“Jasper’s been really great at communication this last month—all year, even. But the last week or so…he’s been sorta hard to get in touch with. He hasn’t even messaged me today.”
“Not even to wish you happy birthday?”
“Nope.”
Katie shuffles over on her knees and gives me a best-friend hug. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s just been busy.”
“Yeah,” I say with a quick sigh. “You’re probably right.”
“What’s up, party people?” Katie and I look up to where Troy, in loud Bermuda shorts and an open shirt with a bucket hat and large sunglasses, is heading across the grass, waving. Aisha is beside him looking super freaking chic in a tank top and denim shorts, also with massive sunglasses and a very wide-brimmed sun hat.
I wave back and run to meet them. Troy gives me one of his signature confusing handshakes and I hug Aisha. We haven’t spoken much since the day we hung out on the High Line.
“How are you?” I ask.
“Right as rain,” she says, a touch of steel in her voice. “Happy birthday, dude.”
“Yeah, happy birthday, man.” Troy slaps me on the back, making me splutter. His eyes lift over my shoulder to where Katie has ripped the Saran Wrap off a large plastic bowl. “No way. Is that potato salad? This picnic is about to be lit!”
Troy heads over to, I guess, ogle the potato salad, and Katie enlists his assistance hanging paper ribbons.
“How is everything?” I ask when Aisha and I are alone.
She lowers her sunglasses just enough so I can see her eyes. “Things are great, Max. I’m hella focused on my dancing, things with Troy are great. Forgetting about the pack was the best decision I ever made.”
“I’m glad. Hey, um, have you…?”
“Heard from Jasper?” she asks, finishing my question.
“Yeah.”
“No, sorry.” She brushes past me before I can ask any follow-ups, which I think is sort of cold, but I try not to dwell on it.
I follow her back to where Katie and Troy have started blowing up balloons.
“I love this song,” Troy says, jumping up from the rug to dance along to the music blaring from Simon’s portable speaker.
Evening is settling in, the sky turning pale, orange and pink at the edges. Other people are packing up, leaving the park, but my party is still in full swing. My parents are sitting on a separate rug from the rest of us, Katie’s mom having come and gone already to a previous engagement, leaving Mom and Dad as the sole adults present. From the way they’re canoodling I don’t think they mind.Happy birthday to me!
Aisha jumps up to join Troy, and Katie, Todd, Simon, and I watch on, laughing and picking at the remaining corn chips and gummy bears.
My phone buzzes on the rug nearby and I snatch it up. I hate that I’m just a little disappointed.
Mason: Hey birthday boy! Don’t have too much fun without me.
Mason: But actually have the BEST day you sexy beast!
Mason: xxx
I fire back a couple of super witty thank-you texts and finish up with “Wish you were here!”
Then I click through to my thread with Jasper. His last message was sent yesterday. Nothing at all today.
“We might have to make a move soon,” Katie says, leaning in so only I can hear her. She glances up through the trees to where the sun has pretty much all the way set. The sky is darkening, the stars popping into existence like faraway lights being switched on one at a time. “Still up for karaoke?”
With a sigh I drop my phone, which lands dangerously close to the almost-scraped-clean potato salad bowl.
“He hasn’t said anything yet?” she asks.
