Beautiful Disaster (Complete)

19. Ace's Birthday

Chapter 19. 

        “I made a birthday cake for you, uncle Ace!!” Cheryl shouted while jump into Ace’s hug, Ace welcomed her, by carrying her at once.

        “Really?! Wow, thanks a lot cupcake.” Said Ace kissing her cheek, before introduce his niece to the team.

        “Leanne is helping too.” said Cheryl.

        “I’m sure going to thank her later then.” Said Ace briefly, trying not to looking at her. “Shall we eat? Let’s go guys, make yourself at home.”

        “You should blow the candles first, and make a wish!!” said Cheryl.

    “Okay, princess, I do whatever you want me to do.” Ace laughing for a second, noticed his niece’s bossy yet cute attitude.

    “Welcome to my world, bro.” said Calvin, knowing how bossy his own daughter can be.

    Ace is heading toward the cake, with Cheryl still in his carry and June who’s followed him. In Leanne’s eyes, watching the three of them in front of the birthday cake is like watching the perfect happy family.

    “This is nice Cheryl, I love the cake.” Said Ace he took a glance at Leanne too for a second. But Leanne is doing something and not looking at him.

    “Wow I feel younger. This felt like my 17th birthday.” Said Ace followed by everyone’s laugh, considering he’s blowing a candle and in his own birthday party—a very rare birthday celebration. “Thanks guys. I’m grateful.”

    Everybody in the room started to raise their beers and drinks, they were toasting for a while before casually eating their dinner. A part of them playing the PS 5 games on the big screen TV, while others starts to eating dinner on the carpet, like picnic day.

    The room is filled with a lot of chatters and laughter, especially giggles from Cheryl.

    “Thank you for this..” said Ace to June. Noticing June’s cheeks reddened a little bit, before looking at Leanne and caught her eyes for a second. She looked away, is she avoiding me?—a glimpse of his thought.

    “You’re welcome.” Said June. Suddenly her phone is ringing, she excused herself to answer the phone.

    “You lucky bastard.” Said Lennox who sat near Ace. Ace just smiled while rolled his eyes for a second.

    “How do you get so lucky man?” said Ryan next.

    “Lucky how?” said Ace glaring at Leanne, make Ryan and Lennox noticing his attention.

    “Wait—I’m confused.. which girl are we referring to, Sarge?” Lennox smirked at Ace, knowing him too well.

    “What do you mean?”

    The three of them looking at each other.

    “You do realise we’re trained to read people, right? The way you look at - - the other girl, is different with the way you look at June.” Said Lennox. Lennox is the closest friend to Ace, he’s the second Sergeant too.

    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Said Ace while run his hair with his fingers for a second.

    “Really? So if- - Cooper, want to ask about her phone number, you’ll give it to him then?” said Lennox.

    Ryan can’t help to chuckles, agreed with Lennox, “Cooper keep asking about her, since the moment that your brother introduced her to us.”

    Ace’s unaware clenching his jaw, “Really guys?” Ace paused for a while, can’t decide whether both of them were joking or not before speaks, “I - - I’m not going to give her number just like that! Tell Cooper to keep his hand in his pants. Can you guys be professionals? She’s working here.” Ace drank his beers. His mind is troubled by the fact he can’t keep doing, or feeling the way he felt toward Leanne, more over to keep feeling jealous—every time somebody is attracted to her.

    Ryan and Lennox smirked at each other, obviously knew Ace’s unusual behaviour. Ace aware of their looks too. “Okay, I need a stronger drink.”

    “Yeah- yeah.. No—We got it.” Said Lennox pretended to believe him, even though they both know better.

    “Ve—” Ace is about to speak when June back and took seat beside him. Lennox and Ryan took off to the food table, grabbing another food and beer.

    “Is everything okay?” Ace asked.

    “Yeah, it’s from the hospital, but everything is still under control I guess, I can stay..” said June.

    “Great, because I kinda hoping you would stay.. tonight..” said Ace. He just thought, he got to move on. If I get to know June a little bit more, I’m sure June is going to make him feel the way Leanne made him feel, right? Great! Did I just thought about her again?—He thought inside, trying to block his own voice in his mind.

    June stared at Ace with her reddened cheeks. “I would love that.” She said.

    As for Leanne who tried to keep herself busy, rather than just tempted to looking at Ace with June, Leanne is in the middle of cutting the cake into pieces when Cooper came to her.

    “Can I get a piece?” he said with his charming smile.

    “Of course..” said Leanne, giving Cooper one small plate of the cake.

    “All the meals are delicious tonight. You’re the one who cooked it?”

    Leanne smiled nervously, just because she’s not good interacting with people. “My Team and I.. Thank you.”

    Cooper just awkwardly stand there for a while, trying to find another thing to talk about.

    “Is there anything else that I can get for you, Mr. Cooper?” said Leanne.

    “No, thank you.” He already walked away, when he turned his back and speak, “Actually— okay, never mind." He decided to fall back and try to find another way to get Leanne’s number.

    Cooper joined all his friends that took seats in a few big couches, with June and Ace there too. It turns out Calvin is playing the racing game with Cheryl now, giving Ace and his team the time more to chattered while drinking light beers. Except for Ace—he already drank a few cups of bourbon and vodka, considering he’s not on work and it is his birthday anyway.

    “Hey Sarge, your brother’s assistant is attractive.. Can you give me her number?” said Cooper in hush voice, as soon as he took seat.

    Lennox and Ryan looked at each other, without saying anything.

    “Why don’t you ask her?” Said Ace briefly, trying to control his voice so it wouldn’t sound too harsh.

    “I-I tried. But I guess it’s easier for me to speak from the phone or texts. I just spoke to her, it’s not easy, I’m very nervous. I just forgot all about tactics.” He said whiled chuckled.

    Ace looked down for a second, feeling frustrated by the fact he had to control his jealousy.

    “Do you want me to ask it for you?” said J.B.

    “Would you? Wait—after you got her number, you’re going to give it to me, right?” Cooper didn’t suspect anything.

    “Nope.” J.B replied, followed by everyone’s laughter—except Ace of course-- and a frowny face from Cooper.

    Leanne is very aware of the fact that when she came near Cheryl, all eyes of Ace’s team were on her. She just walked faster with her emotionless-face, came to Cheryl and told her that it is her time to sleep, since tomorrow she has to goes to school.

    It is nearly eleven on the clock, when Leanne went down stairs from Cheryl’s room. Linda said that the celebration has ended, and all Ace’s friends was already gone home—except for June. Who they told her will spend the night in the mansion.