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“My present is on the way. It’s a little late.”
“It can drive itself?” I ask, smiling at him. “Did you get me a taxi driver?”
He flushes and scratches the back of his neck. “No, but apparently I got you something that doesn’t wear a watch—” The doorbell rings, interrupting him, and he relaxes, jumping to his feet. He opens the front door, and all three of his parents enter, smiling broadly, with… Caroline in tow behind them.
“Oh!” I jump to my feet and run to my best girl, giving her a tight hug. “You’re here! You’re really here!”
“Yeah, girl, of course I am!”
I’ve been texting her back and forth but I wasn’t ready for company during the trials. It was bad enough the guys and their parents had to see me like that. I wouldn’t subject my best friend to it, too.
“Nice digs,” Care says appreciatively, spinning in a wide circle to take in the space. “Definitely an upgrade from that tiny apartment.”
I giggle and she hugs me again, pressing a heavy bundle into my middle.
I judge the shape and heft and lift a brow. “Books?”
“What else? I got all your favorite authors’ new releases. Hope you don’t already have them.”
“No,” I rush to say. “I don’t. I definitely don’t. I’ve been,uh, a little preoccupied.”
She eyes the guys behind me who are still greeting Richard, Craig, and Nelly. “I can imagine.”
I swat her and she gives them a little wave, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “If I was you I’d have beena lotbusy.”
I laugh again, still not really believing that she’s here. I’ve been a terrible friend. I need to make more of an effort to see her. “Love you, Care.”
“Love you, too, babe,” she says with a wink, before eyeing the decorations and spread in the kitchen. “Now, someone promised me the best cake I’ve ever had and I have to say, I’ve had somereallygood cake, so…”
She stalks off to inspect the kitchen, and I watch Miles get her settled with a drink while I go to say hi to the others I completely neglected when I saw Caroline come in.
I hug Richard and Craig and then Nelly.
“Happy birthday, darling,” says Nelly, taking off her coat and handing it to Levi, who has already hung Richard and Craig’s. “We have a very special present for you.”
I glance at Thane, who has his hands in his pockets and is nervously biting his lip. Nelly gives him a subtle nod, and he brightens, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I have absolutely no idea what is going on, but then Craig pulls a flimsily wrapped present from behind his back. He hands it to me, and I stare at the blue wrapping paper with mild confusion. The gift is thin, like a magazine or pamphlet.
“Open it,” Thane says, nuzzling the side of my neck. “I promise you’ll like it.”
I open it carefully, unsure if I’ll rip whatever is inside if I go too fast. A manila folder is exposed, with my name and birthdate labeled on the tab.
“I don’t understand,” I say, and Nelly claps her hands together in excitement.
“Open it,” Thane repeats, and I open the folder to find a page of test results. I read them carefully.
And then I read them again.
And one more time, because there’s no way this can be real, can it? This has never happened to anyone before, ever.
“I don’t understand,” I repeat, even though I do. I see the words right there. I start crying, and Thane turns me around, rocking me as I sob and sob into his chest.
“Well?” says Fox, his voice thin with worry.
I shake my head, crying too hard again.
“They’re clean,” says Thane, relief in every word. “Riley’s cervus is completely in remission.”
“You mean, she’s cured?” I hear the swell of thick emotion in Miles’ voice and it only makes the tears come harder. This can’t be real.
