"But my parents," she whined.
"Talk to them. Tell them you aren't your sister. Tell them you learned from her mistakes and your own. All they need to do is meet Van, and they’ll see how sincere he is." I started, hoping I was getting through to her.
“I can’t,” she whispered, a lone tear streaming down her cheek.
“Why? You aren’t Toni, and Van isn’t Eric, Brock, or Jason,” I said with conviction.
Jessie’s eyes went wide when I mentioned the men in her life who had left her broken-and had even tacked on mine.
“I know, Faith, but like I've said before, why should I rock the boat with my parents and fight for Van when he's going to leave me to go on tour?”
I wanted to scoff at her argument, but I stayed mute. We’d had this conversation before, and her fears matched my own.
“Well then, just enjoy him while you have him, because he loves you.” I stretched my fake smile across my face. “Jessie, I don’t think he would do anything while on tour, and if you can handle it, I think you should try.”
Hypocrite, my inner voice mocked. The advice I spewed was the same I wouldn't heed. Jessie remained silent as she fixed her makeup in the visor mirror. When she was ready, we both got out of the car and walked into Ray's.
Denise rushed over and gave me a hug. "Happy birthday, pretty girl."
"Thank you," I replied, returning the hug.
Ryan was jumping behind the bar when she saw me and waved me over. She leaned over the bar to hug me. "Happy birthday. Here; take this." She handed me a shot of something that smelled like apples. I drank it down, not wanting to argue with her, especially since she seemed to be in a good mood.
The regulars all wished me a happy birthday, and some even bought me birthday shots. Ryan ordered me food after, noticing I was well on my way to being drunk. I put my food on the boys' table, so I could walk by and take bites between orders, hoping it would soak up the shots.
Hours later, the bell rang, announcing the boys had arrived. Kill carried a cake with lit candles on its frosted surface. The whole bar sangHappy Birthdayto me, and even Ray came out of the back office to join in.
Kill walked steadily toward me, the cake outstretched. His eyes were locked on mine. When he reached the table, he placed the cake in front of me. "Make a wish," he whispered.
Our eyes were still connected as everyone clapped and chanted at me to blow out my candles. I slowly turned away from Kill and blew them out, making a wish in the process. I laughed when I noticed the iced stiletto on it.
The boys insisted I get the first piece, and I ate it happily as I stood close to Kill. Jet glided up to my other side with a shot in his hand. I groaned when he put it in front of me.
“Jet, I can’t. I’ve already drank birthday shots from almost everyone in the bar,” I cried, surprised to hear how slurred my words sounded.
“Chicken,” Jet taunted. "I won't say anything inappropriate for the rest of the day if you take it."
The liquid burned my throat and my inner voice chastised me, but I was too busy coughing to tell it to shut up. Kill gave Jet a dirty look before he led me down the hallway.
We were headed toward the breakroom, but when I saw Bambi inside, typing on her phone, I detoured Kill into the storage room off to the side. The room was dark, since the only light filtering in was from a small window in the very back.
“Why are we in here, Slick?” Kill asked, his voice tight. The alcohol haze made it hard to figure out why.
He flicked the switch by the door, illuminating the room lined with shelves containing kitchen and bathroom supplies.
“Bambi was in the breakroom,” I explained.
His face took on understanding. He reached out and hauled me into him. I went to him willingly and buried my nose in his chest, breathing him in.
“Happy birthday, Slick.”
“Thanks, Killer,” I replied, nuzzling further into him.
“What did you wish for?”
My heart thumped in unison to my desire, and the flush covering my skin pulsated from the reminder of my wish. He moved back when I didn’t answer. The alcohol buzzed through my system, making me bolder.
“For you to kiss me.”
