Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Ready to get this party started?”I asked Violet as Asher wiggled his eyebrows and went to answer the door.
“I’m more than ready.”
Her smile warmed my heart in ways I could have never imagined.
Fifty-Three
Violet
“You did not!”I laughedso hard that I had to cover my mouth to keep from snorting as Jones told us another story about his cooking mishaps.To say that he was unlucky in the kitchen would be an understatement.
Everyone was gathered in the living room as we devoured the food they had brought from Tipsy Taquito.I had been obsessed with their tacos since the girls first took me there, and I couldn’t get enough of them.The fact that my friends knew that about me and planned this special night meant so much to me.While I still felt nervous about celebrating my birthday, this made it easier to let my walls down a little bit and consider it.
Enzo sat beside me on the couch, trailing his fingers along my thigh while he sipped his beer.Asher sat on the other side of me, laughing at poor Jones and his unfortunate luck.They brought in chairs from the kitchen, making it comfortable for everyone as we hung out.It was amazing how something as simple as a night in with friends could really shift my mood and clear the haze that always seemed to linger over me whenever my birthday approached.
The night continued with such ease that I felt sad it was almost over.It was already getting late, and I knew a few of them had responsibilities at home they needed to attend to.
As I was saying goodbye, Lia, Kensy, and Bella pulled me to the side, each handing me a card.I felt my eyes prickle with tears that I quickly tried to blink away.
“It’snota birthday card,” Kensy said with a cheeky smile.“It’s just a card between friends to say that I’m thankful you are in my life and that I hope the next year of us being friends is as amazing as you are.”
I shook my head and blew out a breath to keep from crying as she pulled me in for a hug.
“I don’t care that I’m not supposed to say it,” she whispered in my ear.“Happy birthday, Vi.I just know it’s going to be wonderful.”
“Thank you,” I replied, wiping the corners of my eyes as we parted.
“Don’t be mad,” Bella started as she looked nervously at me.“It’s not abirthday gift, it’s just a gift between friends.If you use my name, they’ll give you my discount.”
I didn’t have to look inside the card to know that there was a gift card to Dark Vibes.
“Thank you,” I said shakily as I hugged her.“You really didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t.But I figured after this weekend, you’d need some new stuff.”
