birthday?"


    Rising from the bed with deliberate slowness, he regarded me with a nonchnt demeanor. This isn''t the time we agreed on. Why did youe over now?" He spoke like I was some unwanted visitor or some intruder that just barged into his haven.