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Fifty-Seven
BJ
For my birthday we go to Aqua Shard.
Think it was supposed to be a surprise, but she booked it on my card and they called me to confirm it. Dinner for seven on the 14th of February. It was nice of her. I didn’t say anything. Did it herself.
When we arrive at the restaurant, Jordan’s in this long dress that’s patterned with too many colours. She looks pretty because she’s an attractive girl, but really I just want to see what Parks is in.
Dressed to the nines for my birthday every year, even if we aren’t together. Red or pink because she’s not a saint and she’d never roll on Valentine’s Day for me. Used to my birthday being as much about her as it is about me. Kind of like it that way too.
I wonder what she got for me.
We walk to our table, big smiles and Henry sort of yells an unenthusiastic ‘surprise.’ I roll my eyes that Magnolia’s late to this.
Then everyone sits and I realise there’s no chairs left.
Dinner was for seven. There’s seven of us here.
I lean over to Jonah and whisper, “Where’s Parks?”
He looks over at me, face ripe to cringe. “Jordan planned this.”
I blink at him a few times. Can’t believe it. “She wasn’t invited?”
Fuck.
Jo gives me a look. “Did you think your current girlfriend would invite your ex-girlfriend to the birthday party she planned for you without prompting?”
I shrug at him hopeless. “Then why didn’t you prompt her?”
Jo shrugs back. “Not my circus.”
I drop my head in my hands before I look over at him. “Did she know there was something on for me?”
Jo grimaces again. “Yep.”
My jaw goes tight. “Fuck.”
“Yep.” He nods.
“She’s going to kill me.”
“Who is?” Jordan asks brightly from the seat next to me.
I turn to her, try not to look as stressed as I feel. Don’t know how to say it without coming off like an absolute fucking prick, but anyway.
“You didn’t invite Parks?” I say, eyebrows up. “And Julian.” I add as an afterthought.
Jordan straightens up a little. “She upset you the other night. I could tell.”
I frown, don’t say anything. She could tell? When? I mean, she’s right. She did. I was upset. I didn’t know she knew that though.
“I didn’t think you’d want her here—” She gives me a shrug. “I didn’t think she deserved to be invited.”
I give her an uncomfortable smile. I think she’s trying to do right by me.
I mean, she’s wrong. She’s fucking off the planet wrong. But I think she’s trying to be good to me. Punish Parks or something. Makes me feel a bit sick. Feel sweaty at the thought of Magnolia sitting at home thinking I didn’t want her here.
