Birthdays and Surprises.

Ocean eyes.

The kind of eyes that reminded me of someone in my past. Someone who had ripped my heart from my chest and crushed it under his boot with pleasure and mirth. The very person who had played with my feelings and destroyed the slightest reputation I had. Someone who stole everything away from me. My heart. My love. My innocence. My family. My friends. My dreams. My entire life.

The mere thought of him brought back all the pain I had buried deep inside me and it took all energy in me to prevent tears from streaming down my face. The stabbing pain in my heart was almost unbearable and I clutched at my chest, rubbing it, wanting to ease the tightness and pain I was feeling.

"Are you okay?" Ocean eyes spoke again looking at me with concern. My eyes fluttered close and.. I saw him. His blond hair,baby blue eyes and distinctive dimples rushed in my head.

I took a lungful of air for stabilization and ripped out of my thoughts so fast. "Y-yeah. I'm okay." I managed to say. Why the fuck was I thinking about Blake?

"Are you sure?You look pale." He observed. I glared at his face and stumbled back feeling angry and disoriented.

"I said I'm okay, dammit!" I snapped. Okay,that was unnecessary. I felt drained and frustrated and I could feel tears brimming my eyes. Why I was thinking about that asshole after all this time was beyond me.

I looked at the the guy for the first time and was dazed. He was incredibly handsome. A Brad Pitt look alike. His face was perfectly sculpted into perfection and his mountain peak cheekbones appeared chiselled into shape by the master craftsman. He wore a grey suit that accentuated his burly physique and a golden Rolex watch on his wrist. His mariner- blue eyes were orb round and darted constantly as he unashamedly checked me out.

"I'm Colton." He offered politely but I acted the least bit interested in what he had to say. I watched him run a finger on his manly peppered subtle and he smirked when he found me staring. 'Like what you see?' His smirk seemed to ask.

Something about him felt awfully familiar but I couldn't pinpoint what. Plus,he was well too dressed to be in this godforsaken coffee shop. He looked loaded and the Sawyer's Cafe was no place for the likes of him. He didn't quite belong. Didn't fit in. Why was he here? Didn't they have a billionaire coffee shop somewhere? His watch alone could pay all my bills for over five years and buy me a car, luxuries-

"Having fun?" Kayden appeared from behind me and stashed a wad of cash in the drawers next to me. He rubbed my shoulders and pulled my ponytail again, a habit he was used to.

"Does it look like I'm having fun?" I asked while eyeing Colton who was furiously typing something on his iPhone. He looked up almost immediately and held my gaze in place for a moment. Those eyes.. why did they feel so familiar? My eyes flickered and I looked away.

"Cheer up love, it's your birthday." Kayden said and pulled my hair again. He ran away before I could punch him with a victorious laugh rumbling from his chest.

"Here you go, sir." I handed Colton his order without looking at him. I could feel his intense gaze boring into my skin as he grabbed the coffee from my hand. Our fingers brushed slightly and I looked up only to meet his blue gaze and a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Thank you and happy birthday." He said and I snickered.

"Thanks?" I honestly didn't know what to say. His scrutinizing stare held me in place, his eyes darkening as he looked at me.

"How old today?" He asked.

I resisted the urge to sneer but told him anyway . Twenty-one."

"You look pretty young for your age." He smiled while sipping from his coffee cup." Have a blissful birthday, uh.." He chuckled softly when he realized he didn't know my name. I didn't always wear a name tag and for the first time,I was glad I didn't."I didn't catch your name."

"I don't remember throwing it." I said nonchalantly and walked away from him trying to hide my smirk. His shocked expression was priceless.

***

Evening came and finally my shift was over. I was relieved. After signing out,I walked out of the Sawyer's,the icy air biting into my skin. I shouldn't be doing it but I texted-walked down the street, looking up every few seconds so I don't bump into someone. I needed to inform Kayden that I was on my way home. He had left early because he had to pick up his girlfriend who had landed a day earlier and I had covered his shift as much as he begged me not to. I didn't want to walk on them doing the dirty like the last time she had visited.

I was about to binge send when I missed a step and came crashing to the ground with a yelp. I shut my eyes close ready to accept my fate but surprisingly, I didn't fell. It was then that I felt a strong grip around my waist. I internally thanked whoever was holding me saving me from the embarrassment of falling face first in the middle of the street. A busy one at that. The arms around my waist were masculine.

It had to be a man.

"Are you okay?" The voice was surprisingly familiar and.. alluring. An expensive smell swirled around him and for a moment,I was intoxicated in his pleasant scent. He helped me on my feet and I turned around almost immediately to look at him. The street lights flickered ominously and everyone was moving about as if I was not about to fall to my death a few seconds ago. It was then that I caught a glimpse of my 'savior'. I gasped.

You got to be shitting me.

"Stalker much?" My mouth was already speaking even before my sluggish brain could process what was happening.

Colton sent me wry look and laughed. His wrestler's shoulders heaved as he laughed,a dimple popping on his chin.

Blue eyes, dimples.. Blake. I felt lightheaded at the thought of him.

I shook my head severally and straightened myself to look at him.

"A little thank you would have sufficed, beautiful." He spoke, his eyes swimming with delight.

Beautiful? 

"If I remember correctly, I didn't ask for your help. It's you who should be thanking me." I said confidently and mentally congratulated myself for sounding bossy.. bitchy.

His confusion was clearly written on his face as he stared at me as if I had miraculously grown a third boob and asked him to pluck it off. He ran his palm over his face and sighed deeply." I don't understand. Why exactly should I be thanking you,again?" His voice was deep,low.

A smirk stretched out on my face as I regarded him, his face still confused like a chameleon in a bag of skittles. "Because I let you help me?" I said innocently and he laughed in mirth.

A minute went by and he was still dissolving in his own laughter. And I was just watching him laugh like a fuckingcreep,a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"You.." he managed to say still laughing,"are very funny." He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and narrowed his eyes at me. "You are full of surprises, aren't you, birthday girl?"

"I should really get going. Goodbye stalker." I said and turned on my heels. 

"Wait." He called after me and I halted. Two quick steps and he was standing next to me,his hands buried deep into his pockets. "Let me take you home,my car is somewhere here."

I scoffed. "I don't need your help, Colton. I'll get my ass home by myself,now if you'll excuse me.."

"I can drive you home." His voice was begging. Why a man I had just met would beg to drive me home was beyond me. I saw the sincerity in his eyes but ignored it.

"And I said no." I pushed past him and clutched my handbag tighter under my armpit. 

"Can I have your number,then?"

"No." My response was firm.

"At least tell me what your name is."

"Isla." I said over my shoulder and hailed a taxi.

***

Ten minutes later,I was in the elevator heading to our apartment. I felt tired and exhausted. And I still had a freaking birthday dinner later with Kayden and his girlfriend Valencia. Before he left, Kayden had hinted that he and Valencia would be throwing a surprise for me when I got back from work. I didn't know what it was,but I hoped it wouldn't be something much. Knowing Valencia,she would insist on doing something extravagant mostly to please Kayden.

The lights were off and I figured they would still be in town shopping. That was much better. I planned on quickly taking a shower and atleast make myself look decent before they got back.

I pushed the key into the lock and opened the door slowly. Kicking off my shoes,I reached for the socket and switched the lights on. My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when I saw what was happening in the living room.

Kayden's head was buried between Valencia's thighs as he ate her out on the couch. Valencia was the first to see me but she made no move to tell Kayden I had walked on them or to tell him to stop. If anything,her moans only intensified.

I cleared my voice and coughed nervously. "Guys?" I didn't know if he'd hear me with all those moans renting the air like a fucking porn site. She was a professional moaner.

Kayden froze. He quickly sat up and buried his embarrassed face in his hands while mumbling incoherent words. Valencia was still lying on the couch with a glare on her face not even attempting to cover up.

"Wow. What a surprise!" I gushed.