Keeley had a plan. She hadn’t baked Aaron a birthday cake since they have been in faculty so it was crucial she managed to maintain it a secret, which was extremely tough to do once you shared a residing house with any person.

She was engaged on making it throughout her typical Sunday go to along with her dad. Aaron favored chocolate cake however not chocolate frosting so she was whipping up a easy buttercream dyed blue, his favourite coloration.

Robert had already requested her why she was making a cake at his place as an alternative of her personal. She advised him that she did not have time to make it tomorrow so it was higher to do it whereas she was hanging out with him. As excuses go, it was believable.

The reality would come out eventually however she felt like Aaron wanted to know she was pregnant earlier than she advised her dad. Keisha and Jeffrey being the primary ones to search out out was a situational downside.

“Who is that this cake for once more? I do not assume you stated,” her father remarked from his place on the sofa watching a Yankees recreation as quickly as she turned the loud electrical mixer off.

“Aaron. His birthday is tomorrow.”

He smiled knowingly. “Not simply anybody could make a person’s birthday cake. How did you find yourself in cost?”

Keeley shot him an aggravated look. “You understand his mother and father are distant. I am…” She needed to say she was the one household he had however could not with out giving herself away too quickly. “…his closest buddy.”

She shut up after that as a result of he was nonetheless giving her the identical dumb grin and targeted on placing frosting on the cake. It was gradual work as a result of her perfectionism was activated and it drove her loopy if something was left uneven. She smoothed the edges out a number of instances till she was happy.

With the remaining frosting, she added yellow dye to show it inexperienced and piped the phrases ‘Blissful Birthday Aaron’ onto the cake. For the crowning glory she plastered the edges of the cake with rainbow sprinkles as a result of it appeared too naked.

Happy along with her work, Keeley put it in a transportable cake provider and left it on the counter.  She joined her dad on the sofa and placed on her finest wheedling smile.

“What’s it?” he requested suspiciously. He knew that face.

“Might you probably come choose me up from work tomorrow with the cake and drop me off at Aaron’s place so I haven’t got to hold it round campus all day? I do not need the frosting to get smushed.”

“Yeah, that is fantastic. You do not get off till eight although…is he going to need to eat dinner alone on his birthday?”

She had already considered this downside. No person ought to need to eat alone on their birthday so she conscripted Aiden’s assist. He invited Cameron and Jennica alongside as effectively and was gleeful on the prospect of ‘stunning that stone statue’ (his phrases).

“Nah his pals are taking him out. He simply does not understand it but,” she stated with a slight smirk.

“Would these be the chums whose marriage ceremony you have been in just lately?” Robert requested.

“Yeah, plus one of many different groomsmen. He really was my neighbor so I am pals with him too.”

“I did not notice you two had the identical pals.”

“Not all the identical pals,” she stated a tiny bit defensively. “I do not assume he is ever spoken greater than two sentences to Valentina regardless of being in the identical marriage ceremony.”

Her father made a hesitant expression for a second earlier than wanting her useless within the eye. He was able to stop beating across the bush. One thing about their relationship had appeared a bit ‘greater than pals’ for some time.

He had revered his daughter’s privateness to this point however they positively appeared like a pair. In the event that they weren’t…he was apprehensive that Aaron, who was clearly in love along with her, may be led on unfairly.

“Honeybun, I’ve to ask…are you and Aaron relationship?”

Keeley froze. She had endured loads of his teasing about Aaron prior to now however he had by no means been this simple about it. What ought to she say?

If she stated no, that might open up an entire different can of worms when she introduced they have been getting married. Saying sure was positively the higher possibility right here. She actually hoped she might lie convincingly.

“Sure.”

Robert was relieved. He let the matter drop instantly and went again to watching the sport with a easy “okay.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. He was actually going to let it go identical to that? Her dad was normally a bit nosier than this.

“That is all it’s important to say on the matter?”

He shrugged. “What else would I’ve to say? You understand I like him. I used to be largely apprehensive you have been main him on because you two act extra like a pair than any pals I’ve ever seen.”

Her jaw dropped. Severely? Whose facet was he on right here? No fear spared for his daughter in any respect! She scowled. Aaron was positively going to get favored as soon as he married into this household.

“Thanks, Dad,” Keeley stated sarcastically.

“What?” Robert requested innocently. “You two have been hooked up on the hip for some time. How lengthy has it been, anyway? No wait! Let me guess…after Christmas however earlier than your birthday. Was it round Valentine’s Day? You stopped speaking about him for some time after that.”

Generally she forgot how perceptive her dad might be. Round Valentine’s Day was when she discovered the reality. It appeared like a lifetime in the past now. A lot had modified.

It was simpler going together with his guess than making one thing up on the spot. “You are an excellent guesser,” she stated flippantly.

He grinned. “I knew it! Properly, good for you guys. He is a pleasant child.”

She suppressed amusing. That ‘good child’ was mentally older than her father by a few decade. He did not seem to be an previous man although. Perhaps as a result of he had discovered the right way to have enjoyable and be slightly goofy for her sake.

Keeley’s coronary heart swelled slightly on the thought. He had executed lots to make issues as much as her. Staying with him won’t be the tip of the world in any case.

“Yeah. He’s.”