“Shit.” How long had it been off? I hadn’t been paying attention and wasn’t looking at the chat to see if anyone was commenting about another stream going down. My phone was always plugged in when I streamed, and today was no exception.
I followed the attached cable and saw that it was half-hanging out of the port it had been plugged into.
“Double shit.” I ran a hand through my hair and pulled it into a messy bun. I didn’t have time to worry about it looking good. I was already late, and I needed to get over to Odette’s. I had no way of knowing if Beckett knew I had ended my stream late today, since he wasn’t going to be on. He was helping set up the party.
I pocketed my phone. I’d charge it in the car and call on my way over.
My jacket was by the front door. I grabbed it along with my keys and wallet. Anything else I needed was already over at Jemma’s place. I sent Odette’s present over there yesterday in preparation for today. I wanted everything to be perfect and ready, and not forget anything.
“Fuck,” I huffed and made my way out to my car. I wasted no time putting it in reverse and speeding down the road. Left turn, stoplight, stop sign, second light, right turn, open road. I’d been driving for almost ten minutes before I realized I needed to charge my phone.
I was flustered, so I waited until I had a natural stopping point to plug it in. I mindlessly grabbed the charging cable as I slowed to a stop at a stoplight. My head snapped down to where the cable should have been, but it wasn’t there. I looked around quickly, not seeing it on the floor or in the passenger seat.
“What the f—” that was right. I had taken it out a few weeks ago at Odette’s place, since I needed a second charger, and must have forgotten to put it back. “Shit.”
That was becoming my new favorite word.
My fist slammed into the steering wheel as the light turned green. My foot hit the pedal, and I took off again. A race now to get to Odette’s place before people noticed how late I was.
I had no one to call, no way to let them know. And from taking this exact route to Odette’s a million times now, I knew there was no place for me to stop to buy a charger before I got there. It would only take me another fifteen minutes to get there, but there was pressure building in my chest.
I would not let the woman I loved down, and I hated the fact that there was a possibility that she might think I wasn’t going to show up. The clock on my dashboard told me that she should have arrived at the house not even five minutes ago. How had I gotten so behind?
I hit the steering wheel again as I took a sharp right.
That’s right,I’d put my streaming first. I wasn’t paying attention.
“Stop that.” I had to tell myself. I gripped the steering wheel hard.
I was beating myself up for something that I knew Odette would wave her hand and dismiss, but it didn’t negate the fact that I felt like I was failing her. This was something special to her, something that not just her, but Jemma was trusting me with. Her birthday was already fragile in its own current state; I didn’t want to bring more negativity to it.
The only silver lining I had was that I wasn’t going to fail her altogether.
I was going to get there.
I was going to show up for her, be at her birthday party that I had planned.
I wasn’t going to let her down.
I couldn’t let her down.
“Surprise!” A chorus of shouts bombarded me as I opened the door and entered my house, Jemma following close behind me.
I was looking at a sea of people standing around my living room. Friends who I hadn’t seen for years, who lived in other states, and who were in the writing industry with me. My team forLeague of Witchesand other friends whom I didn’t get to see enough around the local area.
Everyone had paper party hats on and little noisemakers. They each had a smile plastered and looked so excited to be there. I turned around to look at Jemma, who had the same smile on her face.
After she’d told me about informing Ryker and Beckett about my birthday, and the anger subsided, I allowed Jemma to filter me information on what Ryker was planning. Even though she was letting Ryker take the reins on this party. It took almost a week of constantly nagging her to finally let it slip what day the party would be happening, but she refused to tell me any more than that, and in this moment, staring at the filled room in front of me, I was grateful.
I took a few deep breaths, ready for the onslaught of people who would be coming up to me, but it wasn’t all at once. A fewpeople here and there wished me a happy birthday and gave small hugs before branching off for food, drinks, or just to talk.
“Hey!” Sylvia came up to me with open arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Oh my gosh.” I folded into her arms. It had been years since we’d seen each other at my last book signing; she’s been one of my friends for years, but she lived states away. I stepped back and looked her up and down. “You look freaking amazing!”
“It’s the baby weight.” I stood there, my mouth agape at her confession. “It’s giving me curves I’ve never had.”
“A baby?” I said softly. “I’ve missed so much.”
