Page 48 of Never Your Valentine

“She’d better.” June gets out a pound of candle wax. “We need an even number of people for euchre and Annabelle makes eight.”

“Just what I always wanted,” I grumble. “Birthday dinner with my landlord.”

“Uh-uh.” June wags a finger at me. “You’re the one who insisted that it wasn’t your birthday, and that the holiday is stupid, and that you want to treat it like any other day. Pardon me if I took you at your word.”

“You’re a menace. You could make a podcast. Call it, ‘How to Ruin a Birthday in Five Easy Steps.’”

“It will be fine,” she says. “Dylan will be there too.”

“He’s your husband. He’s always there.”

“Exactly.” She acts like she’s scored a point.

“Are you trying to make it like a date?”

“Annabelle doesn’t have to be your date.” June blows dust out of a teacup. “She can be Felix’s date. Or Blake’s.”

“Over my dead body,” I snap.

“Ha! I knew there was some emotion in that cold, dead heart.”

“If you say so,” I grumble as I put my jacket on.

“So you’ll be there?” June’s already got her phone in her hand. “I’ll text the family chat.”

“I’ll be there,” I say on my way out the door. I don’t like the trap my sister set for me, but I’m going to walk straight into it anyway. I poke my head back into the room. “But it’s not my birthday dinner.”

“Got it,” she says, not looking up from her phone.

“And it’s not a date.”

Chapter 19

Annabelle

The cards I design for the public are meant to have mass appeal. The cards I design for celebrities are meant to be optimally entertaining for their fans. But the cards I make for my friends? Those are top-tier. They’re one-of-a-kind, intensely personal, and the most fun to make. I spend hours getting every detail just right, and I save screenshots of the texts I get when people receive them.

I’m especially excited about Kat’s birthday card.

Front of card: An illustration of Kat as a superhero. Her long hair is flowing behind her. Her cape is sea blue. She’s holding a pair of shears in one hand and a blowdryer in the other.

Front caption: To the woman who can fix anything, even a bad hair day.

Inside caption: To my talented, gifted, split-end–slaying friend. I wanted to remind you how fabulous you are, not just at hair, but at being someone who makes life brighter, funnier, and always perfectly layered. Now go forth and conquer the frizz, the cowlicks, and the “I saw this on Pinterest” requests!

I sign it: Love, your biggest fan, Annabelle

Kat texts me a few days later.

Kat: Ahhhh your card is so stinking cute!

Annabelle: I’m so glad you like!

Kat: I LOVE

Annabelle: Yay!

Kat: Jacqueline told me to ask you what that “perfectly layered” part means