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The waitress leaves again, and Ryan grins. “Make a wish.”

I stare at the flickers of light jumping off the sparkler, and realize I have no wish. I could wish for things to go back to how they were with Thorin, or for my parents to love and accept me for who I am, regardless of what the scale says. But neither of those wishes would come true.

“My wish has already come true,” I tell Ryan. “I get to spend my birthday with someone who cares about me.” I might’ve said it to appease him, but that doesn’t mean I’m lying.

“And that will never change,” he tells me, planting a wet kiss on my cheek. I giggle, and we start eating. Ryan asks me about college, what my plans are, and keeps my mind from drifting to his brother. He tells me about his girlfriend, Melissa, and how he wants to bring her home for Thanksgiving to meet his parents.

“Must be serious,” I say, swallowing down my last scoop of ice-cream.

His smile is contagious. “She’s great, you’d love her.”

“I hope I’ll get to meet her. Maybe you can come visit me when I’m at Auburn.”

“You know, that sounds like a great idea. Mel and I are due for a roadtrip, anyway.” Ryan wipes his mouth. “You ready to go home? I’ll drive you.”

He pays the bill, and leads me outside to his truck. He’s just opened the passenger side door for me—I always need a boost when climbing into his monstrous vehicle—when another truck stops in the lot. I freeze, and watch as Thorin climbs out, and walks around the hood to open the passenger side for Jessica. He puts his arm around her, and looks up, doing a double take when he see’s me with Ryan.

“Hey.” He frowns. “What are you two doing here?”

It’s an innocent question, and by the expression on Thorin’s face I can tell he’s really confused. Idiot. I glance at Ryan, and he looks pretty unhappy. “Grabbing a sundae with my favorite girl, what do you think we’re doing here, dumbass?”

Jessica wraps her arm around Thorin’s waist possessively—she might as well lift her already too-short skit, and pee on him like the animal she is—and as always, looks at me with unabashed disgust. I almost want to cower, but I’m too busy watching Thorin’s expression. “Jesus, who pissed in your protein shake, Ry? And why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?”

“I’m driving back tonight. I came to surprise Reese.”

I see the train-wreck before it even happens.

Thorin looks at me and I see the moment he realizes why I’m here, and why Ryan’s visit is a surprise.

“Shit,” he mutters. He tries to take a step forward, but Jessica won’t let him go, and Ryan is in front of me before I can blink. “Reese, I’m sor—”

“Save it, Thorin,” Ryan snaps. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him be so abrasive to anyone, let alone his little brother.

“Ry, this is between me and Reese.” Thorin pries Jessica’s arm from around his waist and her pout-slash-glare doesn’t go unnoticed. If the wind changes firection, I hope her face stays like that. “Reese, can I talk to you for a second, please?”

I know I shouldn’t. Thorin has let me down for what I decide is the last time, but it’s the ‘please’ that does me in. Ryan looks at me. “You don’t have to talk to him.”

“It’s okay.” I step down from his truck, and slowly shut the door. “You already gave me my birthday wish, Ry. There’s nothing more your brother can do to hurt me.”

He reluctantly steps aside to give me and Thorin some privacy.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Reese.” He takes my hand in his. “I don’t even have a plausible excuse, but let me make it up to you.”

I pull my hands from his, and stuff them in my coat pocket. “Just forget about it, like you have everything else.”

“Please, Reese, I’ll make it up to you, I swear. Tomorrow night, you and me, at the barn on the ranch.”

“Thorin, it’s—”

“It’s not fine!” He half-shouts. “Just say ‘yes’, let me fix it.”

I sigh. The right thing for me would be to say no, to take away any opportunity for Thorin to hurt me again, but something inside me nudges me to give him one last shot. Who knew I was such a sucker?

“Fine,” I mutter, stepping towards Ryan’s truck. “Tomorrow night.”

Thorin watches me climb inside Ryan’s truck, and doesn’t move until we’re out of the lot.

“You sure about this?” Ryan asks next to me.