were best friends, that the two of them were still so close. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt like that if I didn’t know they had slept together in the past. Then again, maybe I would.
Was it so crazy that I wanted to be Jordan’s best friend? That I wanted to be included in his family like Mia so easily was?
Instead, his parents shot me a glance that told me they weren’t comfortable approaching me on their own. I couldn’t really blame them. Jordan had never taken me to their house or even invited me to share a meal with his parents. I knew them only because they sometimes came to parties, usually those hosted by Aunt Emmie, like her famous Christmas Eve party. To them, I was just one of Emmie Armstrong’s nieces. If I was lucky, they might even think of me as one of their son’s friends, but I doubted they would ever consider me more to either Jordan or themselves.
Especially since he was apparently blowing off my birthday party.
I quickly pushed that thought down, not wanting to get angry if he was, in fact, sick. With presents in hand, they had obviously come in Jordan’s place. And he wouldn’t miss my birthday unless he were ill or it was important.
“Arella,” Palmer murmured from beside me. I turned my gaze away from the couple staring uncomfortably in my direction and glanced at my best friend. Palmer looked at me with concern as she touched the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling okay? You went pale all of a sudden.”
I forced a smile, but she knew me so well that she could tell it didn’t reach my eyes. “Just a little tired, I guess. My mom and sisters took me out shopping all day, then we spent a few hours at my favorite spa.”
I’d been pampered to within an inch of my life with first a massage and then had my hair and nails done. It felt like I was getting ready for prom or the red carpet when someone started doing my makeup. But for me, it was so much more than that. Today was supposed to be one of the most important and life-changing days of my existence.
Only it wasn’t turning out anything like I expected.
I could tell by the look in Palmer’s brown eyes she wasn’t buying what I was selling, but she didn’t call me out on it. She glanced over my shoulder, and I knew she was looking at the Moreittis. Grasping my hand, she gave it a firm squeeze. “Here they come with your mom,” she said. “Give me that killer smile of yours and giggle like you mean it.”
I did just that without questioning her, knowing she would never steer me wrong. I felt a few eyes on me as I giggled, filling the room with the singsong sound that always made my dad smile, no matter what. Moments later, Mom murmured my name, and I turned to find her standing behind me with the Moreittis at her side.
I widened my eyes in surprise, thankful for all the acting classes I’d taken over the years. “Mr. and Mrs. Moreitti,” I greeted. “It’s so nice to see you.”
Alexis gave me a small but warm smile. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.” She offered me the gift in her hand. “Just a little something from us.”
“Thank you,” I told her sincerely. “You didn’t have to do that. Just having you here means so much.”
Her face softened somewhat, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “We also wanted to deliver Jordan’s present in person.” She glanced up at her husband, and he handed over the present he was holding on to.
“Jordan had to make a quick trip to Italy for me,” he said with a grim smile. “He regrets he couldn’t make it in person, but he made us promise to give you this personally.”
I stared down at the small box wrapped in metallic red paper with a glittery red bow on top. Metallic red was my favorite color, something Jordan knew. But the gift his mother had given me was wrapped identically, and for some reason, that made me feel like crying.
When I made no move to take the present from him, Palmer saved me. “Why don’t I hold this while you unwrap the Moreittis’ present?” she murmured.
I put on my best smile, which put the Moreittis at ease, but it didn’t fool either Palmer or my mom, who was giving me a