It was the first time Elysia had really attended a party with Tarquin''s friends, and she blushed bright red. Not knowing they were just teasing, she looked at Tarquin nervously. Kissing in public was embarrassing, but twenty-one shots? That was enough to put someone in the hospital.
Tarquin knew Elysia was shy. He wrapped an arm around her waist and said for all
to hear, “Just ignore them. They''re just jealous because I have a wife and they don''t. They''re just trying to stir up trouble. We''re not kissing and we''re not drinking. There''s nothing they can do about it."
Booker protested, "Tarquin, you can''t break the rules! That''s not cool, man. Hurry up and pick one!"
"Since when did we have so many rules?" Tarquin asked.
"We just made them today. All the guys agreed, right?" Booker said.
Seeing that Tarquin was in a good mood, the crowd of men chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, those are the new rules!"
"Drinking is bad for you, Tarquin, just choose the kiss!"
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
The group hooted and hollered, enjoying the show. After all, Tarquin used to avoid women like the gue, and now that he suddenly had a wife, everyone was eager to see this new side of him.
Gale raised an eyebrow. "Tarquin, don''t tell me you''re afraid of your wife? You won''t kiss her unless she gives the okay?"
With a handsome, straight face, Tarquin announced, “I''m proud to answer to my wife. I actually have a wife to answer to. You guys don''t." His tone was incredibly smug and proud. The crowd was stunned into silence. He was actually proud of it! Since when was being totally whipped something to brag about?
Tarquin waved over a server and downed three shots to pay for his tardiness. He refused to acknowledge any of the other punishments. Just then, another server wheeled in an enormous birthday cake, and everyone''s attention shifted. They albsang "Happy Birthday" and offered their best wishes to Tarquin.
When it came time to make a wish, Elysia was standing beside Tarquin, but he pulled her into his arms. In front of everyone, he stood behind her, wrapped her in an embrace, took her hands and sped them together, and stood before the cake to make a wish. Elysia
as already
blushing, but in the next second, she realized she had blushed too soon. The shameless Tarquin started making his wish out loud.
"I wish that my wife can celebrate every birthday with me from now on, that I can hold her every night when we sleep, and that she''ll give me a ''special present'' every day..."
Horrified, Elysia quickly pulled her hands away, turned around, and mped a hand over his mouth, ring at him. "What ''special present''? Be quiet! If you say a birthday wish out loud, it won''te true. Keep it to yourself."
Tarquin''s eyes crinkled as he asked, “Will ite true if I wish for it in my head?" Elysia shot him a look. "Yes!"
Tarquin smiled. "Alright, then. I''ll wish for it in my head." He took her hands again, returning them to their sped position, and made a wish with her. Elysia''s heart pounded and she cursed him in her head, calling him a dog. If she had known he was this wicked, she wouldn''t have given him a birthday surprise! How could he say something so private in public? How could he be so shameless!
After the wish, Tarquin prompted her to blow out the candles with him, and then held her hand as they cut the first slice of cake. After a while, therge group began to break off into smaller activities. Some yed cards, some yed pool, and others sang and danced. The private suite had everything.
Gale and Booker called Tarquin over for a game of cards. Tarquin refused, his reason being that he had to stay with his wife.
Keaton said, "You''ve been showing off your PDA all night, haven''t you had enough? Come on, stop the lovey-dovey act. The whole world knows you have a wife and you two are deeply in love."
Tarquin corrected him, "I''m madly in love!"
Even Elysia got goosebumps listening to him. Blushing, she shooed him away. "Go on, go y with them. I want to have a private chat with Winona and Blossom."