He brings something out from behind him and offers it to me.
It’s a giant baby pink box with satin pink ribbon wrapped around it and despite everything, my arms shoot up to grab it.
On the top in a darker shade of pink, is writtenButtery Blossoms.
It’s my favorite,favoritebakery in town and they have the best cupcakes ever.
In fact, I even have a picture of it, my most favorite cupcake from there – Peanut Butter Blossom –-taped up on my wall.
I have pictures of all my favorite things taped up on my wall actually. My ballet recitals, my pointe shoes, Bardstown High.
Excitedly, I look at Ledger and then all my brothers. “You guys bought me cupcakes?”
Ledger shrugs. “Yeah.”
Shep shrugs too. “They’re your favorite.”
“And you don’t get to have them enough, so,” Ledger adds.
That’s true, I don’t.
Mostly because I’m a ballerina and I have to watch my weight. Healthy living and healthy eating and all that but oh my God, I have a giant addiction to these.
It’s toxic but I don’t care.
I hug the box, my heart feeling full. “Is that where you guys went this morning? Because I was looking for all of you.”
Shep is first to reply with his hands in the air. “I will not set foot in that pink shop. Under any circumstances, so no. I went to see a friend.”
Before I can reply, Ledger rolls his eyes. “By that, he means Amy.”
My eyes pop wide. “You guys are back together again?”
Amy is Shep’s on-again off-again girlfriend from high school and I really,reallylike her. She loves dancing and knitting just like me and I would love to see them end up together.
But Shep is an idiot and he broke up with her when he left for college three years ago.
I always feel bad when I see her around town; she’s still so in love with him.
“Fuck no,” Shep says.
“Why not? She’s amazing, Shep. I really like her.”
“Never said I don’t like her.” He smirks then. “I like her. I like her a lot.”
“Yeah, her and that hot tub in her backyard.” Ledger snickers.
Shep’s smirk only grows. “Oh yeah, definitely. It’s got jet sprays, dude. You can’t compete with that. That hot tub can do things you can’t even fathom, little brother.”
“Oh, I can fathom. I can fathom a lot.” Ledger playfully kicks at the legs of the chair Shep is sitting in. “In fact, I fathomed it last week with her little sister, Jessica.”
Shep turns to Ledger then. “For real? You and –”
But before he can go on, I squeal, “Ew, gross. Both of you.”
While at the same time, Stellan speaks up. “Enough. All right? You can exchange your glorious war stories later.”
Ugh.
