I scoff, shaking my head.
Olivia has become my best friend faster than I thought possible. She knows the current me better than almost anyone, especially with Diego so tied up taking care of his mom after the accident. Diego's more like a brother anyway — our childhoods tangled together too deep to separate.
"OPEN IT!" she shouts, practically shoving the birthday bag into my hands.
We move to the small table by the window, settling into the wicker chairs. I peel back the tissue paper slow, like whatever's inside might actually bite me. I can't even remember the last time someone gave me a real gift.
"Come onnn," she drags out, leaning forward with that impatient grin.
I watch her face twist while she waits, and my heart jolts at how much I hate keeping her waiting. But it's also quite enjoyable at the same time.
First, I pull out two bags of my favorite Takis. Then a pack of gummy peach rings. Perfect. Then my fingers close around something small — a glass bottle with a soft cork top, strung on a thin cord, next to a few vials of different oils.
"They're scents!" she says, eyes bright. "A car air freshener. For your baby."
I smile. That's thoughtful as hell. I'm tired of those little pine trees piling up in the Cadillac.
"There's more!" she adds, practically bouncing.
I reach in and lift out a small jewelry box. I've never gotten jewelry before. Ever.
I crack it open.
A thin gold chain with a small cross gleams up at me.
My heart stops.
My breath catches hard in my throat.
She has no idea, but my mother wore a cross just like this. Thinner chain, but the shape… she never took it off. The last time I saw it, she was in the hospital bed, skin gray, saying goodbye without saying it.
My eyes burn. Tears prick hot at the corners, and I blink hard to shove them back.
Fuck. She doesn't even know about Mom. I can't fall apart here.
"I'm sorry, is it okay?" she asks, voice soft now, uncertain.
"It's great," I say, sucking it back, forcing my voice steady.
"I saw it and something in me just needed to get it for you," she says, trailing off. "I'm not even sure why. I don't think you're religious. But I had to."
"I think it's one of the best things I've ever gotten."
The words come out rougher than I mean them to. Before I can think, I grab her arm and pull her into a hug. We stay like that for a moment, her warmth against me, the world moving on outside the bakery window.
I squeeze her a little tighter before letting go, careful not to make it awkward. When I finally pull back, she's smiling at me like she knows exactly what that hug did to me.
"Happy birthday, Raul," she says softly.
"Seriously," I murmur, still trying to get my breathing back under control. "Thank you. This is… a lot."
"It's supposed to be."
I look down at the gift bag, then back up at her. "You did too much."
She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, well. It's your birthday! And I can't get you drunk yet, legally."
That gets a laugh out of me.
