Ashton called back the electric company at my insistence and removed his credit card from the account, but he said it would have been a huge hassle for them to cancel the payment that had already gone through for the month of April. I don’t believe that for a second, but I’m too tired to fight him on it. It means that after this month, I’m all on my own again supporting two households. Mom never ended up getting that job at Warner’s.
“I didn’t forget, Allie.” Emory’s voice filters through my thoughts.
“Didn’t forget what?”
“What we were talking about. I know that’s what you were hoping. So what’s his name?”
“What makes you think it’s just one person?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Okay. What aretheirnames?”
“Not happening.”
Emory huffs and takes off the dress, putting it back on the hanger. “That’s a no,” she mutters.
“Try this.” I hand her a stretchy black maxi dress with roses and cow skulls on it. She quirks a brow but takes it from me, slipping it over her head.
“Can we at least talk about the B word now?”
“Absolutely not, Em. You know the rules.”
“Ugh, you are the worst.” She tilts her head again and this time she looks satisfied. “But you are coming tonight, right?”
“I might make an appearance,” I reply, not wanting to commit to anything. Emory rolls her eyes as she tries to shove her feet into a pair of cowboy boots that are two sizes too small.
Apparently, Declan thinks he’s still in high school and is throwing a huge party at his parents’ estate while they’re in Corsica, and he’s “house sitting.” Ashton told me about it last week, and I’ve been dodging the subject ever since. Not only does it have the potential to be awkward as fuck because no one knows we’re hooking up, but it also happens to be my birthday. The B word. The day I spend by myself every year. Despite Emory’s best attempts. Despite my mother’s guilt trips. It’s the one day of the year I choose to be completely selfish. I sit on my ass, watch cheesy rom-coms, make fun of the characters for being so blinded by love that they don’t see the millions of red flags staring them in the face, and drown the memories of another year past in a pint of mint chocolate chip. It’s my day, and I choose to be alone. I choose not to think about the mother who had to work on every single birthday when I was little or the father who left before I even saw my first one.
I choose myself.
I still told Em I would go shopping with her. She was so excited about the party and wanted something special to wear since she’s been living in scrubs and yoga pants for the past couple of months.
“Okay, I think this is the one, but these shoes are not it,” she states as she pulls on her stretchy pants that go all the way up and over her round belly.
“The dress is perfect,” I tell her. “Let’s go get you better shoes.”
Emory freezes and narrows her eyes at me. “Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my snarky, grumpy best friend?”
“I’m still grumpy,” I assert.
“You just called me beautiful and perfect.”
“I said the dress is perfect.”
“Whatever. That must be some primo dick.”Oh, it is.
I snort. “Did you seriously just say primo dick?”
Emory shrugs and grabs her purse, heading out to find shoes. I decide to buy the black skater dress after all because fuck it. I’ll pair it with my white Converse and a denim jacket. Stopping by Declan’s won’t completely derail my solo birthday plans. I’ll stay a half hour, tops. After all, it’s my day. I make the rules.
It’s justafter nine by the time I pull up to the Astors’ seaside mansion, and there’s already a line of cars waiting to be valeted. Because, of fucking course, he has a valet set up.
I finally pull up to the front, and a guy with a red vest opens my door. Thankfully, it’s warm enough now that the door doesn’t stick, but the guy still looks semi-disgusted as I exit my beat-up Honda and hand him the keys. Yeah, he’s definitely not getting a tip. I shoot him a sweet smile as he hands me a ticket and make sure to sway my ass as I walk away.Asshole.
As I’m heading up the steps, my phone chimes for the fifteenth time tonight. Ashton has been texting me nonstop since I left the store with Emory.
Ashton: Are you coming tonight?
Ashton: I mean, obviously you’re going to be coming if I have anything to say about it, but are you going to Declan’s?
