Fractured Things - Samantha Lovelock Page 0,53
don’t you ask Roxy and Aylie if they want to come over after class? The four of you can catch up and gorge yourselves on pizza and junk food.” My aunt sees my rebuttal of her suggestion coming a mile away, so she heads it off before I can say a word. “Sometimes hanging out with your girlfriends is the best medicine for guy troubles. If nothing else, you can plot Poe’s demise and the best way to dispose of the body,” she jokes, raising her hands defensively and laughing.
Sunday gives me a pleadingly hopeful look, and I don’t have the heart to say no. She’s done so much for me, the least I can do in return is agree to a night with our girlfriends.
“Fine. Text them and find out if they want to come over,” I tell her. “But I reserve the right to choose ALL of the pizza toppings.” Having had a few pies with me in New York, she knows full well I’m a loose cannon in the topping department and narrows her tawny eyes at me suspiciously.
“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” she asks.
“Oh, most definitely,” I answer with a bright grin.
She reluctantly agrees and sends her messages, the responses from the other half of our foursome coming almost immediately.
Girls’ night, here I come.
Roxy and Aylie show up together right after school.
“We’re so glad you’re back!” Roxy squeals and drops her coat and bag on the plush padded bench in the front entryway. She gives me a hard hug and moves over to give Sunday one as well. Aylie, being the quieter of the two, uses a little less physical force in her hug, but the emotion is just as strong.
“Are you doing okay, Stella? We were really worried about you after what happened at the Hallidays’,” Aylie asks, the concern shining through her words. I try to reassure her that I’ll be okay, but I’m not sure she fully believes me. Before we can head upstairs to my room, Cecily summons the four of us into the kitchen.
“Okay girls, I have an announcement to make. Since somebody decided not to say anything, I’ve decided to do it myself.” She clears her throat like she’s about to make a royal proclamation. “On this day, eighteen years ago, one Stella Evangeline Bradleigh made her appearance in the world.” All eyes in the room swing toward me in surprise, and I grimace.
So apparently she did know. I guess ignoring it isn’t an option anymore.
“What?!” Sunday bellows. “It’s your eighteenth birthday, and you never told me? What the hell is wrong with you?” She lunges and traps me in an exuberant hug. The other girls join in as well, and we become a human hug knot in the middle of the kitchen, with all of them singing a seriously off-key rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.
“I was hoping to ignore it, honestly. Birthdays haven’t really been my most favorite thing for the last few years, so it’s really no big deal.” I explain sheepishly, hoping I can still escape this with minimal fanfare.
“No big deal? Shut yo’ mouth,” Sunday says, momentarily taken aback by my lack of excitement. “You’re eighteen and officially an adult! That’s a pretty momentous occasion.” She plants her hands on her hips and tries to stare me down. I shoot her a look that tries to convey even just a sliver of what might be causing my reluctance to celebrate this year, and her face falls as she remembers everything that’s happened lately. “Right, okay, well, we can still celebrate quietly, just us girls.” Patting my arm, she leans forward and kisses my cheek. “I personally think your birth is something that should be celebrated.”
“Awww shucks. Thanks, Sun.”
“We have birthday cheesecake for after dinner, but I have a gift I’d like to give you now if that’s okay with you?” My aunt asks hopefully.
“Dammit! We don’t have presents for you!” Sunday groans.
“Why would you? You didn’t even know it was my birthday until three minutes ago.” I look each one of them in the face in turn. “Besides, you guys being here, being able to call each of you my friend, that’s present enough for me.” Facing my aunt, I reach for her hand. “That goes for you too, Aunty. Having you in my life, and being here at Tweedvale is more than enough. You didn’t have to get me anything else.”
Brushing away a rogue tear, she walks to her purse on the island and