Page 3 of Remember Me

“Thank you, Louisa. I’m so glad you could make it.”

“It was perfect timing: our girl’s birthday and our wedding anniversary, plus your final game, all in the same week. We just had to come see you play.”

I look around and notice Lottie has left the room, so I take the opportunity to speak without her here. “Speaking of her birthday, are we all still good with the plan?”

Everyone nods their agreement, and we go over it one more time. “So, we have the barbecue at Mom’s house and then we’ll head over to Onyx for the masquerade ball.”

Lottie has never had a party or been to a club before; it's not her scene so I’ve never forced it. Kayla’s organized an “end of season” ball for the Seals, that Lottie won’t be able to say no to. It’s also doubling up as a surprise birthday party for my girl. Let’s hope she likes it.

“Don’t worry, Kayla and I have Charlie’s outfit ready to go. And there is no way she’ll know what’s coming,” Alyssa tells me.

Lottie walks back into the room and we all stop talking, instantly making us look guilty of something.

Looking around the room, eyes darting between us, Lottie’s definitely trying to figure out what the hell she’s just walked into.

“Is everything ok?” she asks no one in particular.

“Everything is great,” I tell her and pull her into my side.

God, I hope this is the right thing to do.

Chapter 2

Charlotte

Iwake up to movement on my bed and know it can only be one person.

I’m seriously regretting giving Jake a key right about now.

It’s 6 a.m. and here he is bouncing around like it’s his birthday and not mine, which also encourages my little Italian greyhound, Bella, to start bouncing next to him and barking at him to play.

“Jesus, J, do you know what time it is?” I shoot him a questioning glare while trying to rub the sleep from my eyes.

“I sure do; it’s birthday time!” Next thing I know, Stevie Wonders’ “Happy Birthday” is blaring through Jake’s phone and he’s singing to me. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but each year I swear Jake becomes more tone deaf than the last.

“Why don’t you sing a little louder, I’m sure some cats in Canada didn’t hear you.” I am so not a morning person.

Covering my head with the duvet, I try to pretend this day will just disappear already. I’m twenty-six, still a virgin, and still never been kissed. If they aren’t all signs of a loser, I don’t know what is. Every year it gets more depressing.

“God, Bells, your mama is being a right grumpus this morning,” Jake pokes me in the side. My hands flail under the duvet to try and slap him.

Feeling the tension in the bed loosening, I peek out from the covers to find Jake and Bella have gone, although they’re not far away. I can hear those little paws on the wooden flooring getting louder as they come closer to the bedroom again.

The two of them round the corner in matching party hats—that dog loves playing dress-up. Jake’s got an iced coffee and a red velvet cupcake with a candle lit for me to make a wish.

I sigh and roll my eyes, but inside my stomach is erupting with butterflies that he does this for me. I’m so in love with this man and he has no clue.

Sitting next to me, he places the coffee on the nightstand and puts the cake in front of me so I can blow out the candle.

“Make a wish, Lotts.”

Pretending to really think about my wish, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As I blow out the candle, I make the same wish I’ve made ever since I turned nineteen—for Jake to notice me as more than a friend.

I’m a creature of habit. Every birthday is the same: I go for a spa day with Kayla, Alyssa, and Jake’s mom, Hannah. This year, my mom is joining us too. When Wren’s in town, she comes as well, but the boss bitch lifestyle is taking its toll and she’s too busy to get away at the moment.

Once we’re changed into our robes and slippers, Alyssa passes round the mimosas, and Kayla raises hers in the air: “I’d like to raise a toast. To our girl, Charlie, celebrating another year around the sun. May this be your best year yet, babe. We love you!” Everyone clinks their glasses together as we prepare for a day of relaxation.

“Thanks everyone. It means so much that you do this with me every year.” And I genuinely mean that. I’ve never had a group of friends before. It had always just been me and Wren. When I moved here, though, Jake’s family and friends took me under their wing, and I never looked back.