“So sue me. I like being gross and in love.” Wren leaned forward, pressing her lips to Lily’s cheek where heat was rising rapidly. But that was Wren for you, a little aloof sometimes, but so goddamn full of heart.
The three of them continued speculating about her mama’s current dating life as they finished eating and moved on to opening presents. Dylan had gotten Wren a few small things mostly centered around their shared obsession with physical computing and board games. Lily slid a rectangular box towards Wren, the one she had meticulously wrapped that morning in homemade wrapping paper. She had spent last night coveringthe paper in little doodles, all of Wren’s favorite things: soccer balls, sunsets, tuxedo cats, the color pink, video games, asparagus, Mt. Rainer, seagulls, and rain.
Wren grinned, carefully peeling the tape back slowly in an effort to preserve Lily’s doodles. “These are so cool.” Bright green eyes met hers as Wren glowed beside her, that warmth spreading to Lily in a way she absolutely adored.
“It’s paper, you can rip it.” Lily brushed her off with a hand wave.
“Not a chance. I’m saving this.” Wren took her time removing the paper, carefully folding it and tucking it into her pocket before her eyes landed on the contents of the gift—a Barbie doll Lily had thrifted still in its original, albeit now slightly altered, packaging. Lily had spent hours giving it a makeover to make it look like a certain soccer superstar she happened to call her girlfriend. “Holy shit. Is this supposed to be me?”
Lily nodded as Dylan leaned in to get a closer look.
“This is so cool. Look at the little Pride jersey! And the hair! Lily, this is—this is so amazing.” Wren worked the doll free from the packaging, examining it closer. “You even got that weird birthmark on the back of my calf that looks like Canada.”
“She’s wearing a little trans lives matter pin!” Dylan pointed out.
Lily beamed, her excitement getting the better of her. “There’s something else. Read the back of the box.”
Wren reached for the box, skimming the text, her eyes widening. “No fucking way,” she said, her mouth caught between astonishment and delight.
“Yup. I talked to Jen, and you get to add your Barbie to the doll light.”
“Like right now?”
Lily nodded, enjoying the way Wren’s whole body vibrated with her excitement. She scooted over so Wren could standto make her way to the counter. Lily and Dylan watched as Wren chatted with Jen for a moment, showing her the doll and pointing back to their table before gesturing to the light fixture. Wren’s grin only got wider as she circled the fixture, deciding on the perfect place to put the miniature Wren Parker clutched in her hands.
The smile on Wren’s face was still firmly in place as Lily paid their tab and they spilled out onto the sidewalk.
“Seriously, best birthday ever.” Wren beamed, her arm slung protectively around Lily’s shoulders as they walked with Dylan, heading in the direction of the bus stop.
The three of them parted ways, Wren hopping on a bus taking her back downtown so she could get to her afternoon training session, Lily and Dylan heading in the direction of Dylan’s apartment to run some errands ahead of the night’s secret festivities.
Everything was going according to plan until Lily received a text from Sydney right as everyone was beginning to arrive.
Sydney 8:03 PM
We might be a little late. Wren’s having fun.
Attached to Sydney’s message was a photo of Wren taking shots at a bar with some of her teammates, all of whom were supposed to be arriving soon for the surprise party.
Lily’s heart sank as she quickly tried to sort her wide array of feelings into their appropriate boxes and not blow the fuck up at Sydney right now. She had one job: Get Wren to the party on time. Her fingers flew across the screen as she fired off an admittedly passive-aggressive response.
Lily 8:05 PM
Wow, looks like SO much fun. But please try to hurry. The party is underway, and everyone is expecting Wren here at 8:30 like we talked about.
Sydney 8:06 PM
Chill, Lily. It’s her birthday. Let her have some fun for once. We’ll get there when we get there.
The audacity of Sydney Stone to tell her to chill. Was she beingfuckingfor real? Lily wanted to scream, but instead she inhaled sharply through her nose as she sent Sydney back a thumbs up—the universal texting sign for fuck you.
“Everything okay?” Dylan asked, placing the last of the disposable cameras they had bought for the party on the table in front of her.
Lily took a moment to pull herself back together. This was okay. Everything was okay. So what if they were a little late? Wren was having fun, and that’s what mattered.
She plastered on her best fake smile. “Yup. Everything is great.”
People slowly began to trickle in as 8:30 approached.
