Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Then, the lights flickered on, and the entire place erupted with a cheered, “Happy birthday!”
I gasped, my hand going to my chest as I took in the scene before me. All of our friends in their best attire, shouting and jumping up and down, arms in the air and smiles on their faces. A balloon arch with Happy Birthday, Eve in the center. Streamers, confetti, and noisemakers were everywhere. A few people even had on little triangular birthday hats.
“Happy birthday,” Whitt said through the din.
I looked up at him, trying to suppress the tears coming to my eyes. “You did this?”
“With help from Nora, Blaire, and Piper,” he said. “Trust me, I am not the mastermind of decorations.”
“That would be me,” Nora said, drawing me in for a hug. She slung a white Birthday Girl sash over my head and placed a little plastic birthday tiara into my hair. “Happy birthday, gorgeous.”
Blaire and Piper were there next, hugging me and wishing me all the best. Piper gestured to the catering they’d had brought in for the event, including a two-tiered birthday cake with green flowers like a ribbon down its center. My name in emerald letters atop it.
“Y’all are amazing. I can’t…I can’t even believe this.”
My throat hurt, and I was choked up. I could barely get the words out. They’d all done this for me. The girl who’d never had friends. The girl who had always been talked about and shunned. The girl who had wanted nothing more than for others to see her as the soft, loving, friendly person I really was and not just the hardened outer core I’d developed to prevent myself from getting hurt over and over again. I wanted this with all my heart, and it meant everything that they’d all done this for me.
I threw my arms around Whitt and pressed a kiss to his lips. The crowd catcalled us. It was the most public display I’d ever given since we’d gotten together. And I could do nothing but thank him over and over again for everything.
“Better than dinner?” he teased.
“Much better. Forgive me for doubting you,” I said with a laugh as a drink was placed in my hand and music filled the space.
“Forgiven. It was all worth it to see that look on your face.”
I laughed, still buzzing from the fact that this had happened at all. “How did I get so lucky?”
“You belong here, Eve.”
The words I’d always wanted to hear. I’d thought he was too good to be true, but really, it had been all of this. And now, somehow, it was my reality.
I drew him in for a hug. “Thank you.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Of course. I like to see you happy.”
We were drawn into the party with all of our friends. Drinking, dancing, and laughing like I hadn’t laughed in years. I was on the dance floor, arms overhead, grinding with Blaire when I felt my phone buzz in my purse at my hip.
I extracted myself from the group to check my phone and saw that Bailey was videocalling me. I hadn’t heard from her all day. I’d been waiting for this call.
Whitt was at my side a second later. “Everything okay?”
“It’s Bailey. Going to take this.”
“Okay. Let’s get you somewhere quiet.”
He escorted me away from the loud music and to the corridor that led to the restrooms. At least here, I could hear myself think.
“Should I go?” Whitt asked, gesturing back to the party.
I shook my head. “Stay.” Then, I answered the phone and saw my sister’s pretty face on the screen. “Hey, Bails.”
“Ahhh, happy birthday!” Bailey cried. She went into a full rendition of the birthday song while I laughed at her ridiculousness.
“Thank you.”
“How does it feel to be old?”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “I hate you.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
“It’s nice to have a fully developed prefrontal cortex, unlike someone I know.”
My sister rolled her eyes. “Overrated.”
“Are you ready to start school?”
She grumbled. “Let’s not. Where are you? Sounds like a party.”
“Yeah. My friends threw me a surprise party.” Whitt arched an eyebrow, and I added, “And my…date spearheaded the whole thing.”
“Date?” Bailey gasped. “Like a boyfriend?”
“Sort of.”
Whitt’s eyebrows rose sharply at that.
“Let me see. Let me see!”
I laughed and gestured Whitt into the picture. “Bailey, this is Whitton Wright.”
“Hello, Bailey,” Whitt said. “Please call me Whitt. Everyone else does.”
Bailey grinned. “Oh my God, hi. I’ve never met my sister’s boyfriend before. This is awesome.”
“Bails,” I groaned.
“Right. Right. Sort of boyfriend. And a Wright. Isn’t that the new company you’re working for?”
“Sure is,” I said. “He works there, too.”
“Ahhh, office romance,” Bailey said with a wink. “I get it.”
I shook my head at her. “You’re silly.”
“You and your sister have that in common,” Whitt said.
“We definitely do.” Someone else spoke on the other line. Bailey turned her head and yelled back, “I’m on the phone with Bailey and her boyfriend. Jesus Christ, give me a minute.” Bailey looked back apologetically.