Nah, I used ChatGPT. Very helpful if you aren’t a nerd but want to impress your girlfriend.
You think I’m impressed?
If not, I have another fun fact for you. January 3rd is also the day Alaska became the 49th state.
Very cool.
I see what you did there. Because it’s so snowy.
I promise it wasn’t intentional.
But you should know that I saved the best fact for last. Today also happens to be my favorite person’s birthday.
There’s no way for him to know that I’ve been sulking all day, but I still hate that he made me wait for it. As payback, I quickly go to my search engine and look up famous people who have a birthday on January third. Other than good ol’ JRR, it’s slim pickings. I don’t recognize any of the names, so I pick one at random.
Is it Bobby Hull?
I don’t know who that is.
I click the hyperlink and it brings me to his Wikipedia page. Apparently, Bobby was a hockey player back before we were even born.
Only the greatest NHL player of all time.
Didn’t realize you were such a fan. But there’s someone else who was born today that I think is even greater than the Golden Jet.
I laugh because I know he’s got to be looking at the same website as me. I’m currently staring at the guy’s nickname.
Not sure who else it could be.
Yes, you do. But not only that, I timed this text message so perfectly you’re going to be swooning the next time you see me for being the best boyfriend in the entire world.
In a move that only Connor could pull off, someone knocks on our door at that exact moment. I don’t get off my bed, but I listen as my mom answers the door. I can’t understand what is being said but hear a muffled exchange between her and whoever is on the other side.
What did you do?
The door shuts, and my mom cries, “Oh, my goodness. These are incredible.”
I leave my phone on my bed as I rush out of my room and see what could have my mom so giddy. When I turn the corner into the living room, I’m met with the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. It’s a giant bouquet that covers my mom’s head. I don’t know the names of all the flowers, but I recognize the gift tag immediately. These are from the trendy florist downtown. They name all of their arrangements after popular love songs—and everything costs a bajillion dollars. I know this because Lily and I were going to order corsages from them for junior year, but after seeing the price tag, we decided to buy flowers from Publix and carry them instead.
I can’t believe he did this.
“Aren’t they gorgeous?” my mom says, still gushing. “Chad, where are you?”
I’m not sure why he needs to come out and see my flowers. Maybe she wants him to see what a teenage boy does for his girlfriend’s birthday and try to keep up. I pull the tag from the bouquet and open it.
Ella,
I’m sorry that I’m not there for your birthday. Hope these make up for it. I can’t wait until school starts and I get to show off my girlfriend to the entire school.
-Connor
It’s in his handwriting, so he must have planned this before he left. He is unbelievable. My cheeks warm as I read the note a second time. I hope my mom didn’t get a chance to see it before me. She doesn’t know that Connor and I have started dating. I don’t want to know what she’ll say when she finds out. Not that I want to think about that right now. This is the first time I’ve even been given flowers, and Connor set the bar high. The bouquet is a kaleidoscope of vivid pinks and oranges, and the aroma coming off of it is to die for. I reach for the vase just as my mom turns to Chad pulling the flowers away.
“An early anniversary present?” she says, putting her face into the blooms. “You shouldn’t have.”
In his defense, Chad has the decency to look confused. “Our anniversary isn’t until next week.”
“Late Christmas?” My mom shakes her head. “No, that doesn’t make sense.”
