Cursed (Enchanted Gods #1) - K.K. Allen Page 0,51
smile back.
I spot Alec standing off to one side of the room with his parents. I’m desperate to know what he thinks of all this. Did I really tell him I needed some fresh air? I don’t remember that at all. But he looks perfectly happy. When he catches me staring, he smiles back at me with a boyish grin.
I go through the motions for the rest of the party, watching as a three-tiered cake with white frosting and green trim is wheeled into the room. Everyone sings, I blow out the candles, then thunderous applause ensues. For the next hour, the guests start to thin out. Alec is one of the last to leave.
“Thanks for stopping by, Alec. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk much.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “We have plenty of time for that, right? Or do you still plan on leaving Apollo Beach?”
I think about what happened outside. “I think I’ll be around for a bit longer than I thought.”
His megawatt grin makes me smile too. “Good.” He leans forward to hug me, brushing my cheek with his lips before breaking away. “Happy birthday, Summer Girl.”
Rose and Charlotte are huddled together, sharing a giggle, when I walk back into the great room.
“What the hell is going on?”
Their heads snap toward me, and they freeze while shock lights up their faces. It’s not like me to speak that way, but I’ve been going crazy trying to understand what’s going on with me.
Rose’s face relaxes, and she gestures to the couch. “Have a seat, Katrina. All will be discussed. But first,” she says with a clap of her hands, “presents.”
I burst into an incredulous laugh. “What? No. I’m not opening presents. You’re going to tell me what’s going on.” I look at Charlotte, whose eyes are on Rose like she doesn’t want to get involved. My eyes narrow at her. “Does she know what’s happening too?”
Rose sighs while Charlotte throws me a sympathetic glance. “Charlotte is aware, yes.”
“Oh, Rose.” Charlotte frowns. “Stop delaying.”
Rose raises her arms in a dramatic shrug as if to say she’s innocent. “I’m not delaying. This is all part of the reveal. You open your presents, and the pieces will all start to fall together.” She gestures again at the couch. “Now, sit.”
I feel I have no other choice, so I sit across from Rose. Charlotte proceeds to hand me cards and presents, and the only thing I seem to be learning is just how generous my grandmother’s friends are. I open money, gift certificates, lavish bath products, fancy jewelry, and what looks like a handmade quilt. When Charlotte hands me a small shiny red box wrapped with a silver bow, my heart skips. I know exactly who this one is from.
Charlotte and Rose watch as I gently open it to find a sand dollar lying on a velvet cushion. There’s a folded piece of paper pressed into the lid. I open it to find a note from Alec.
Summer Girl,
I found this sand dollar on the night we met, and I knew it should belong to you.
Happy Birthday.
Alec
The gift is so sweet, but I can’t help but wonder if whatever is happening to me will sabotage the feelings Alec and I have toward one another.
When I look back up from the gift, Charlotte is rolling a bicycle into the room from the foyer. My jaw drops. It’s not just any bicycle. It’s a white vintage classic retro beach cruiser with thin rubber wheels and silver spokes, much like the one I used to have back in Spring Lake.
“Is that for me?”
Rose grins. “It is. Charlotte and I thought you could use a little help getting around. You know, until you get your license. Do you like it?”
I cross the room and take the bike by the handlebars, emotion rising in my throat from the unexpected gesture. “Thank you. I love it.”
Rose winks at me. “I told you it was a day for magical things, didn’t I?”
My head snaps back to hers, then I feel myself start to shake. “Rose, please tell me what happened to me on the beach.”
Charlotte takes the bike from me and rolls it away.
Rose gestures for me to come back to the couch, then she leans forward. “Okay, but I have one more present for you, Katrina. A family heirloom that’s been in our family for thousands of years. It’s a family tradition that you receive this on your eighteenth birthday.”
She pulls another