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Today was not my day. And to be honest I didn't even know how it had come to this. I was usually organised, well enough not to forget my boyfriend's birthday but my organisational skills seemed to be no match for Elvis Presley Enterprises. It wasn’t that I couldn't arrange something, it's just that his schedule had not given me much of a chance. He had been away for the past few days touring and was due to leave again the day after his birthday meaning that the time we got to spend together was limited, a fact neither of us was fond of. So, he had clung to me - desperate to soak up the time we had together before he had to go away again. It was nice don't get me wrong but it also left me with no time to sneak out and buy him something. Not to mention he wasn't exactly easy to buy for. An excellent gift giver? Sure. But what do you buy the man who wants for nothing?
So yesterday morning I scoured the copious catalogues around the house and found the most flashy and ornate hand-crafted guitar. A perfect gift. The only problem was I had no time to collect it. That was when the Colonel had intervened. He had suggested Elvis have a birthday party. Nothing too extravagant but something with enough newsworthy material to keep the momentum of the tour going. He didn't want it to appear that Elvis was desperate to get home and ungrateful for the people who were coming out to see him after his small break. I knew it wasn't the best idea, hell Elvis probably just wanted a nice evening at home, but it did give me a chance to get out of the house unnoticed. Whilst Elvis was fussing over what he was going to wear and everyone else was flapping about preparing for the guests I had called the store and made sure my gift was ready and waiting for me. Then I snuck out hoping no one would notice me being gone for twenty minutes.
But I had been too optimistic and as soon as I was out of the house I hit rush hour traffic, unable to escape bottleneck after bottleneck as I made my way slowly through Memphis unable to turn back. My luck didn't change once I got to the store either. Though it wasn't busy it may as well have been. My reserved parcel was unable to be located though I was sure it was something to do with the snotty look the shop girl had given me after she had asked about Elvis and I had declined to comment. All in all, I was forced to stand and wait for them to find it for forty-five minutes until finally, they found the present tucked away exactly where it was supposed to be. Though anger was flowing through my body I didn't stop to complain, I didn't have time, instead, I left quickly and quietly racing back to the car and climbing inside thanking my lucky stars that though it was icy the roads were now clear for my trip home.
I don't remember much of the drive. I remember the way the clock was ticking away on the dash, tormenting me about my lateness. I remember the feeling of guilt as I thought about Elvis, who was sure to have noticed my absence by now. And I remember the squeal of the tires as they hit the ice and tried to scramble for traction as I spun myself away from the oncoming truck as it swerved out of a side street and into my path. From then on it was a blur.
I don’t remember how I managed to haul myself out of the totalled car or how long I walked until I finally found a payphone. I don’t even remember who I spoke to at Graceland or what I told them had happened. All I could focus on was the ache in my body from being jolted around and the cold that had seeped into my bones from the walk.
I only really came to as I noticed a pair of headlights growing ever closer though they didn’t pass like the other cars had, instead, they slowed down in front of the bus stop I had taken to waiting for my ride. Before I could even look who had come to collect me the door was being flung open and Elvis appeared, moving frantically towards me until he was wrapped around every inch of me. His strong musky scent filled my nostrils as the warmth of his body shrouded me trying to force the ice from my bones as fast as he could. When he pulled back his eyes were wide and frantic searching for any evidence of injury or harm but there was none. None that could be seen anyway. Then his eyes went hard and his jaw clenched as he realised I was relatively okay.
‘What the hell are you playing at?!’ he said angrily.
‘What?’ I asked, my brain was unable to process his words or what I had done to receive this reaction.
‘You disappear and then you call saying you’ve crashed your car!? I thought-’ he said his breath hitching in his chest as I realised what he must’ve been thinking. I don’t remember what I said. If I had explained myself or just given the bare minimum and from the look on his face I suspected the latter.
‘I’m sorry,’ I mumbled unsure of where to even start. Fortunately, Joe appeared at his side, pressing a reassuring hand on Elvis’ shoulder which seemed to snap him back to reality.
‘I think we should probably get her in the car, don’t you boss?’ Joe said. Elvis’ cold stare softened as he looked back down at me and then nodded.
I didn’t protest as he shepherded me to the open car door and gestured for me to climb inside. I shuffled across to make room for him and he followed suit, tucking himself into the car and pulling me into him. His arms wrapped around me tighter than ever before. Joe put the car in drive and set off, tapping along to the radio as we drove back home. No one spoke. It felt like all of us were waiting for the other to make the first mood and yet no one did. And though I was tucked in beside him it didn’t feel like he was holding me. It felt as though he was clinging to me, his gaze periodically dropping downwards as if he had to make sure I was still there.
It didn’t take us long to get home. In fact, it appeared that I had walked for longer than I thought as we were barely a ten-minute drive away from the house. When we pulled up the party was still in full swing, unbothered by Elvis’ absence though I figured it was more that people didn’t know he was gone. My suspicions were confirmed as we snuck in the back way with Joe scuttling away to deal with the fallout of Elvis leaving his own party early.
He led me upstairs, decanting me on the bed as he moved around the room. I didn’t pay much attention to what he was doing as the car ride had made my bones stiffen up. I could hear him rummaging around in our closet and then the sound of water running from the bathroom. When he reappeared he dropped a handful of clothes, which I recognised to be my pyjamas, on the bed beside me and then took to his knees in front of me. It was enough to pull me out of my thoughts as his large hands cupped mine, his warm blue eyes watching me worriedly.
‘I, uh, I’m running you a bath,’ he said, ‘you still feel pretty cold.’
‘I am,’ I mumbled, ‘guess I didn’t realise how long I’d been out.’
‘Right, yeah,’ he said. I could see the thoughts swirling around in his mind and I could tell he was too nervous to utter any of them given his initial reaction.
‘I’m okay you know,’ I said moving my hand to stroke his cheek tenderly.
‘Are you sure? I mean what if we should be going to the hospital,’ Elvis asked.
‘Honestly, I’m fine,’ I said, ‘I’m just I’m cold and achy…I mean I think the car fared worse. It’s totalled.’
‘I thought you said it wasn’t that bad,’ he said a slight rise in his voice as I tried to scramble for an excuse. My struggle for words didn’t seem to help my case as he went to stand up, ‘right we’re going to the hospital.’
‘I’m fine! I mean the car bore the brunt of it I’m sure,’ I said pulling on his arm. He didn’t look convinced but after a moment he relented and came to sit beside me on the bed. He watched me for a moment as I placed my hand on his thigh and caressed it gently trying to reassure him as much as I could. Then after a moment he finally murmured, ‘what happened?’
‘I don’t know,’ I mumbled watching as his face flew into a panic, ‘I mean I’m fine but I don’t know what happened.’
‘They said you said a truck,’ he said thickly.
‘I swerved…but I ended up off the road,’ I said.
‘Oh honey,’ he said.
‘Like I said, the car took the worst of it. I was just jumbled around a little. I mean I bet your, oh my god!’ I said startling him.
‘What?!’ he said.
‘Your present! It was in the back of the car! I totally forgot! I bet it’s ruined or goddamn stolen by now or something! Oh my god, what an idiot!’ I said. Elvis watched me for a moment and then burst out laughing, clutching his chest as he did. My brows knitted together as I took in his mirth suddenly feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t know why he was laughing. I didn’t know what I’d done but the emotion of it all was too much to bear and I felt myself crying. His laughter quickly faded as he noted the tears streaming down my face.
‘Honey what's wrong?!’ he asked in a panic.
‘You’re laughing,’ I hiccupped.
‘Oh honey I wasn’t laughing at you,’ Elvis said pulling me into him and stroking my hair as I tried to corral my sobs into line, ‘I was just laughing at the fact that of all the things for you to be worried about tonight you’re bothered about a gift for me.’
‘It’s w-why I went o-o-out in the f-f-first place,’ I sniffed, my breath still shaky, ‘wanted to surprise y-y-you.’
‘Well you sure did that Satnin,’ he said with a wry smile.
‘But you didn’t get your gift,’ I said pulling back.
‘You’re safe,’ he said with a smile, ‘that’s gift enough.’
‘Maybe you can have one of the boys go and get it,’ I said. My tears had subsided leaving a cold residue on my cheeks. I knew it was silly. I knew that my safety was more important than any stupid present I could buy him and yet I still wanted him to have it. For my horrendous day to have at least meant something.
‘Yeah, I’ll ask,’ he said wiping my tears from my cheeks as he pulled me up off of the bed, ‘but first, how about that bath?'
‘Okay,’ I said as he led me towards the bathroom. As we breached the doors I heard a laugh echo from below which made me snap back to reality. I stopped in my tracks which tugged on his arm and forced him to turn around and look at me with a puzzled look on his face.
‘What about your party?’ I asked. His puzzled look faded, replaced by a small smirk as he pulled me into him and kissed my forehead.
‘You’re the only one I wanted there anyway,’ he said. He pulled away and started busying himself with the bath which was nearly flooding the bathroom by now. I moved to perch on the toilet seat as he dealt with everything. As I watched him I couldn't help but feel my heart flutter. He always knew what to do. How to take care of me. It was his birthday and yet he was the best gift I could ask for.
I had been right before. Today wasn’t my day but there's nowhere I'd rather end up.