I nodded, tucking my knees up to my chest, my voice softer than I intended. “Y-yeah. It’s… my birthday.”
The silence that followed made my chest tighten. He froze mid-wipe, the towel still in his hands, eyes flicking toward me as if he hadn’t expected that.
“Your birthday?” he repeated quietly, almost as if he were testing the word.
I nodded again, shrugging quickly to brush it off. “It’s not a big deal. I-I just… didn’t want to spend it alone this year. But if you’re busy—”
“I’m not.”
He said it fast. Too fast.
Then he cleared his throat, setting the towel down, trying to play it off casually. “I’m not busy,” he repeated. “So… don’t make plans.”
My heart skipped, and I looked down so he wouldn’t see the way my cheeks warmed.
“Okay,” I whispered, almost smiling.
“Okay,” he echoed, nodding once before turning back to the sink… but I saw it.
The small, fleeting grin tugging at the corner of his mouth was hidden behind the steam rising from the tap.
Chapter Forty-Two
Aurora / Joshua
Aurora
My birthday came by like a flash.
Nineteen now. Feels the same, which isn’t surprising.Eighteen and nineteen aren’t so different.
I rolled over and stared at the ceiling for a long moment, the early morning light spilling across the sheets. My phone buzzed against the nightstand, making me turn to the side, arms stretching out to grab it.
It was the group chat.
Silverwood Girlies:
December 26th, 11:59 p.m.
Aly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AURORA!
Aly: oh shit, early. Wait.
Aly: a few more seconds.
Jennie: LMAO!
Aly: wait! No! me first!
December 27th, 12:00am
Layla: HAPPY BIRTHDAY RORA.
Jennie: HAPPY BDAY RORYYYY!!!
Aly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AURORA! <3
Aly: Fuckkkkkkk!
