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Maybe if I told myself that enough times, I’d start to believe it.
* * *
At lunch, Eve and I sat in the far corner of the cafeteria and kept our heads down. She wasn’t really one for hiding from the Ice Gods, seeing as her brother was one, but she would do whatever I needed to do to feel comfortable. Eve was a one-in-a-million friend.
“So, he rides a motorcycle, too? That’s hot.”
“Okay, Paris Hilton circa 2004. It’s normal. At least it means I don’t have to ride with him to school anymore.”
“Well, unless he offers you a ride on his bike. Nowthatwould be hot.”
“And dangerous. I don’t trust that guy walking past me in the hall, never mind being in control of the bike I’m on. Anyway, let’s talk about something else.” I picked at my food. I wasn’t really hungry.
Cayden had been busy with his bike and early practice this morning, while my mom had made me pancakes for a birthday breakfast. She’d talked on and on about HHU and how I’d still be able to live at home next year when I went to college locally. I’d stuffed my face with the pancakes to avoid answering.
“Something like birthdays!” Eve was immediately distracted. She grinned at me. “Tell me what you want to do, and I’ll make it happen.”
“Ugh, I don’t know. Nothing?”
“Not an option. You only turn eighteen once. We have to do something fun.”
“I don’t know. I don’t care about birthdays, you know that.”
“Still, for me…please?”
“Okay, let’s get takeout and movies and stay at your house this weekend,” I suggested. Any night out of my house and away from the suffocating, confusing presence of Cayden West was a bonus.
Eve wrinkled her nose. “That’s a normal Friday night. It needs to be something different. You know Beckett is having a party after the game tomorrow. Apparently, it’s Cayden’s birthday, too. You should probably know that, since you’re siblings now and everything.” Eve snorted with glee when I elbowed her.
“Tomorrow is really his birthday? My mom did say we were close together.” I chewed my nail, trying to imagine the party. I shook my head. “No, if there’s anything I don’t want to do on my birthday, it’s hanging around the Ice Gods and their minions. How about two-for-one movie night at the Apollo?” The local movie theater in town was one of those little art house places that never seemed to make any money but somehow stayed open. Eve sighed. “Great, popcorn and a movie on an eighteenth birthday. It might as well be your eighth birthday, I’m pretty sure we did the same thing.”
“Don’t be a grump,” I cajoled her. I knew my lack of social graces wase a continual sore spot between me and Eve. She liked to be center of attention, and I didn’t. Most birthday things were absolute torture.
“Let’s go to the party…come on.”
“No. It’s my birthday, and I’ll stay home if I want to.”
“You’re the worst,” Eve muttered and slid her phone out of her pocket. Her gasp pulled my attention to her.
“What now?”
She turned a megawatt smile on me and then tilted her screen. “Looks like you don’t have a choice.”
It was an online invitation, fancy as hell and definitely not created by anyone at school. An invitation to Beckett’s party. It seemed Eve had finally managed to get herself a real-life invite. What caught my notice, however, was my name scrolling right beside Cayden’s.
Join us to celebrate our first victory, and Cayden and Lily’s birthdays – Friday night.
What the hell?
“Let me see that.” I snatched her phone and stared down at the invitation. How extra was Beckett that he’d sent out invites to his parties, and moreover, whose idea had it been to include me?
“Is this your doing?” I asked Eve.
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No! Like Beckett would ever do anything I asked him to.”
“Asher?” Sure, I didn’t know Eve’s brother that well, but he had a twisted sense of humor sometimes.
“Nope. I’m sure he doesn’t even remember when your birthday is.”
