❝ We ain't got the sunshine

But we got hearts in our chest

To feel a love like this

Stronger than anyone else ❞

- PRETTYMUCH, Summer On You.

"Uh, way to go for ruining the surprise, Nolan," Zuri rolled her eyes at Nolan who stood, his mouth forming the perfect 'o'.

"Wait... I-I thought I was supposed to—" He started.

"Yes, idiot, you were supposed to wait until much later," Marnie facepalmed.

I soon zoned out and just still stood in awe, though. That was a beautiful painting of me. It looked almost... real. I looked around for River, ignoring Zuri go back and forth with Nolan who clearly wasn't owning up to the fact that he had made a mistake. I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind and a smile crept up to my face when I caught a whiff of River's cologne.

"Happy birthday," he said into my neck softly.

I smiled, not turning to look at him, "It's so beautiful."

He pressed a kiss to my shoulder, "Nolan is an ass, though. He wasn't supposed to bring it out, now."

"It doesn't take away the beauty of it, though," I replied. "This is one of the best surprises ever. I love it."

Sky walked up to where me and River stood, a wide smile on her face as she clapped her hands. "I'm sorry to interrupt your love time," she flung her arms around me. "Happy birthday, Renee. You're a good one."

"Thank you so much, Sky," I replied and she pulled away, looking back to where other workers stood, probably still on Nolan's case. "Hey! Where's the cake?!"

"Right here!" Zuri and Marnie called, pushing in a trolley with a cake on it.

"There's a cake?" I asked, eyes wide, and I felt a flash go off on my face before hearing River mutter to himself, "Dang, I thought I turned out off the flash."

I looked at River and he smiled a cheeky smile.

"I mean, this is a bakery, plus, you deserve it," Nolan winked.

It was a simple but really pretty cake. A tall, red velvet cake with loads of whipped cream and cherries on the top.

Nolan launched into singing me the birthday song on the worst high note ever and that caused me to chuckle. I stood, not knowing what to do while everyone sang to me, River recording every moment on his camera.

"Wanna get away after this?" He leaned into me.

"Mhm," I smiled, nodding.

*

"It's a lot of fries, River," I was seated on the hood of River's car. We were back to our favorite place to be now and I pushed my hair away from my face, feeling the wind blow softly.

"You're the birthday girl," he called from inside the car.

"I can't finish them all by myself."

River chuckled and got out of the car, closing the door with his left leg as there were two tubs of frozen yogurt in his hand.

"You got fro-yo!" I clapped excitedly.

"Well, that's what my girlfriend wanted for her birthday, so why not?" He set them down beside me and stepped in between my legs.

"The painting you did was enough for me. Really, I can't believe you even had time to work on it even when you had the painting for the bakery going on."

"To be honest, I'd finished with the painting for the diner. I just didn't hand it in. And I'd actually started with the painting of you before I knew your birthday was approaching. So I decided to speed up the process because I knew it'd be the perfect time to give you."

I looked at him for a while, a smile on my face. "You're so thoughtful," I kissed his lips softly. He kissed back and pulled away, grabbing a burger and taking a bite out of it.

"Hey, we should also think of how we'll finish the fries. You got so much!"

"We'll finish it, don't worry," he chewed on his burger.

*

"I've been overfed," I stated, opening my eyes.

Me and River had now moved from the hood of the car to the grass where we lay tiredly from all the eating.

He groaned, "You were right. That was a lot."

I chuckled, "Didn't you know by merely looking at what you'd gotten?"

"Shut up," he laughed.

"Thanks for overfeeding me."

It was his time to chuckle, "Just performing boyfriend duties."

I rolled over to face him and he looked at me. "How did I get so lucky?" I asked softly.

"No, how did I get so lucky," he intertwined our fingers. "For all I know, you could be dating someone else, but you're mine."

I smiled. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually glad Kendall made me get the job at the bakery."

River chuckled, "So you like your brother's girlfriend now because of me?"

I shook my head, "No, I don't. I'm just happy and grateful I met you."

He leaned in and captured my lips with his. I could taste the fro-yo on his lips a bit and I cupped his right cheek and leaned into the kiss more as he pulled on my bottom lip and ran his tongue across it. I got the butterfly-in-stomach feeling again. The same one I'd gotten the first time I ever laid eyes on him. He pulled away shortly and pressed his forehead against mine. We were both quiet for a while before he said, "Sit up."

I looked at him, confused, but I let him take my hand to sit me up. We were both seated up and River planted a quick kiss to my lips before getting up and walking briefly to his car. I tucked my hair behind my ear and watched him curiously. He soon returned, a small bag in his hand.

"What's that?" I asked.

"You'll see," he replied, sitting back down in front of me. He handed the bag to me with a small smile on his face, and I took it from him, my eyes never leaving his. I looked back down at the bag and then opened it, reaching into it. I could feel his eyes on me as I took out a jewelry box. I opened the box and a silver necklace came to sight.

It was a double-layered necklace with a cute little arrow and heart. I raised my eyes to his, "I love it so much, River." I flung my arms around him, hugging him tightly. "It's so pretty."

"I'm glad you love it. Me and Riley picked it out."

I smiled, pulling away, "Riley is always so adorable," I rested my head against his chest, "This is one of my best birthdays ever."

*

I smiled as River placed a small kiss on my lips after he pulled up to my house. I gave him a hug, "Thank you so much for today. I'm so grateful for you."

He smiled and ruffled my hair in response.

"Text me when you're home," I told him, getting out of the car, the framed painting of me in my hand as I walked into the house.

"Tanner! I'm home!" I called.

"Well, if it isn't the birthday girl," he came out of the kitchen and my eyes widened, my face lighting up in a smile when I saw Zee walking behind him.

"Zee!" I pushed Tanner aside and gave Zee a big hug, while Tanner playfully scowled.

Zee chuckled as she hugged me back, "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thank you!" I smiled as I pulled back. "How long have you been here?"

"Hours, actually. I wanted to see you, but Tanner told me you were probably still at work or spending time with River."

"Hey, is that you?" I heard Tanner ask and my gaze averted to his, and they landed on the framed painting was holding.

"Yeah! How neat is it?" I held it out for him and Zee to see.

"River did it?" He took the painting from me, looking at it in awe.

"Oh my, he's so good. Aw, how cute are you two?"

I flushed a bit, "Are you leaving now?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I have to work tomorrow, and I have a deadline to meet so I've got to finish that up by tonight."

"I'm sorry I came late."

"No, don't even apologize. It's good you spent the day with River. Plus, you can come visit me anytime."

I nodded and hugged her.

"I got you some things, though. Just ask your big headed brother to give it to you," she looked at Tanner who smirked at her and they shared a smile.

"So, did you have fun?" Tanner asked me after Zee left.

"Oh, yes I did!" I then launched into a story of how my day went. From seeing Logan to me to Harper being sweet enough to get me a Mountain Dew, and then the surprise at the bakery, and then all River had done for me.

"One, you have good people around you. Two, I still can't believe Sydney could do that to Kaleb."

I bit my lower lip softly, "Did... did Kaleb maybe stop by?"

Tanner shook his head and said apologetically, "No."

I swallowed, nodding. "Okay."

*