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RHYS
Lena is barking orders at people, directing them around my bar. Julian and Ben Smith are hanging up a happy birthday sign made of shiny, multicolored letters. Silver balloons are tied up all over the place. The kind with helium in them, that last for months until enough air finally seeps out and then they bob around all flaccid and sad.
Each balloon is a different number. There’s a 1, 16, 18, and 21. It was Lena’s idea to have them to make up for all of the milestone birthdays Zara never got to celebrate. She’ll either love it, or it could be an epic disaster. I really hope we’re not just reminding her of all the things she missed being stuck in Fairy.
There’s a huge tub of jungle juice which is my contribution to the party, sitting on the bar. We’ve closed down for the evening, making this an invitation only event. Not that we have a huge circle of friends, but there are a few other people on the island outside of our little group who aren’t total assholes. Lena and Archer's party planning committee will be attending, along with Greta and Drigo, who work at the bar, Birdie, and a few others. We didn’t want to overwhelm Zara, so we’ve kept the list small.
“What time is she supposed to get here?” Lena looks at her watch and then toward the front door.
“She and Ruby should be here any minute now.”
Ezra and Archer are playing darts in the corner, drinking beer instead of the jungle juice. Miri and Davis haven’t arrived yet, but I expect they’ll be here any minute. Music plays through the bar’s speakers and there’s a general sense of anticipation in the air. Or maybe that’s just me. I’m embarrassingly excited for tonight. Giving Zara these experiences feels like my responsibility, but it’s also an honor to introduce her to the things she’s missed out on.
Ah, hell, I sound like a fucking tool.
“The party has arrived!” Ruby throws up her arms as she walks inside the bar.
Zara is a step behind her, with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. The sight of her sends a blast of heat throttling straight to my dick.
Fuck.
I’ve always thought Zara is pretty. Even that first night back at Ruby’s, when she was in need of a long shower and a hot meal. I mean, Ruby’s pretty, but she never shuts the hell up. Tonight, Zara is radiant. And while she does still look like Ruby, in my mind, they’re as different as night and day.
Zara looks like an ethereal being. She's wearing an ocean blue sundress with tiny little straps. One tug and I bet the fabric would snap away. The dress tucks in beneath her breasts and falls all the way to the tops of her sandaled feet. Every time she shifts, it molds to her body. I’ve never been so fucking jealous of clothing before.
“I love your dress!” Lena hurries across the bar and pulls Zara into a hug. Zara stiffens, but then relaxes into the embrace. Lena pulls back, holding Zara at arm’s length as studies her outfit. “Did you go shopping?”
“Ruby took me yesterday. She said it’s some kind of a birthday tradition.”
“Of course, it is. You have to have a new outfit for a birthday party,” Ruby says before she beelines toward the bar to pour herself a glass of jungle juice.
“It’s true,” Lena says in agreement.
“It’s totally a girl thing,” Ezra pipes from across the bar where he throws a dart and gets a bullseye.
“Just because you have been wearing the same clothes since high school doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t like to occasionally mix things up.” Ruby smirks at him.
“Okay, let’s not talk about clothing choices. I think we all know how well that goes with the two of you.” Archer pulls the darts out of the board and slaps the stack onto Ezra’s outstretched hand, doing his best to distract him.
He’s not wrong. The last thing those two need is to get into a fashion debate.
“Can I get you a drink?” I point toward the juice and Zara looks at it with a skeptical eye.
“What’s in that?”
“Deliciousness and bad decisions,” Ruby says as she raises her glass in a salute.
“It’s just a bunch of different alcohol mixed with a bunch of different juices. And some slices of fruit. It will get you fucked up, make no mistake, but it’s also tasty.” I fill up a glass without waiting for her response and hand it to her. “Just drink it slowly and have a little water every now and then, and you’ll be fine.”
Zara reaches out to take the offered glass, her fingers brushing over mine as she does. A low hum of electricity pulses from where our skin touches and my eyelids lower to half-mast. It would be bad to sneak her away from her first ever party, wouldn’t it? The door swings open, disrupting the fantasy that was starting to play out in my head. Good fucking thing. I don’t need a boner with my sister two feet away.
Miri and Davis come inside waving and responding to shouts of hello. Davis is holding a pie in his hand, and I raise an eyebrow at him in question. He doesn’t bother with me, but turns toward Zara, giving her the pie.
“I can’t bake cakes, so I made you a pie.” The statement is delivered in Davis’s usual gruff tone. The corners of Zara’s mouth tip up before she licks her lips. She’s trying not to smile. It seems like she’s starting to get used to our group's personalities.
“Thank you. Is it tradition to bring desserts to someone’s birthday?”
“Eat it if you want, or don’t. Happy birthday.” That’s all Davis has to say before he walks off, wandering toward Archer and Ezra.
