Ally sat in the passenger seat fidgeting in her seat. She hated not knowing things. She had never been a fan of surprises. The last time anyone had ever tried to do any kind of surprise for her birthday was during college and she ended up punching her boyfriend at the time, now ex, in the face. But, as she sat there, letting him drive her out of town, she couldn’t help but realize that she did in fact trust him. The amount of people Ally could say that about was less than what she could count on one hand and, yet, when she glanced over at him with a curious look in her eyes, she knew he was one of them now. “Please tell me ,you didn’t drive me all the way out here to have sex in the woods?” She teased, giving his hand a little squeeze. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” She said, shaking her head as she looked over at him before letting out a deep breath and giving in. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t help but squeeze his hand a little harder as she admitted quietly, “I trust you.”
“You mean I don’t just get you with a big bow on it? Drats,” She teased again, letting her eyes flutter open, but only when he said. Her eyes widened as she saw the little gifts laid out. “Wait- hold up. A carnival?” She asked in shock, glancing over at him to ask if he was serious. Ally had had her life of adventure. She had flown on private jets before and dined in luxury. She had never belonged there, but the con artist knew the right words to say to get what she wanted. But, she had never had someone care enough about the actual girl beneath the mask to do something like this. It was the nicest gift she had ever received and one of the most thoughtful and as she stood there gawking in shock, she realized that Cain might just be the only person she had ever dated who truly knew her- bad parts and all. “I hate you,” Ally mumbled, throwing her arms tightly around Cain and burying her face into his chest. She knew he could probably hear her heart beating rapidly against her chest which only made her face turn a deeper shade of red. “How am I ever supposed to compete with this?”
Cain rolled his eyes as she mentioned him driving her out to have sex in the woods. “Do you think I’d think so little of you that I’d want to have sex with you in the woods? I mean I want to have sex with you everywhere, but right now no that’s not what I’m doing,” he said then. He playfully rolled his eyes when she said he was cute. “I’m not cute. Have you seen me? I’m supposed to be rugged and hot. Handsome. Sexy even.” When she said that she trusted him, he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
He laughed then. “No, that’s what I want for my birthday, you with a bow on you,” he joked. “Yep, picturing it now…yes. That’s perfect.” Cain winked at her, grinning as they joked easily as they walked. “Yes, a carnival.” Every part of this had been worth it. Every single plan for this was all for this reaction. The way her heart raced, the way she blushed burying her face into his chest. “Yeah yeah. I’m sure you do hate me.” His arms wrapped around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. “You’re not supposed to compete. You’re supposed to let me, a man that has watched every frown, here far away and distant look when your mind goes to an unpleasant place, make you blush and smile.” Normally, he was awkward with emotion, but not today. He vowed to himself that he wouldn’t be today. “I just want to make you happy Ally. For as long as you’ll let me,” he told her honestly, and more vulnerably than he’d actually intended to.