And Uncle Vance and Aunt Julia loved to indulge their children. They asked me if I wanted a lavish birthday party like this for mine in two weeks and I replied, “over my dead body.” I was lowkey and happier to celebrate with my tight-knit crew.
I hovered near the railing on the second floor, where I had an eagle’s eye view of the front entrance. When Ella walked through, I’d see her right away.
Three minutes later, my beer was finished and Ella still hadn’t arrived. I checked my phone and texted her again. She didn’t open it. Maybe she was driving over and couldn’t answer.
With a sigh, I left my position and walked down the grand staircase, pushing through the bustling crowd. People were drinking, laughing, hooking up, doing lines, and popping molly. Their cheeriness pissed me off—how dare they be happy while I sulked away waiting for my girlfriend?
My friends were exactly where I left them in the kitchen, huddled around the island counter littered with bottles of liquor, Solo red cups, and a dusting of fine powder that couldn’t be anything but coke. The music was less deafening here.
Nico was dodging flirtatious attempts from a few girls. Nate was busy making out with one whose face I couldn’t see. Sam was downing his drink while searching the scene for a certain beauty queen. Shaun was talking to Hunter, one of Josh’s friend.
And the birthday boy was surrounded by his fan club, aka every jock and cheerleader from the west side who practically worshipped the ground he walked on.
Josh was dressed in his football jersey that had a flurry of black sharpie scrawls on the back—multiplehappy birthdaysandxoxos—as he chugged a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, his admirers cheering him on. He spotted me quickly. “Yo! It’s my twin!” heslurred, pointing the bottle in my direction. “Everybody, wish him a happy birthday, too!”
I grinned at the chorus of enthusiastic ‘happy birthdays’ and walked to him, throwing an arm around his shoulder. “Happy birthday, bro.”
“I love you!” he hollered and pressed a kiss to my cheek. Josh was an affectionate drunk. “And I love my gift!”
I chuckled and clapped his back. “You’re welcome, Josh.”
Uncle Vance and I bought Josh a yellow McLaren for his special day. If anyone deserved a grandiose gift, it was him. He was truly the best cousin slash adoptive brother Olivia and I could have asked for. Even though he liked to jokingly tell everyone that we were fraternal twins, separated at birth, so it stopped people from questioning my sudden addition to the Remingtons’ lives.
“Where’s Ella?” he asked the million-dollar question. “I haven’t seen her around.”
“She’s not here yet. Has she texted you?”
“Nah, except for the message she sent me a few hours ago. She said happy birthday and to expect a big surprise.”
The surprise was a penis-shaped piñata filled with jolly ranchers. Ella sent me a picture yesterday when she picked it up from the store. “All right, well, if you see her, let me know.”
Josh gave me a shit-eating grin. “Dude, you’re whipped.”
I shoved him away and flashed him the bird. “Says the guy who professes his undying love for Layla every day.”
“I’m a romantic.” He hiccupped. “I can’t help it.”
I laughed and shook my head.
Moments later, I started drinking again with the boys, taking shots and cheering for Josh. Someone passed around a joint and I inhaled a few puffs. The party around us buzzed with excitement. My friends were having the time of their lives and all I could think about was how incomplete I felt without Ella by myside.
Unable to hold back, I texted her again.
Where are you, princess? —Princepin
Are you almost here? —Princepin
I’m getting worried. —Princepin.
I miss you. —Princepin.
I was extremely attuned to Ella. Whenever something was wrong with her, my chest burned in a specific spot. Call it intuition, if you will. Despite the joyous occasion, I couldn’t brush off the fact that something was off about tonight.
“You’ve been moping and staring at your phone for the last five minutes.” Shaun leaned against the island counter next to me, crossing his arms. “What gives?”
“Ella,” I said gruffly. “I haven’t heard from her in a bit.”
Shaun’s mouth formed in a retort, but he paused his inevitable teasing when he saw the expression on my face. He squeezed my shoulder instead. “I’m sure she’s okay. She said she was coming tonight, right?”
