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“Likes clothes with your sisters?” He was pushing for more and curse me and my mouth for having said anything to begin with.
Although it was true, we were all consideredsistersas we very well could’ve shared some DNA with someone else. We shared toys, clothes, food, and beds.
However, some things were best left unexplained. “Yeah, something like that.”
“And you never had one special thing that was just yours? Like something from a birthday party?”
“Never had a birthday party.”
He pushed back on his chair, his jaw unhinging with a gasp. “You can’t be serious.”
“Birthdays weren’t celebrated.”
“Are you… is it… A religious thing?” He blinked hard, his mouth opening and shutting just as fast.
“No, it just wasn’t done in the family.”
“But you know when you were born, right? I mean, you had to have that information for university, job applications, and the government shit.” Landon scratched his head as his expression morphed into a whirlwind of confusion, concern, and total bewilderment.
“Of course, I do.” Roughly. I didn’t remember being born, so the actual day escaped me.
“When?” He narrowed his eyes.
“December.”
“When in December?” The chair scraped over the hardwood floor as he inched it closer.
“Is this a tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine kind of thing?” I stalled, praying he wouldn’t ask the year. And what if he did? Fourteen years was a huge gap.
“Maybe.”
I sighed and brushed my long bangs off my face. “December 31st.”
“Wow – you get fireworks for your birthday. That’s kind of cool.” It seemed to satisfy him as his shoulders relaxed and the crease between his brows softened.
“Actually, my dad said the fireworks were to celebrate everyone’s birthday – to start the year off with a bang. I mean, I know better now that it’s a New Year’s Eve thing, but when you’re just a kid…” I shrugged. “Well, you tend to believe what you’re told. When my dad moved us to Steeping Stone, he figured I’d need all that info, so he applied for my birth certificate, and used that as a date, but I don’t think he truly knew the truth.” Shocked at what I’d just admitted, my heart pounded wildly in my chest. Inhaling, I waited for him to speak, but only intense silence grew.
His long, lean, tanned legs stretched out as he rested his back against the chair, gently rubbing his chin. “Wow.”
It was a lot of information, however, if he was friends with Cedar, he’d likely have heard something similar unless, of course, she never shared anything like that. It was a weird bit of uncommon and highly personal information to tell someone.
He sighed and tipped his head to the side. “So, you’ve never truly celebrated a birthday? Just for you?”
“Does that make it weird?” He didn’t answer, and I figured my way into meeting Cedar would need a Plan B since this was likely the last time I’d meet with Landon. “I’ve helped Erin celebrate hers and Vera’s, and I’ve been invited to Mia and Francesca’s.”
“So, an offer to attend a birthday party isn’t out of line?”
“Never. I enjoy eating cake.” I smiled. “But I enjoy making the cake even more.”
“Good to know.” Whatever he was thinking, it lit up his eyes. There was a wild spark dancing behind it, and whatever was responsible for it, I hoped it kept him thinking as I loved seeing it.
“And your birthday would be when?” I chewed on a piece of red pepper.
“July 25th. Just turned thirty-six.”
Thirty-six?Pieces of pepper came flying out of my mouth as I started choking.
Landon jumped out of his seat, and I put my hand up to stop him as I coughed out the words. “I. Can. Talk.”
