Page 93 of Sterling Fight

When the song finishes, I make an exaggerated curtsy and hand the microphone to Cadence. Then I skip toward Judd who stands as I near the table. I leap for him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and Judd catches me around the waist, swinging me side to side.

The motion sloshes the margaritas in my belly, and I sway a bit when he sets me on my feet. Thankfully, Judd keeps his hands on my hips to steady me.

“Looks like she wants you to take her home,” someone calls out behind Judd. Sounds like Knox.

“Did you hear me, Judd?” Although I’m not certain I’ve asked a coherent question.

“I heard ya’, beautiful.” He laughs.

“Did I sing well?”

“Like a lark.”

“Did I seduce you?” Why won’t he have sex with me?

“Every day with you is a seduction.”

I break into a fit of giggles and dip my head to his chest. I should put that on a calendar. Quirky Girl Seduction Calendar.

“You okay?” Judd whispers near my ear, brushing my hair around it.

“It’s my birthday.” I lift my head a little too fast and the room warbles.

“Yes, it is, firefly.”

Yes. And firefly. Check yes, Judd.

“Want me to take you home? Or do you want to stay a little longer?”

Home. Stay longer. Checking yes.

“Would you mind if we stayed a little longer?” I’m practically dangling from Judd’s neck, arms still around him but my body suddenly feels heavy, weighed down by both the day and the date.

The anniversary of my father’s death. My fortieth birthday. My mother never called me.

But Judd threw me a surprise party.

“How long have you known?” I whisper. Or I think I whisper.

“Sebastian is horrible at keeping secrets.”

“So, since this morning?” I’m definitely slurring. And Sebastian is a tattletale.

Judd looks at me. Both of him.

“We need champagne for the birthday girl,” a female voice says somewhere near the table. Sounds like Vale.

And the thought of champagne, the bubbles exploding in my mouth, the acidic aftertaste of cheap liquor. The burn going down and coming back up.

I burst into tears.

“Aw, fuck,” someone mutters as I slip my arms from Judd’s neck to cover my face.

“Looks like we’re going with plan A, baby,” Judd says, swooping me up. “I’m taking you home.”

And that’s the last I remember of the night.

“Hey,” I hear as my eyelids ping open. Sunlight slips into the room through the slanted blinds.