Chapter 28
Cornelia
I’m woken up by someone entering my room, singing “Happy Birthday.” Technically, I’m already about sixty percent awake, but Anthony likes to be the first to congratulate me on my birthday, and waking me up is part of our tradition.
I slip out from under the covers, turn to the other side, and see Anthony standing there, like every birthday I’ve spent in London.
“Happy Birthday,” he says, leaning in to hug me.
“Thank you,” I reply, smiling against his chest.
Following tradition, a maid enters with a food cart carrying breakfast and sets it in front of my chaise longue.
I get up, walk over to my chaise longue, and sit down, glancing over the food on the cart.
It has all my favourite breakfast items—waffles with chocolate chips, matcha, chai, pastries, and avocado toasts.
I know the toast doesn’t fit with the sweet theme, but if I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would most likely be avocado toast. But just avocado on plain toast, nothing else—no eggs, no extras.
I pick up a croissant and take a bite.
“You know, breakfast on a sofa doesn’t hit quite as good as breakfast in bed,” Anthony teases.
“I know, but this way I don’t have to sleep with crumbs in my bed.”
He smiles at me fondly, and as if he doesn’t mean to say it, he murmurs, “You’re twenty-one,” like he can’t believe how fast time has gone.
I nod. “Now I can legally drink everywhere in the world.”
He gives me a pointed look. “Yes, but with moderation.” Not the biggest drinker, my brother.
“Don’t worry,” I quip, a smile tugging at my lips. “Now that it’s legal for me to do it everywhere, it’s less appealing. I liked it more when it was illegal.”
He rolls his eyes playfully and glances at his watch. “I have to go. I’ve got a few things I need to do before your party.”
“Are those things birthday-related?”
“Perhaps,” Anthony says, leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll see you in a few hours,” he adds before exiting my room.
After he leaves, I turn my phone on and see hundreds of messages wishing me a happy birthday—but none from the two people I was hoping for. Still, the day is just beginning, and maybe, wherever they are, it’s not my birthday yet.