“Three,” I corrected. “It’s past midnight. Three days into October.”
“And you are now eighteen,” Luke said.
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see. “As of 9:26 p.m.”
“That’s a good time.”
“Thanks. When were you born?” I knew Luke’s birthday was back in August. He looked younger, but was definitely older than most of our grade. A lot of PGs were.
“8:15 a.m.”
“Wait, you were born at 8:15on8/15?”
“Yup.”
“Creepy.”
“Or a moment of perfect symmetry?”
I opened my mouth, but didn’t respond, hearing something out in the hall.Nick zombie-walking off to bed, I determined. I didn’t speak until I heard his door shut. “So,” I whispered, “what did you pick up from the mail room?”
Luke’s voice dropped to a whisper too. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because it would ruin the surprise.”
It took a second, but then it clicked. “Did you get me a birthday present?”
“It’s nothing big.”
“Well, return it then.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I only accept big presents.”
Luke laughed, and I hugged my pillow tighter. He had the best laugh, one that could always make you smile. One you wanted to record so you could use it as your ringtone. “What did your parents give you?” he asked.
I sighed. “Nick and I always ask for Rangers tickets. We’re not very creative.”
“For Christmas too?”
“No, that’s when we put the thinking caps on.”
“Good. You can’t make it too easy on them.”
“We don’t,” I joked. “That’s why they sent us to boarding school.”
More laughter.
“How about you?” I asked. “What did your mom get you for the big one-eight?”
He cleared his throat. “An American Express card.”
“Wow,” I said. “She must really trust you.”
“More like she wants totrackme. I think she has the account set up so that she gets notified every time I use it.”
“So a weekend jaunt to Paris isn’t in the cards?”
“Sadly, no.”
