CHAPTER 223: YOU MAKE THE HEAVY THINGS FEEL LIGHTER

Ash’s POV

Dominic clutched his chest. "You people are unholy."

"Unholy but accurate," Jasper said.

I tossed a pillow at him. "You need to get baptized."

"I need pizza first," he said, with his mouth full.

I leaned back on the couch, smiling. "Man, I love this group. You’re all chaos wrapped in ADHD."

Casper snorted. "So, when do we get to meet Alia?"

Dominic laughed. "Maybe after Ian heals from the knee trauma."

"Yeah," I said, grinning. "You’re gonna need emotional armor first."

Jasper raised a hand. "And knee pads. Incase we also get kicked."

Everyone started laughing again

Ren, who’d been quiet the whole time, stood suddenly. "I’m heading to bed."

We all paused.

"You okay, dude?" Casper asked.

Ren just nodded. "Yeah, just need air."

He hesitated, then added. "It’s strange how loud it gets when you’re trying to forget something."

And then he walked off before anyone could respond.

The way he said it stuck with me

Jasper whispered, "He’s been weird all night."

"He’s always weird," Casper said. "But tonight he’s like, extra emo."

Dominic sighed, softer this time. "He and Jackie called it off. He’s going through it right now. We should give him time, yeah?"

We all nodded quietly.

I leaned back, watching Dominic....the way his voice always softened when he talked about his friends.

Yeah. He had a good heart.

The house actually felt like home.

Then Jasper, being Jasper, broke the silence with: "Okay, emotional moment over. I’m calling dibs on the last pizza slice."

Jasper was halfway through his last slice of pizza, crumbs everywhere, when Dominic suddenly leaned closer to me.

"Hold still," he said quietly.

I blinked. "Huh?"

"You’ve got something..."

Before I could ask where, his thumb brushed across the corner of my mouth, wiping away a smear of frosting.

Except he didn’t stop there.

His thumb lingered.

Then...God help me, he used his tongue to taste it from my cheek.

Jasper screamed, widening his eyes.

"Oh my god... Did you just...." he dropped the pizza slice. "Casper, did you see that?! He did that, he just kicked it off his face."

Casper didn’t even look up from his phone. "Calm down, Jas. It’s literally just frosting."

"Just frosting?!" Jasper gasped, clutching his chest. "Next thing you know, he’s gonna..."

Dominic kissed me.

Right there.

In front of them.

It wasn’t long or showy....just soft. Intentional. Like he forgot we weren’t alone.

Jasper dropped the pizza box. "Ofc he did. Show off. My eyes are burning."

Casper leaned back, yawning. "You’re just mad no one’s licking cake off your face."

Jasper crossed his arms. "Love is happening five feet away from me and I’m single!"

"Love?" I choked out, laughing. "No one said anything about..."

"Oh, please," Jasper cut in, waving his hand. "You’re blushing, he’s looking at you like that, and I....tragically am the side character who never gets anyone."

Casper finally looked up, smirking. "That’s because you talk too much to be kissed."

Dominic just kept laughing, I couldn’t help it. I smiled too.

"I’m resigning!" Jasper stood up dramatically. "It’s all lovey-dovey tonight. PDA everywhere. I’m gonna go reply to my DMs before I start third-wheeling my own life. People actually like me, you know?

Casper got up with him, rolling his eyes. "I’m sure they like your twin, you just use his pictures." He shrugged. "Let’s go before you start reciting poetry."

"You mean before I cry," Jasper said, heading toward the stairs.

"Please do," Casper muttered. "Preferably quietly. Don’t disturb my sleep."

He stood too, patting Dominic on the shoulder. "Happy birthday, man. And... maybe lock the door. Jas is feral when he’s jealous."

Jasper pointed toward him as he stumbled toward the stairs. "You know what? You’re not wrong!"

And suddenly, it was just me and Dom.

When they were gone, the house finally quieted.

The chaos died down.

Dominic smiled, turning to me. "Guess we scared them off."

"Or traumatized them," I teased. "Either works."

He laughed again, leaning his forehead against mine. "They’ll live."

"Barely," I whispered, smiling.

"Sorry about Jasper," he murmured. "He means well."

"I know," I said, smiling. "He’s chaos with good intentions."

We stayed there like that enjoying the moment.

"Thanks for tonight," he said softly. "For making it not feel so heavy."

My chest ached a little. "Always."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You’ve got a little frosting left, by the way."

I rolled my eyes. "Liar."

"Maybe," he said, smiling against my lips, "but I’ll still check."

And he kissed me again.

"I should probably talk to my dad tomorrow."

"About the engagement thing?"

He nodded. "Yeah. About all of it. I can’t keep pretending like it’s fine. I don’t even know the girl, Ash. I didn’t even know it was happening."

His voice cracked a little at the end, and it made something twist in my chest.

His hands were fidgeting too, rubbing together like he was trying to scrub the fear off.

"He’s... not easy to handle. But I’ll try. I have to. I just....." he sighed, glancing at me again, "....I’m scared it’ll blow up in my face."

I reached over, brushing my thumb over his knuckles until his hands stilled. "Then let it. It’s still better than accepting it. I trust you to do the right thing."

He looked at me for a long moment... like he was trying to find the right words, or maybe just strength. "You really think I can do that?"

"I know you can," I said. "And you won’t be doing it alone."

He smiled. "God, what did I do to really deserve you?"

I laughed softly. "You stole my frosting, remember?"

He chuckled, brushing his thumb on my cheek. "Then I’d do it again."

We sat there, quietly.

"I love you so much, Ash."

My throat tightened. "I love you too, babe. And happy birthday again."

He grinned, softening his eyes. "Let’s go in."

" Why? We can still stay here for a while..." I groaned.

"Don’t think I forgot about that promise you made me earlier," he said, standing up and holding out his hand.

My eyes narrowed. "Promise?"

His grin deepened. "You said I could do anything I wanted with you tonight."

"Ughh, fine," I said, pretending to groan even as I took his hand. "I didn’t forget. I’m yours for the night...your personal birthday gift."

He pulled me a little closer. "Guess what I wished for before blowing out the candle."

I tilted my head. "I don’t know... that Jasper finally shuts up for five minutes?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No."

"Then what?"

He leaned in, whispering in my ear. "I wished I’d have my birthday like this next year....same beach house, same friends... but mostly, you. Sitting beside me, laughing, with frosting on your face."

My heart melted instantly. "That’s so unfair. You can’t just say things like that."

He grinned, brushing his thumb against my lower lip. "Why not? It’s my birthday. I get to be selfish."

"Selfish, huh?"

He nodded, taking my hand again. "Now come on. Let’s go in. It’s time to eat my second birthday cake."

I blinked. "You mean...."

"You," he wiggled his eyebrow.

I laughed, holding his hands, letting him pull me inside the room.