Chapter 373: Birthday Games

Seriously, they were all adults, and yet they were all looking forward to the ride more than the kids watching them.

Minutes later, all six men, including Philippe—along with April and Emily—were strapped into the front cars.

When the coaster reached the highest peak and plummeted straight down, the sound of the wind was drowned out by Alexander’s ecstatic shouting and Nat’s dark, adrenaline-fueled laughter. Even Xavier’s perfect hair was completely ruined by the time the ride slammed to a halt, though he maintained an impressively composed smile while catching his breath.

Samuel simply kept his glasses still, same with Oliver as they observed the entire process.

"That," Xavier declared smoothly, smoothing down his jacket, "was surprisingly exhilarating."

"You looked like you were praying to whatever gods are out there halfway through the loop, Reed," Nat jabbed, stepping off the platform with a wide, wicked grin.

"I was merely meditating on gravity," Xavier replied without missing a beat.

"Are you okay?" Emily asked Philippe who looked like he was about to haul, her hand on his back and he managed a smile.

"I’m fine," he said and a real smile finally surfaced. "It was exhilarating, haha,"

She looked at him and smiled.

"Right? It was so much fun. Come on, let’s go ride another one." she said, already tugging at his sleev, and beaconing Apriul to keep up. April was just happy watching her be happy.

They got on a few more rides and then ended it with both ladies riding the carousel, leaving the men to watch.

After the amusement pack, they made it to a retro arcade, and the moment they walked under the buzzing neon lights, Nat’s eyes lit up. He walked straight toward a shooting simulator, unholstering two plastic arcade guns with practiced, terrifying speed.

"Now this," Nat purred, spinning one of the toy guns around his finger before pointing it at Xavier and Alexander, "is my turf. Who dares challenge me?"

"I’ll take that bet," Alexander declared instantly, stepping up to the adjacent console and racking his plastic rifle. "Don’t cry when I outshoot you."

"Bring it, kid."

For the next twenty minutes, the arcade rang out with the sound of digital gunfire, trash talk, and Emily’s helpless laughter as Nat and Alexander engaged in an intense, neck-and-neck arcade war.

Xavier stood beside April, his eyes on her despite the chaos around them. Samuel was quietly holding her bag and offering gentle commentary, while Oliver calmly walked over to a basketball shooting game, sinking shot after shot with terrifying, mathematical accuracy.

"He studied the trajectory before throwing," Nat accused, stepping away from his screen after narrowly beating Alexander by a mere hundred points. "Tell me you didn’t calculate the air resistance, Doctor."

"Physics is universal, Nat," Oliver replied calmly, not even looking back as he swished another ball through the net. "You should try studying it sometime."

Philippe stood near Emily, watching the chaotic, vibrant scene with an expression of pure wonder. "I never imagined... men of their stature acting like this."

"In the presence of Miss April," Samuel murmured, a subtle, devoted smile touching his lips as he held a tray of cold drinks, "every man reveals his true self."

Philippe decided to join in on the basketball, just to try a hoop. He was not as confident but somehow, he was as good as the doctor who could measure range with his naked eyes and a fierce competition ensued.

The entire day had felt like a dream suspended in time, completely disconnected from the looming shadow of the disaster ahead. For hours, the world didn’t feel like it was ending. It felt young, bright, and boundless.

The final stop on Emily’s carefully crafted itinerary was a beach. But before they could set foot on the sand, there was the crucial matter of the beachwear Emily had packed.

Inside the changing cabana near the boardwalk, the air was filled with the rustle of fabric and Emily’s soft, flustered gasps.

"April... I don’t think I can go out there like this," Emily squeaked, her face flushed a bright, burning crimson as she tugged uselessly at the hem of her sheer cover-up.

April stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting the ties of a sleek, midnight-blue bikini that fit her frame like a glove. She turned, raising an eyebrow at her twin. "Why are you shy now? You’re the one who picked these out and practically dragged them through the arcade in your bag!"

"I picked them out when we were at the shop!" Emily protested, hiding her glowing face in her hands. "I didn’t think about what it would actually feel like to walk out in front of... everyone!"

April chuckled, a warm, fond sound, and gently pulled Emily’s hands away from her face. "You look gorgeous, Emily. We both do. Come on, don’t keep them waiting."

Outside on the sun-warmed deck, the atmosphere was thick with quiet, impatient anticipation.

The men were already waiting near the edge of the sand, dressed in relaxed linen shirts and swim shorts. Nat leaned against a wooden pillar, dark aviator shades resting on the bridge of his nose, though his sharp, predatory eyes were locked firmly on the cabana door.

Beside him, Xavier stood composed, his unbuttoned shirt fluttering in the sea breeze, while Alexander paced back and forth, trying—and failing—to look nonchalant. Oliver adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, his gaze steady, while Samuel stood a respectful step back, a tray of chilled coconut water in hand.

But of course, they were just so attractive that they were already catching eyes of everyone walking past. Even the ladies couldn’t help but giggle and whisper about how attractive they were.

Of course, neither man paid attention to the praises. After all, every single one of them was waiting for one thing: to see their woman walk out.

The cabana doors finally clicked open.

April stepped out first into the golden evening light. She hadn’t felt particularly self-conscious inside, but the moment her bare feet hit the wooden deck, the sudden silence that fell over the men hit her like a physical force.

Nat’s jaw visibly tightened, his thumb halting mid-movement as he slowly pushed his shades up into his red hair, his smoldering eyes tracing every curve of her frame with an unshielded, burning hunger and then he whistled.

Xavier’s serene composure completely shattered for a rare, breathless second, his eyes widening as his breath caught in his throat.

Alexander froze mid-step, his face instantly flushing bright red from his neck to the tips of his ears, while Oliver’s hand hovered near his glasses, his clinical gaze darkening into something he could not quite calculate with any formula he knew as his gaze went down to her exposed legs. The tip of his ears tinted and there was no way to hide it.

Samuel tried to look expressionless but how could he? She looked explicit. And she would walk around like this for all to see. He was very jealous.

The sheer intensity of these obsessed men locking their undivided focus onto her made April’s heart leap against her ribs. Suddenly feeling hyper-aware of the minimal fabric, a rare flush crept up her cheeks.

April reached up, nervously playing with the thin strap of her bikini top, shifting her weight. "What?" she murmured, her voice laced with a sudden, rare hesitation. "Is it... weird?"