Till Death Do Us Part

  * * *

  As soon as we walked into the pizza place, everyone stood and started clapping. I tucked in behind Jason as he headed through the people toward our booth. His mom was waiting—all smiles. We scooted in across from her.

  "Whoa," Jason said, not sure I'll ever get used to that."

  A little boy ran up to us with his place matt. "Can I have your autograph, mister?" His mother appeared, grabbed his arm and started to drag him away.

  "Hold on." Jason took off one of his wristbands. "What's your name?"

  "Mathew." The little boy replied. "Mathew Johnson."

  Jason scribbled, 'To Mathew' signed, 'Jason' and handed it to him.

  The little boy raced off toward his friends. "Look what I got!"

  "Thank you." Mathew's mom said, excusing herself.

  "You're welcome."

  The owner, Joe walked up to our table. "Ladies and a gentlemen, boys and a girls, may I have your attention?" Everyone quieted down.

  I looked over at Jason's mom—she was beaming, but I had no clue why.

  Joe moved over next to Jason. "We all know young Jason Whitaker, the star quarterback of our Warrior's—I hear he had another wonderful a game tonight." He waited while a few people applauded. "But, my friends that is not why I am a speaking to you tonight."

  Jason looked over at his mom as his face turned red.

  "What?" I whispered to him.

  "Ladies and a gentlemen, it is my privilege to be the first to wish Jason a happy eighteenth birthaday. Happy a Birthaday!" Joe slapped Jason on the back. Our waiter walked up behind Joe with a cake, with the candle numbers 18 burning and all.

  He slid it on the table. "Happy Birthday."

  "Thanks, Mom," Jason said, leaning across the table to give her a kiss.

  "You're welcome. Blow out the candles and make a wish—no telling or it won't come true although I think we all know what it will be."

  Jason blew out the candles and looked at me.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't know." I said. Why didn't I know? Then I remembered, I only had one thing on my mind this time last year—and it wasn't Jason. "I'm sorry, I didn't get you anything."

  "You kidding?" Jason pointed to the cake. In the corner—obviously added last minute—was an apple with a bite taken out of it, made of frosting.

  "Thank you," I said to his mom, "you didn't have to do that, but it was sweet."

  "I'll say." Jason dabbed his finger into the apple, smeared it across his mouth and then pressed his lips to mine. His lips were so sweet, but didn't need the frosting.

  Jason's mom ate with us—well with Jason, although I did have a very, small piece of cake. She left quickly when she was finished so we could be alone.

  Jason had his arm around me and we were watching the piece about the game on the TV suspended in the corner of the room. I looked up into his incredible, warm, chocolate eyes and saw the longing from mine reflected back. My thirst was in check, but the burning that had been inside me since the game surged to the edge of my control. Jason's hand slid down to my waist and he pulled me tightly against his side. His body was scorching, pulsing with every beat of his heart. We were at that place again—that place that until recently had been out of bounds, but since that night with Elizabeth in my room—Jason hearing me say it—me saying it—the boundary was not so clear.

  "We should go." I whispered up to him.

  "Yeah, we should." Jason said, followed by a passionate kiss.

  His mom had paid, so we headed straight for the door.

  "Happy a Birthaday," Joe said as we passed the counter. "Oh, I have a the photograph if you would not mind signing it for a me, please?"

  "Sure." Jason let go to sign the photo.

  I escaped out the front door. The crisp night air helped me regain my composure. Jason stepped out a few minutes later. "Guess you're headed out on patrol again?"

  I rested my head against his chest and slowly nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything for your birthday." I said to the sidewalk.

  "I have you, what else could I possibly want?"

  I looked up at him.

  "Well there's that—it's just hard—I love you so much—want you so much."

  "I know, I want you too." I pressed my body against him. "But it can't be—not now, not—"

  Jason eased me back. "Lets just get through the next few weeks, okay, no pressure."

  "Really?"

  Jason nodded. "Absolutely. You know how I feel , and you know I'm all in—I started that—but there are a lot of people depending on us, both my kind and yours. We owe it to them, all of them, to do our very best to assure everyone is safe, and achieve our highest expectations."

  I hugged him. "I love you Jason Whitaker."

  "Ride home with me?"

  "Sure."