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“Okay, nerdette and her merry band of dicks, I’m off. Be good. That was fun. The next time you want to take someone down a peg or four, lemme know. I’m all in.” She took a step, then pivoted and looked at Archie. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” he replied, and they both did this incline of their heads followed by the cheesiest of grins.
“Nice, right?” Rachel asked me, and I laughed.
Yes, it was nice.
* * *
The restof the day went better than I could have expected really. Even with so much to think about and obsess over, I focused on Archie. I had a few hours before I got to give him his present, and the closer we got to then, the more I focused on that.
Math was probably the most relaxed class it had been in weeks. Ian slid into the desk next to me, and it was like he was right back to where he belonged. That awkward strain between us had eased, or at least lessened. Unfortunately, Jake and Ian weren’t at lunch—they had their anger management meeting with Diane that both claimed was going well. I didn’t ask for details though, and they didn’t offer. That seemed pretty fair, considering they weren’t asking me about my session with Erin.
In fact, pretty much the only question asked so far had come from Coop. Did I like her?
When I said I’d said yes, he’d just hugged me and said good. That was that.
We ate lunch at the sushi place because Archie’s birthday and that was what he wanted. The guys had a game that evening, but Archie and I were going to have dinner with his grandfather. I offered to let him have the time with him on his own, but he said no. He wanted me there with him. Plus, Ted liked me.
Birthday boy gets what he wants.
So after school, I bribed Rachel into helping me fix my hair, since we were going out to some nice place for dinner and Jake was at football. No, I did not tell Rachel or anyone else that Jake would have been my first choice to do my hair. I figured that was fair. Besides, he and Coop were getting really good at scalp massages. I might never go back to doing my own hair again.
I debated what to wear on and off all day. The thought of dress shopping kind of nauseated me. Too soon. I didn’t think Archie would care if I wore one I’d worn before, so I went with the little black dress. It was classic and sleeveless which meant I didn’t have to worry about the cast. Rachel helped me get dressed, then eyed me critically when I stood in front of her. She’d done something with my curls to tame them, piled them up, and now they spilled down one side of my head. It was a little complicated and looked a whole lot pretty.
“What?”
“You need jewelry.”
I glanced down. “I don’t have that much, and a bunch of my stuff is still with the cops.” My charm bracelet for example. I needed to call them and find out when I could get that back. Surely they didn’t need it the whole time, right?
“Hmm. What do we have in here?” She pulled a jewelry box out and flipped it open. My stomach dropped. It was a gold necklace with charms on it. Real charms.
Like the ones on my bracelet.
There was a present on the necklace, a birthday cake, roses, four heads—which was the only way to describe them—and each one had a name inscribed, one for each of my guys. There were also three cats scattered on it. And keys.
Four keys.
One for each head.
“Rachel, what did you do?”
She gave me a saucy grin. “I wish I could say I did it, but I’m totally just the messenger. Feel free to kiss the messenger. I don’t mind.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I know.” She winked. “Read the note.”
There was a note folded and tucked into the top of the jewelry box. I opened it while Rachel got the necklace out of the box.
Frankie,
It’s my birthday, which means it’s the birthday boy’s choice. These are all charms meant for your bracelet, but at the rate we’re going, we’re going to fill it up so I started a necklace, too. I’m pretty sure you can figure out the meanings to all of them, but in case you need a hint, I’ll be there soon. Wear it for me?
Archie
I bit my lip.
