The Girl Next Door - Emma Hart Page 0,44

hand there for a little while…

“I’m gonna take a shower,” I said, finishing my coffee. “And I’ll lock the door.”

Anna clicked her tongue and pointed a finger gun at me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her and headed to the bathroom for my shower. It was hot and quick, and only a few minutes had passed when I was done.

I locked myself in my bedroom and checked my phone. There were three unread messages, all from Ivy. Panic flashed through me, and I rushed to unlock my phone and read them.

IVY: Do you know why there are streamers in the hall?

IVY: Oh, I just saw your sister. Never mind.

IVY: I didn’t know it was your birthday.

I had a lot of ways I could answer those texts, so I went for the one that avoided my birthday entirely.

ME: Why are you awake so early? And in the hall?

IVY: …Funny story.

ME: I got time.

IVY: I woke up to pee and felt sick.

I knew where this was going.

IVY: Went to get water and the trash can was the nearest safe place, so I had to take the bag out.

ME: Are you okay?

IVY: No.

ME: Why? What’s wrong? Do you need me to come over?

IVY: I’m mad you didn’t tell me it was your birthday.

I sagged back onto the bed. What was it with women and birthdays? Was it a general female thing, or had I merely surrounded myself with birthday lovers?

ME: I don’t really celebrate my birthday.

IVY: HOW CAN YOU NOT CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY?

ME: I just… don’t. And no, before you ask, there’s no unresolved childhood trauma there. I just think it’s pointless, and I don’t need to hear about how I kept my mother in labor for thirty-nine hours before my fat head made its entrance into the world.

IVY: You don’t have a fat head.

ME: I thought you would focus on the thirty-nine hours of labor thing.

IVY: If you mention that again, this will be your last birthday.

IVY: Actually, if that happens, this will be your last birthday.

I snorted and sat back up, quickly exchanging my towel for some boxers.

ME: Duly noted. I’ll be sure to have words with the baby.

IVY: I doubt it’ll listen to. It’s a girl.

ME: You don’t know that.

IVY: I absolutely know it.

ME: How do you know that?

IVY: *taps temple with finger*

ME: If you say so.

IVY: I do.

IVY: Now why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?

ME: I just told you. I don’t celebrate it. It seemed ridiculous to tell you.

IVY: Hmph.

IVY: I just put it in my calendar. Now I won’t forget.

ME: Great. I can’t wait until next year.

IVY: I’m not sure I can top your sister. Judging by the hall, I bet your apartment looks fun.

ME: It looks like a party store threw up. It’s awful. I hate it.

IVY: LOL she’s just trying to be nice.

ME: It doesn’t suit her. And now she’s living here forever, I’d rather she didn’t.

IVY: She’s moved in?

ME: Long story. I’ll tell you later. Want to get dinner tonight?

IVY: Like a date?

ME: If you want it to be.

IVY: It’s your birthday. It’s up to you.

ME: …Then it’s a date.

IVY: See? You just coerced a date out of me for no reason other than it’s your birthday. How can your birthday be bad?

ME: You’re right. You might convert me yet.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - KAI

I put the truck into park in the lot outside Bronco’s and got out. The bar was lively, with music pounding out through the windows, and the chatter and laughter of everyone inside screamed into the evening as the door swung open and a family left.

I caught the door before it closed over and stepped inside. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the rich scent of the amazing food filtered through the air and assaulted my nostrils.

Oh, God. I was so fucking hungry.

I scanned the room for Ivy. I knew she was here because she’d been working, but her shift was over at seven-thirty and it was a little past that already.

I jolted as someone pressed their body to my back. Two small hands reached up and covered my eyes, and the second the scent of strawberry shampoo hit me, I knew it was Ivy.

“Guess who!”

“Santa?”

She giggled. “Nope.”

“Tooth fairy?”

“Nope.”

“Someone who’s going to get kissed very publicly if she doesn’t let me go?”

She quickly dropped her hands and stepped back.

I laughed and turned around. “Wow. Way to give a guy a complex.”

She jutted out her lower lip. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

I took a