Chapter 4
"Mom said there are some rules if you want to come." Cadi stood in front of Gray, hands on her hips, eyes serious. "Alright, listen up!" she declared.
Byron snickered. "What rulth?"
Cadi took a deep breath and started listing. "No rough play indoors, no running in the house, say 'thank you' after getting cake, don't break anything, and—"
Gray groaned. "This is a lot of rules, Cadi."
"Well, Mom and Derrik are very organized," Cadi said with a shrug.
Derrik was Cadi's stepdad. He and her mom had gotten married last year, and they had moved into his house. Gray had met him a few times—he was a nice man, always smiling, always making sure Cadi had everything she needed. Not like Gray's own house, where his mam was constantly stressed.
"At least there's cake," Byron muttered. "Worth it."
Cadi folded her arms. "If you don't follow the rules, you don't get cake."
Gray and Byron exchanged a horrified glance.
"Aye, alright, we'll follow the rules," Gray mumbled.
Gray had another set of rules.
His mam had made him promise to behave before letting him leave the house.
"Be polite, say 'please' and 'thank ya,' and do not get into any fights, Gray Callahan!" she had warned, her hands wringing together even as she adjusted his jumper. "If anyone starts somethin', ya just walk away."
"Mam, it's a birthday party," he had sighed. "Not a boxing match."
She had given him a long, skeptical look before gripping his shoulders a little too tight . "And mind your manners! No eatin' like a savage, and don't be rough with anything. Ya hear me?"
Now, standing in Cadi's very pink party, Gray had never felt more aware of how much his mam worried.
The party was small—just Cadi, Ana, Byron, Gray, and two of Cadi's neighbors, plus her parents. But what it lacked in size, it made up for in enthusiasm.
When Gray arrived at Cadi's house, the first thing he noticed was the enormous unicorn pi?ata hanging in the garden. The second thing he noticed was Cadi's dress.
She was wearing a full princess gown—light blue, with shiny sequins and puffed sleeves.
Byron leaned over. "You look like a doll," he said, failing to keep a straight face.
Cadi scowled. "It's a princess dress, Byron."
"Aye, but—"
"If you laugh, I'm tellin' my mom you broke the rules," she warned.
Byron immediately shut his mouth.
Gray shuffled his feet. "It'th a nice dress," he mumbled, trying not to sound too embarrassed.
Cadi beamed. "Thank you, Gray."
Byron groaned. "You're so soft, mate."
Inside, Gray met Regan.
Regan was four, with big, watchful eyes and dark brown hair.She was Derrik's daughter from his last marriage. She was shy, barely speaking when Cadi introduced them. Instead, she clung to Derrik's leg, staring at Gray and Byron like they were intruders.
"Regan's still getting used to everything," Cadi explained. "She's quiet."
Gray had seen shy kids before, but Regan wasn't just shy. She was watching him, studying him, like she didn't quite trust him .
Derrik ruffled Regan's hair. "Go on, sweetheart, say hi."
Regan peeked up at Gray and Byron. "Hi," she mumbled.
Byron grinned. "Hi, tiny human."
Regan immediately scurried behind Derrik.
Cadi sighed. "She's not that little."
"She's little compared to us," Byron reasoned sagely. "And she's hidin'. That's what little kids do."
Regan peeked out from behind Derrik again, still watching them.
"She doesn't talk much," Cadi said. "But she's okay."
Derrik chuckled. "She'll warm up. Eventually."
The cake looked enormous, covered in pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Cadi's mom had worked on it all of yesterday.
"Too much pink," Gray muttered under his breath as Cadi's mom set it down on the table. Byron nodded in agreement.
"It's my party," Cadi reminded them. "You don't have to eat the pink part."
"I'll make the thacrifice," Byron said dramatically, taking the biggest slice he could.
"And the unicorn pi?ata?" Gray asked, eyeing the colorful decoration. "It's not exactly... manly."
Cadi rolled her eyes. "You're hitting it with a stick until it explodes. What's manlier than that?"
Byron considered this. "This is true."
Gray took a bite of cake. Despite all the pink, despite the princess dress and the rules, he had to admit—it wasn't that bad.
Maybe the rules had been worth it after all.
Later that evening, after all the guests had left, Cadi sat cross-legged on the floor with her parents, reopening her presents. Regan just watched from the sofa. The room was quiet now, the remnants of the party scattered around them—deflated balloons, wrapping paper, and the lingering scent of birthday cake.
She unwrapped a few books, some clothes, and a small puzzle set. Then she reached for a neatly wrapped box with Gray's name on the tag.
Inside was a toy doctor set—complete with a tiny stethoscope, a syringe, and a little baby doll.
Cadi gasped in delight. "Gray got me this?"
Her mother smiled. "It looks like he put a lot of thought into it."
Cadi held up the tiny syringe, eyes shining. "I told him I wanted to be a doctor. Like the nice doctor who gave me a lolly and made my throat better."
Her stepfather chuckled. "Seems like Gray listens well."
Cadi hugged the toy set to her chest, her heart warm. She'd have to thank him properly tomorrow.
For now, she was just happy.