AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Let's go celebrate my fricken birthday," I say as Ashton and I admire ourselves in the mirror. She's wearing a pair of black and white striped high-waisted pants that hug her tight to the knee before flaring out dramatically. They make her already long legs look endless. She's paired them with a black sequined bandeau. I don't think she has any shoes on, but I can't see her feet under the bell bottoms. She looks like a rock goddess with her naturally wavy dark hair draped over one shoulder, and her jewel tone blue eyes darkly lined.
We couldn't look more opposite if we tried. Light and Dark.
I hesitate before leaving the room to make sure I have the phone Joey supplied. I'm planning to call Nina and Tori tonight, even though I don't have their cell numbers memorized. I may be able to figure out where they are by calling the locations instead. It's been over a month since I've been out with them. Granted, it was the worst night of my life, but I still miss them. I miss talking and laughing at the most ridiculous things together. The trouble we'd start, or finish--depending if it was me or Nina. Flirting. Dancing. Manipulating our way into places we didn't belong but acted like we did. We didn't waste our time sharing dreams we knew would never come true. We lived every second like it was the last memory we might make together. I hope that night isn't it. I still want so many more.
And I hate that they don't know where I am.
Before I can leave the room, my Blackwood phone beeps in my purse. I click on the incoming message.
You've been granted an overnight pass. Have fun. Be safe. Happy Birthday, Lana. - Niall
"What is it?" Ashton asks when she sees the smile emerge on my face.
"I'm sleeping over. Are you?"
"I am now." She smiles back.
We each throw together an overnight bag before rushing to the front of the administration building where Kaely's been waiting to pick us up.
"Where are the guys?" I ask Ashton when I don't see them waiting.
"They said they'd meet us there."
The hous
e looks like a beacon in the woods with the light glowing through the angles of glass. The driveway is already filling with cars. All of these people are not here to celebrate my birthday. Everyone I know could fit inside this car, forget about the ten or so that have already arrived and those that continue to show up in the short time it took us to park and walk to the house.
"Happy birthday!" Lily exclaims, waiting for us within the open door. She hugs me tight. "I'm so happy you're here." My heart warms at the sincerity of her tone. She got the "hair down" memo evidently, but hers is sleek and straight, parted in the middle. And she's wearing a white empire dress with a silver sparkling belt beneath her bust-line. I'm kind of obsessed with her style and can't wait to be closer friends so I can start borrowing her clothes. That and she's probably the sweetest person I've ever met.
"Come in! What can I get you to drink? I heard you don't like champagne," she leads us through the open living space where a small cluster of people linger with champagne glasses in hand. It looks like she stocked up on champagne more than anything else in the beverage cooler.
"I can make you a champagne drink you'll probably like," Ashton offers, making herself at home behind the island that is currently substituting as the bar.
"That's an interesting ring," Lily notes when I rest my hand on the counter. She lifts it to examine Nick's wedding band on my thumb.
"Told her it looks like a guy's wedding ring," Ashton says, having noticed it while I was getting dressed.
"It's a reminder," I tell them. "To never fall in love."
Lily's mouth rounds and her eyes dip. "That makes me so sad." Then she hugs me ... again. "Please don't be afraid to fall in love. The right guy is out there for you somewhere."
I laugh at her endearing attempt to console me. Even if I don't need it.
"Don't tell her that," Ashton says, laughing as well.
"It's her phobia," Kaely chimes in, like this explains everything.
"Oh! I should take your bags upstairs for you," Lily exclaims suddenly when she notices them on the floor, like she's being the worst host. "I'll be right back."
We hand our bags to her and she disappears up the stairs.
"Is she really this nice?" I ask, still getting used to Lily's infinite thoughtfulness. It makes me wonder if that might be her curse.
"As far as I know," Ashton replies.
"She reminds me of you Kaely," I say.
"Really? I don't think we look anything alike." She takes a sip from her champagne flute.
