“It’s okay,” I say, stepping onto the balcony and sliding the door shut before they can embarrass me further. “I don’t think I’ll celebrate this year.”
A chorus of protests erupts from my phone.
“What? Why not? Your parties are legendary!” Jill whines. “Remember last year when we ended up on that yacht with the?—”
“Don’t remind me,” I groan. “Look, with the whole situation and the threats, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Wait, threats?” Bailey’s voice sharpens. “I thought that was just your dad being overprotective.”
I sigh, leaning against the railing. “No, it’s real. I got a creepy message.”
“From who?” Riley asks, her usual bubbly tone serious.
“We don’t know. Ryder thinks it might be Arlo trying to scare me, but I don’t think so. I know we just broke up, but he was always nice to me.”
“Except when you got robbed and he left you to die,” Bailey says.
“Well, he apologized multiple times.”
“He left you to die, Cora,” Bailey repeats, her voice hard. “Are you seriously defending him now?”
I stay silent, not sure how to respond.
“So, no word from creepy ex or mystery stalker since?” Riley asks, breaking the tense silence.
“No. Ryder’s working on it.”
“Ryder...” Jill purrs. “That man could win first place in panty-melting. So, have you fucked him yet?”
“I haven’t... We’re not...” I stammer.
“Why not? Don’t you want to try his magic stick?” Jill continues. “Because if not, I’ll go for it.”
“Jill,” Bailey warns, “cool it. Can’t you see she’s going through something?”
“I’m not,” I protest.
“Sweetie,” Bailey says, “you haven’t been out with anyone since Arlo. You’ve stopped going out. Now you don’t even want a birthday party? That’s not the Cora we know and love.”
“I’m just limited. For security reasons,” I explain. “Ryder won’t let me go anywhere. He’s all ‘safety first’ this and ‘potential threat’ that. It’s driving me crazy.”
“Safety first,” Jill repeats, her voice dropping an octave. “God, I bet that sounds sexy as hell coming from him.”
I glance back into the room. Ryder’s still there, his intense gaze fixed on me. A shiver runs down my spine.
Yeah, he’s sexy. Everything about him is sexy. And dangerous. And annoying.
“So, you’re not depressed?” Bailey prods. “Because if you are, we understand.”
“If you’re not,” Riley chimes in, “can we please throw you the party to end all parties?”
I bite my lip, considering. Fuck it. Ryder and his security concerns can take a backseat for one night. I deserve this.
I need this.
“You know what? Yeah. Let’s do it. I want a party. And it’s going to be the best damn party you’ve ever seen.”
The girls cheer, already throwing out wild ideas. I end the call, a mix of excitement and trepidation swirling in my stomach.
