“Youtwo may be calling this whole thing fake, but there’s nothing fakeabout it, not really. You see each other nearly every day, right?Talk to each other all the time? It’s not like this is someelaborate scheme where you were trying to fool a bunch of people.Most of us were in on it, remember? And apparently,wecan see whatyouhaven’t let yourselfsee.”
“Whichis?” From the corner of my eye, I spot someone approaching us. Irealize it’s my mom a second before Evie swoops in and redirectsher. I’ll have to remember to thank her later.
“Lelandis smitten with you, Stella,” Wesley says. “He genuinely caresabout you. As a friend, sure, but it’s more than that.”
I glance aroundthe store, taking a minute to ponder my brother’s words. My gazelands on Leland and Felicity near the food table. As if sensing myattention, Leland looks in my direction, a small smile tugging atthe corners of his mouth when our eyes meet. He lifts his glass insalute, and I do the same.
“Isthis you giving your blessing, big brother?” I ask Wesley, my eyesstill locked with Leland’s across the room.
He laughs quietly,retaking his position beside me and giving me a squeeze. “Not thatyou need it, but absolutely, without question. Leland’s a good guy.You deserve that, and he’d be damn lucky to have someone aswonderful as you.”
Despite how badlyI want to go talk to Leland, I need to be in this moment and savorit. I’m surrounded by all the people I love most in the world; Icouldn’t have imagined a night like this a few years ago. Iprobably would have even convinced myself I didn’t deserveit.
I allow Wes tolead me back into the small crowd of people. He presses a kiss tothe top of my head before wandering off in the direction of thefood table. I mingle with my loved ones, that wonderful ache comingback into my cheeks from smiling and laughing non-stop.
I have no idea howmuch time has passed when the overhead lights flicker on and off.Someone starts singing the birthday song, and everyone else joinsin. Louisa gently turns me toward the back of the store, whereWillow is carrying a large cake and Evie is walking beside her,carrying a giant cupcake lit with what appears to be as manycandles as they could cram on its surface. Hollie joins me on myother side, and Leland stands a few feet away, recording the momenton his phone.
Tears mix with mylaughter as Evie and Willow approach, the song coming to acrescendo as they stop in front of me. Evie’s eyes are glisteningas she holds out the cupcake. “Make a wish, Stella.”
I take a deepbreath and hold it at the top, closing my eyes and wishing toalways be this happy and loved. I blow out the candles, laughing aseveryone cheers and applauds. As I’m dragged away to cut into thebigger cake, Willow explains how my friends gave her carte blancheto create a cake for me, so she made, and I quote, “A sparklyunicorn cake without the unicorn”. That seems like an aptdescription for the glittering, rainbow-colored masterpiece.Between the cake and all the fuss being made over me, I feel like akid again, and I don’t mind one bit.
After we all stuffourselves with cake, the party starts to wind down. My friends arethe last to leave; Evie says she’ll see me at home, and Hollie andLouisa tell me they’ll see me for my birthday breakfast onSaturday. After that, it’s just Felicity, Leland, and me left inthe store.
“What aparty,” I say, wishing there was somewhere for me to flop down.Thank god I wore flats tonight, or I likely would have ended upbarefoot at some point. “I guess we should get the cleanupstarted?”
Felicity andLeland exchange a look, and she gives a small nod to her brother.“I’ve got cleanup duty covered, so you two can head out,” she says.“Willow told me she and Jasper are going to come back to help andthen walk me to my car. She just needed to check something at thecafé first.”
“Areyou sure?” I ask.
“Positive. Get out of here. Go enjoy the rest of yournight.”
After exchanging along hug with Felicity, I duck into the office to pick up my cake.Willow made the small cake that Evie was carrying with the candlesjust for me to take home and enjoy. I really do have the bestfriends.
When I turn,Leland is waiting with both of our coats. This is the first timewe’ve been alone since we arrived at FandomTown. Somehow he lookseven better now than he did earlier in the evening; there’s a hintof a five o’clock shadow dusting his cheeks, and his hair is backto its usual tousled state. A sense of urgency suddenly rises up inme, telling me I need to speak to him now before I lose mynerve.
“Can wetalk?” I blurt at the same time as Leland says, “Why don’t we gosomewhere and talk?”
Nervous laughterspills out of me as he motions for me to go ahead.
“Can wetalk?” I repeat. “Here? I think I need to sit for a minute beforewalking all the way through the Village to your car.”
“Ofcourse.” He hangs our coats back on the coat tree Felicity recentlyadded to the office, then motions to the table and chairs off tothe side.
As soon as we’resitting, I say, “I wanted to thank you again for the party and forgetting my friends involved. You have no idea how much tonightmeant to me.”
“Youtold me awhile back that you were okay with a low-key celebrationand you didn’t expect anything, but you deserve to be celebratedand be surrounded by the people who care about you. You deserve thebest of everything, Stella.”
He reaches out andgently swipes at my cheek with the pad of his thumb. I didn’t evenrealize I was crying. Again. This night has been an emotionalroller coaster.
“I’vebeen doing a lot of thinking the last few weeks, especially sinceyou came back into my life. I’ve come to realize what you said istrue: I deserve the best.” I let out a sharp breath. It feels weirdacknowledging it out loud. “I didn’t let myself believe itorhaveit for along time, but that’s going to change going forward.”
“Goodfor you, Stella. I’m proud of you for realizing that.” Lelandcovers my hand where it rests on the table between us. “Tonighthelped me see some things more clearly too. Being at the reunion,then coming here and seeing you so happy, surrounded by lovedones…I love that I got to be a part of it, and it showed me…” Hishand tightens on mine and he inches forward, leaning across thetable as much as he can. “I want to be a permanent fixture in yourlife, Stella.”
“A-as afriend?” I stammer. “I already agreed to let my friends adopt youinto our group.”
He chuckles. “As afriend, yes.”
Disappointmentwashes over me. When my hand goes limp in Leland’s, he tightens hisgrip, covering our joined hands with his free one. “I think thebest relationships are built on a foundation of friendship. Someoneit’s easy to be with, who makes you laugh, understands you. Seesyou.”
