Chapter Thirty-Five Tiernan
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
TIERNAN
Gealach: I have something for you.
I looked up from the text message on my phone, turning my attention to the woman lying in bed beside me.
She still looked impossibly tiny, and I wondered how she was planning on birthing an entire bleeding human. Seemed ambitious, even for a stubborn girl like her.
I elevated an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Tierney told me you two never celebrate your birthday.”
“Tierney talks too much.”
“She said neither of you find anything worthy in celebrating the day your mother was murdered.”
Since this wasn’t a question, I didn’t offer an answer.
“We should change that.” Lila wore a determined expression. “I won’t make you celebrate in December, but now is a good time. There’s a few months’ buffer from the actual date.”
I put my phone down beside me, waiting for her to spell it out.
“I got you a birthday gift.”
“I wasn’t born in July.”
“Yes, but you were born, and that’s worthy of celebration. I got Tierney something, too.”
I understood why my sister liked her. Lila made people around her feel seen. Probably because she’d been overlooked her entire life.
She turned to her nightstand and produced a small jewelry box from the drawer, handing it to me. I popped it open, staring at its content dispassionately.
It was a cross pendant. The type her flashy brothers would wear with their fucking ten-thousand-dollar dress shirts and diamond earrings. I closed it, handing it back to her.
“I’m an atheist.”
“I’m not.” Her brows creased. “And I want you to wear it and remember there is someone in this world who prays for you.”
I didn’t wear jewelry and didn’t consider myself Catholic any more than a bleeding coffee cup. However, I didn’t know the etiquette to refusing a birthday present, since I’d never been offered one before.
“I’m not gonna wear it.”
“Never say never.”
“I’m saying it right now.”
“So grumpy.” She pouted.
“So pushy.”
She tried to produce an airy smile, but I could tell she was disappointed. “Fine. Don’t wear it. But keep it.”
I shoved it into my nightstand drawer and stood up, getting ready for the day.