“Yeah.” I kiss his shoulder. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
thirty-six
Ember
What are you and Declan doing for Valentine's Day?” Maia wonders. We’re lying on the floor in her living room with Brin and Tate.
“Nothing,” I reply. “I guess every year Zeke throws a huge party for his birthday.”
“It makes sense that Zeke Harris, the biggest ladies' man, is a Valentine's Day baby.” She laughs.
“But I think we might do something this weekend, a pre-Valentine, Valentine's Day. Or next weekend, when all the chocolate is half off.”
“Actually,” Tate begins, “I was talking to Fletch, and he doesn’t think Zeke’s throwing a party this year. I guess he hasn’t mentioned it.”
“Is his mom okay?” That’s the only reason I can think of that Zeke wouldn’t want a bunch of people celebrating him.
“I don’t know. He said that Zeke just isn’t feeling it this year.”
“It’s his twenty-first,” Brinley says, sitting up and tossing a chip in her mouth. “He can legally drink, and he’s not doing anything?!”
“He’s been drinking since high school; I guess it’s not as exciting turning twenty-one when you’ve already been drinking for about five years.”
“Can I say something crazy?” Brinley wonders, scooting closer to us. “We don’t think Zeke has actually, like, found a girlfriend, right?”
“I doubt it,” Tate says. “But if he has, I’d love to meet the girl who finally got him to rein it in.”
“Maybe he’s so in love with Ember that it pains him to think about spending his birthday watching her be all in love with her Valentine,” Maia tickles my side.
“Shut up.” I push her off of me. “We’re friends.”
Because the last thing I’ll do is tell them I’m pretty sure Brinley’s right… that there’s a girl we know nothing about. Whether it’s a girlfriend… or a fuck buddy… or maybe we’re all wrong, and this is about his mom. Maybe he wants to spend his birthday with her… just in case.
“So, a surprise party is probably out of the question?” Brinley continues.
“It doesn’t matter what I think because I wouldn’t be able to go.” Maia holds up her hands in defense.
“Do you want a surprise party because you want to celebrate Zeke? Or do you want the opportunity to rub Alex in Jaxon’s face?” Tate wonders.
“First of all, I’m not rubbing anyone anywhere.” She pauses, a little laugh escaping her lips. “That sounded wildly inappropriate. But nothing is going on between me and Alex. Well, we kissed once, a while ago. But I shut it down. And Jaxon doesn’t even care, so it doesn’t matter.”
“And as much as Zeke loves a good party, if he’s not throwing one, there’s probably a reason,” I reply.
“Which means… we’re back to my original question.” Maia grins. “What are you and Declan doing for Valentine's Day?”
“I already told you.”
“But now you guys can celebrate the day of,” Maia adds. “So, are your plans gonna change?”
I half-shrug.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Declan’s been planning something all along,” Brin teases. “And knowing my brother, it’s gonna be good.”
thirty-seven
Declan
I’m fucking screwed. Not that I’m not excited for Valentine’s Day with Ember, but I was hoping celebrating on a different day would relieve all the stress.
