Cody felt like he'd been under a spotlight all day. Presents, singing, awkward birthday games — each one chipping away at his patience and energy. His smile was starting to falter when the door swung open again, and the Pickett family walked in.
The Picketts were a whirlwind of noise and warmth—nine loud voices and an endless stream of chaos lived just across the street. They weren't particularly close with the Baldwins, but neighborhood events and family game nights had forged a polite familiarity. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett carried a brightly wrapped gift box, while Sophie—Millie's effortlessly stylish best friend—glided in behind them.
Sophie made a beeline for Cody, her eyes sparkling as she thrust a colorful card into his hands. The handwriting was messy, like a child's.
"Happy birthday, Cody!" she chirped.
"Thanks, Sophie." Cody said, his voice distracted, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Is Millie here? I haven't seen her all evening."
Millie.
His heart sank. Damn it.
For the first time all day, Cody pulled out his phone. The screen flooded with missed calls and urgent texts from Millie. A wave of guilt crashed over him, sharp and cold.
He mumbled an excuse and slipped away into the hallway, fingers trembling as he dialed her number. No answer. He tried again. Silence.
His chest tightened. Without a second thought, he grabbed his coat and dashed out the door, racing down the street toward the Sinclair residence. His knock was frantic, pounding against the door like a plea.
When it finally opened, Millie stood there, dressed in soft pajamas, her expression unreadable.
"You're late." she said coolly, voice calm but edged with something unspoken. "It's 2 AM."
"I know." Cody panted, struggling to catch his breath. "I'm so sorry. My whole family showed up. Then my grandparents. Neighbors. I didn't mean to ignore you."
Millie crossed her arms, her gaze steady and distant. "You didn't answer my calls. I didn't know what was happening."
"I didn't see my phone—I swear. I wouldn't just leave you hanging."
She stepped aside silently, and Cody slipped inside, scanning the neat kitchen.
"Did you make something?" he asked.
"I made pizzas," she said flatly, nodding toward the trash can. "Yours ended up there. I thought maybe you ate at home."
"I didn't." he admitted, guilt knotting in his throat. "I'm starving."
Millie looked away, shoulders tightening. For a brief moment, Cody caught a glimpse of the sadness she was hiding, and it shattered something inside him.
He closed the distance, cupping her cheeks gently, lifting her face toward his.
"Here's the plan.." he murmured softly. "We order a pizza, curl up by the fire, watch something stupid. Because honestly? I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend the end of my birthday with than you."
Millie raised an eyebrow. "Technically, it's not your birthday anymore."
He smiled, watching the tension in her face soften, the corner of her mouth twitch before breaking into a genuine laugh.
The moment cracked open like sunlight through clouds. Their kiss was tentative at first—soft, exploring—before deepening. When Cody lifted her into his arms, she didn't resist. Instead, she wrapped her legs around him, and they moved toward the living room, finally alone and together.
he fire crackled softly, casting a warm, golden glow that danced across the walls and bathed them both in flickering light. The room felt hushed and private, as if the whole world had slipped away, leaving only the two of them curled up on the plush couch.
Cody's fingers found Millie's arm, tracing lazy, feather-light patterns that sent an electric shiver coursing through her. She leaned into his touch, eyes fluttering closed for a moment before opening to meet his gaze—dark, intense, and full of something raw and unspoken.
"I missed you so much, it's only been a couple hours." he murmured, his voice low and rough, vibrating with longing. His lips hovered just inches from hers, breath warm and intoxicating.
Millie's breath hitched, chest rising and falling as her pulse quickened. She reached up, fingers threading into the thick strands of his hair, tugging him closer with a soft, teasing smile tugging at her lips. "You were impossible to reach tonight. I thought maybe you didn't care."
His lips brushed hers, slow and deliberate at first, a gentle exploration that ignited sparks along her nerves. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, as if trying to make up for every lonely second apart. Her body pressed against his, the heat between them blooming like wildfire.
Cody's hands slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, warm fingers tracing the delicate curve of her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. Millie's breath caught as he cupped her side, thumb gliding over the soft skin of her ribs. She arched into him instinctively, craving every sensation, every whispered touch.
Her hands roamed over his back, nails lightly scratching, grounding her in the moment. Their lips moved in perfect rhythm, slow and searing, tongues teasing, tasting. Every breath they shared was heavy with desire and something deeper—connection, belonging.
The fire's glow flickered over flushed cheeks and dampened skin where their clothes began to fall away—buttons undone, sleeves rolled up, fabric slipping to the floor. Each piece discarded like a layer of hesitation, leaving only bare skin hungry for warmth and touch.
Cody's lips trailed down her neck, nipping softly, causing a shiver to ripple through her. Millie tilted her head back, exposing more of her throat, surrendering to the delicious tension tightening between them. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him up to meet her gaze again—eyes sparkling with a fierce tenderness.
When at last they paused, breathless and tangled in each other's arms, Cody pressed his forehead to hers, voice thick with emotion. "I want you to know... I'm here. For all of it. The messy parts, the beautiful parts. The parts that scare me, and the parts I never want to let go of."
Millie's eyes shone bright with unshed tears and fierce love. "Me too. Always."
Wrapped in the soft glow of the firelight, they melted back into the couch's embrace, bodies entwined, hearts beating in time as the night stretched ahead—warm, electric, and theirs alone.