Where It All Begins | Liznick
Really, she should have left for his house at midnight.
Liz had been up since then, anyway, thrumming with excitement as she tossed and turned in her bed, just counting down the hours until the grand plans she’d made weeks ago for Nick’s birthday could finally come to fruition. The whole day was planned down to the second and Liz hoped to God in heaven above that she wasn’t being too hasty. Would he even want any of this? He was always so quiet about his personal life. Hadn’t even told her his birthday was coming up in the first place—Liz had to find it out second-hand.
Sally was to blame for that, of course. Liz had been lounging about with her and Nick one day as she’d started to do after realizing that she and her handsome once-mystery-man had the impeccable knack of running into each other everywhere they went. Might as well just spend time with him on her own terms. Not to mention that Liz still had yet to unravel the mystery of how he’d known her name without Liz ever giving it to him. Or, you know, that weird nagging feeling she still sometimes got if she caught him watching her out of the corner of her eye.
But in any case, she’d glanced over Sally’s shoulder at her planner one day and had gestured to the starred July 2nd date. “What you got going on the second? I thought you’ve been prepping for the big masquerade bash Nick’s throwing for months now.” Liz had laughed as she set aside her book, but hadn’t quite been prepared for the nervous glance the brunette had sent the way of her boss’s study door. Nick had locked himself in as he wrestled with an extremely vexing bit of code, surrounding himself in the invisible bubble afforded to him by his intricate security system.
“Uh, well… It’s actually his birthday.” Sally replied with a weak smile. “He doesn’t like to celebrate it at all, but I still like to try and do something for him every year. It’s just sad; his mom doesn’t even call anymore.”
“Really? Not even his mom?” Liz had paused then, tapping her fingers against the countertop of the island where she and Nick had shared so many breakfasts since that first fateful morning a month or so ago. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, then opened it again, hesitation caused by contained excitement evident in her voice. “Would… Would you mind if I took over for you this year?”
Had she not been staring intently at Nick’s door, Liz might have caught the small smile twisting itself into life upon Sally’s lips, and might have even begun to wonder if this had all been a set-up as Sally told her to knock herself out.
This all lead to Liz bolting out of bed at five-thirty A.M. feeling more awake than she had in years. She rushed through her morning routine, barely even waiting for her hair to dry in its usual beachy waves before shoving on a pair of shorts and slipping the boho top she’d picked out earlier over her head and rushing for the door. Lithe fingers grasped the box holding a single homemade cupcake that had been lying upon her counter since Liz had baked it the day before. She smiled down at the little confection, rolling her eyes as she remembered how shocked her friends had been that Liz had even made something like this at all.
“I don’t even know who this girl is.” Elaine had teased, gesturing to the surprisingly sober Liz as she pulled a cupcake pan out of the oven and turned around to stick her tongue out at her friend that had come over to help with all the baking fun. “I’m serious. I’ve never seen you like this. Gatsby’s got you wrapped around his finger, Liz.”
“Well, you remember how I was when I was…” Liz began, before the words got stuck in her throat. She coughed once, taking a breath as she smiled and continued on. “--when I was dating Ian. And, besides, Nick’s just a friend. Not to mention he’s a friend who apparently hasn’t celebrated his own birthday in years because no one ever really talks about it.” The blonde set down the piping bag she was filling with icing to look back up at Elaine with furrowed eyebrows and a hurt expression. “Did you know his own mother doesn’t even call him on his birthday? His personal assistant is the only one who’s ever done anything for him. And Sally told me that even that is never too much or else he gets moody.” Liz let out a little sigh and rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “I don’t know, Lainey… It’s just… He’s been really kind to me when he didn’t have any reason to be. And I can’t stand to think of him alone, all locked up in that ivory tower of his, working all day on his birthday.”
Elaine raised an eyebrow as she too had that small knowing smile twist at her lips, Liz once again missing the knowing expression as she turned back to decorating the cupcakes before her. “Well, I’m sure the two of you will have an amazing date, Liz. You do always seem to plan the best ones.” The kitchen had become quite the disaster moments later as Liz looked up in shock and threw a handful of sprinkles at her best friend, screeching that she and Nick were not going on a date, before the two of them devolved into having a rather massive food fight.
Only this single cupcake that Liz held on her lap had remained intact from the carnage. Liz had frosted it with the utmost care, gently piping tiny rosettes all along the top and edges before pressing a single candle in the very center. “God, I hope he likes buttercream.” She sighed to herself as Liz leaned forward to tell her town car driver the code to open up the gates to Nick’s mansion. And that he’s too absorbed in a project to notice I’m here. The rational part of her mind amended.
After all, what good is a surprise if the one you’re surprising sees you coming a mile away?
“I’d wait in the garage area. We’ll need you in an hour or two once the boardwalk opens up.” Liz said as she exited the vehicle, smiling up at the large house in front of her and let out a small squeal of excitement. He has to have a good day today. He just has to. She thought to herself, dodging a few of the cameras Nick had mistakenly pointed out to her earlier. Liz had planned her route of attack about a week ago, and had done a dry run a few days ago. Nick hadn’t said anything, nor had her quick appraisal of his security feeds later that day turned up any video of her movements through the house, so Liz had high hopes that she’d be able to make it to the kitchen without incident.
Sidling up to the counter, Liz glanced about quickly, making sure she hadn’t missed any new cameras Nick had installed without her knowing. Nothing seemed out of place at least. So, quietly, Liz slunk to one of the cupboards and pulled out a plate she had hidden away a few days ago. She’d found it during one of her wanderings in Nick’s mansion that he still allowed her when the mood struck. Generally he’d go back to working, sometimes leaving Liz to wonder if he just casually kept on eye on her—making sure she’d stay out of trouble probably. But somehow he’d missed seeing her rifling through a random closet and turning up the beautiful set of fine china plates all inlaid with a scalloped edging of gold. Her fingers had run gently across the edges, smiling sadly to herself before wondering if these were the secret plates she had teased Nick about at their first meeting. It had felt like a sign of some sort, so Liz had secreted one of the dessert plates away to his cupboards.
And now it had the distinct honor of carrying what Liz was fairly sure would be Nick McLain’s first bite of real birthday cake in a very long time.
The girl held to plate very carefully in one hand, shielding the light from the burning birthday candle with the other as she made her way up the stairs to Nick’s study. Once outside the door, it was almost hard to contain herself. Liz could feel herself shaking with excitement, just hoping and pleading to all the gods in heaven above that he wouldn’t be angry with her for this. After all, no one should be alone on the one day of the year that has been set aside just for them.
Now or never… Liz thought to herself before taking a deep breath and beginning to sing as she nudged open the study door with her shoulder. “Happy birthday to you…” Her voice was quiet, a bit choked as Nick turned and looked at Liz standing there with complete shock in his eyes. “Happy birthday to you…” She continued, swallowing around the nervous lump in her throat as she walked a bit forward, lowering her hand so that the faint light of the candle spread throughout the darkened room. “Happy birthday, dear Nick…” Liz finally stopped next to Nick’s chair, gently setting the plate with the cupcake down in front of him. “Happy birthday to you.”
She smiled gently down at the tall man next to her who seemed a bit paralyzed with shock as his confused gaze moved from the cupcake up to Liz and back. “Go on… Blow out the candle. Make a wish! It’s your birthday, not mine.” Liz teased and nudged Nick’s shoulder lightly as her smile widened into a large grin. “I’ve got big plans for you today. Barely made it to waiting until six am to come give this to you. Thought you’d appreciate the illusion of getting any work done on your birthday.”
