My Perfect Addiction

Chapter Forty-Nine

(Next Morning)

I was woken up by my body being jolted in the bed,

"Come on Ryder it's your birthday!!"

I groaned and crawled out from the rumpled comforter and through squinted eyes looked over to see Holly laying on the bed next me texting on her phone.

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking you for coffee and shopping for your birthday..."

"Come on I thought I get to sleep in...."

"Well tell Joe to take it easy on you and you would have got some sleep."

I rolled my eyes and sat up,

"We didn't do anything; we haven't done anything since the motel."

"Bullshit!"

"I swear, I just wish he would try for fuck sake."

"You know Ryder, you can always initiate it...."

"I know and I want to, it's just every time I get there, and I go to make some kind of move I just freeze up."

"Ryder it's just Joe, I mean you been in love with him for how long and you know he isn't going to say no."

"How do you know that"

"First off isn't this the same guy that when I walked into our dorm room was going down on you."

"He wasn't going down on me."

"Tell someone who might believe you Ryder, Now come on get dressed. I need coffee and I have Brayden's credit card."

I couldn't help but laugh as I slid from the bed and quickly got ready. Twenty minutes later we were on our way out, little did I know that it was a set up by Joe, and Holly had direct orders to keep me out and occupied until five o'clock.

Ryder is out with Holly and I'm in the middle of chaos. I want everything to be perfect, so I've been here at the Lenox since six this morning making sure nothing goes wrong. I've got the executive suite booked for after for her and I and the baby is going home with Tracy for the night.  Holly is supposed to bring her back to her house around five to start getting ready and she is going to drive her over at eight. She stopped over stupid early this morning and picked up the new designer dress and heels I bought her for tonight. I'm hoping this would be just what she needs to finally get it in her head that I want to be with her and no one else. Maybe then we could just cut all this mess and she will officially move back in, and we can be back together. At this point there is nothing stopping it other than her.

It was six when finally, I was able to go up to our suite and shower and get ready for the party. The room is perfect, she will love it. The bedroom has a exquisite fireplace and everything was done in gold and cream with vintage furniture., it's very much her style. I slid into the shower letting the water rush over me, hopefully relaxing some of the aches and pains I've been having from the constant rehearsals. I don't know how long I was in the shower just deep in thoughts of Ryder through the years, and here we are her 21st birthday. By the time I was out of the shower and ready I had about fifteen minutes before I had to go down. My nerves flaring up, Im just hoping she likes it.  A text pulled me back from my thoughts,

Ryder: Joey....

Joey: Yeah baby

Ryder: Holly has had me running around all day, then she dragged me back to her house to get dressed insisting her and Bray are taking me to dinner for my birthday. I just want to come home and get in bed and watch a movie. Are you still in rehearsal. I thought we were going to do Applebee's and a movie for my birthday.  Its ok.....I know you have to work. After all you are taking care of me and you don't have too, Stryker and your parents.

I couldn't help but smile, she really has no clue. There is an entire banquet hall with over 100 people all waiting on just her, to celebrate her. Part of me feels bad she thinks that no one cares enough that its her birthday, but at the same time it will hopefully make it a bigger impact.

Joey: Oh, baby girl, I'm sorry. The guys all send their love. I promise I don't have rehearsals tomorrow; we will go do dinner and a movie then.

Ryder: I guess.... I'll see you when you get home. I gotta go Holly is bugging me to leave.

I slid the phone in my pocket and smiled. One last check in the mirror, I ran my hand through my hair adjusting it and I grabbed my jacket and headed downstairs.

I walked into the hall everyone was there minus Holly and Ryder. My family, her family, friends from high school and college, even the guys and their families. Everyone came out full force and it was amazing. The room was covered in twinkle lights and the tables lined with candles. A playlist of all her favorite songs softly playing and set to play throughout the night. The only time is after dinner when the guys and I are taking the stage to sing her happy birthday and one of the new songs from the upcoming album. No one other than us and the people working on it has heard it not even her. This song I wrote with Jordan, and she is my inspiration for it. 

I walked over to the bar getting a Scotch hoping to take the edge off my nerves. I was standing at the bar for only a minute when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I spun around and say my father standing there.

"Joesph"

"Hey Dad...."

"You did a wonderful job for tonight."

"Thank you, I hope she likes it."

"I'm sure she will. What time is she supposed to be here?"

"Any minute. You sure you and mom want to keep the baby tonight?"

"Of course, we won't be staying to the end of that party, we are going to have to drive down to Ipswitch."

"It was so nice of her cousin Taylor to offer to stay home and watch the baby."

"It was, your mother and I are going to head out around ten since it's an hour each way and you know your mother doesn't like to say out late." 

I didn't get a chance to say anything else, Brayden ran over, Holly and Ryder were pulling up. My nerves kicked so bad I thought I throw up. 

"Everyone Ryder is about to walk in!!!"

I had no idea what the hell we were doing at the Lenox. I know this isn't where we are having dinner. To get a dinner reservation here is crazy and its usually like a three-month waitlist, let alone I know they couldn't afford this place. The only person I know of that could afford dinner at this place is Joey. I was utterly confused.

"Holl, what are we doing here?"

"I just have to grab something from Carrie for our project that is due next week, and she is stuck here working."

"oh....."

I didn't think too much of it. To be honest I love Holly, but I just wish I could be spending tonight with Joey. 

I pulled the doors open to the banquet hall and I was floored,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYDER!!!!!"