Chapter 23 Eden
Eden
Eighteen. I’m officially an adult, apparently.
Shame I can’t nip down to the pub for a beer.
I’ll settle for a bottle of lager with my dad this evening.
We might live in America, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep some of our British traditions.
Dad always said he looked forward to the time he could take me for my first official pint, which is the only reason I can stomach the beer.
Birthdays are always celebrated the same way in the Sawyer family.
Big old Full English Breakfast in the morning.
If it’s a school/workday, then that takes up the majority of the time.
It’s not too bad, really. Friends and colleagues wishing you a happy birthday isn’t exactly a hardship.
As for the work, I can’t speak for my parents, but I kind of like school, so…
When we all get home, the birthday guy or gal has the choice of activity.
Dad always wants to play mini golf. Mum likes to do a DIY spa night, Dad included.
Jenna, if she’s not crying for some inexplicable reason, likes a movie and takeout.
As for me? I love a family art night. We get dressed in our shittiest clothes and head to my garage studio for some plain old fun.
We always order a ton of pizza. It’s a crazy evening, and I love it.
Tonight will be the same, except Sloane will be joining us.
I admit I feel giddy just thinking about it.
I’ve never had someone to share my family birthday with.
Even Pia has to wait until the closest weekend.
I’m guessing she and Sloane have set something up.
Probably a movie followed by some time at the arcade or something.
That’s what Pia, Todd, Bella, and I have done the past two years.
But before any of that, I get to devour the biggest breakfast I have ever seen. Sloane is sitting next to me at the kitchen table looking slightly scared, which makes me laugh out loud.
“You eat all this…for breakfast?”
“In the UK, this is like the breakfast of champions. Mum and Dad would make a Full English every Saturday.”
“Is this bread…fried?”
“Yup,” I say with delight. “If you don’t want all that grease, you can opt for eggy bread.”
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What the hell is eggy bread?”
“Pretty much what it sounds like,” Jenna says through a mouth full of Irish sausage. I’ve no idea where Dad gets them from, I’ve never seen the brand outside of a UK supermarket.
Dad steps in and explains further. “You take a slice of bread and dip it in a bowl of egg. Whack it in a hot pan and cook on both sides. Eggy bread!”
“Is that blood pudding?” she asks.
“It is. Now as you can imagine, my breakfast isn’t quite the same,” I say. “Everything on my plate is vegetarian, including the bacon.”
“You never told me when you stopped eating meat,” she says, leaning over to inspect my food.
“When I was eight. A girl at school did a class project on animal cruelty in the production of meat and it put me off for life.”
Mum laughs. “God, I remember that. Eden came storming in the house and started lobbing all the meat from the fridge into the bin. I tried to get her to explain what the hell she was doing, but she just cried. After that, we weren’t about to force her to eat meat.
Honestly, we thought she’d get over it, but no. Still a veggie.”
“Do you miss it?” Sloane asks, stealing some Tofurky bacon.
“No. Plus, I don’t have to worry about colon cancer as much,” I say, laughing as Dad scrunches up his face. The sausage he was just about to chomp down on is placed back on his plate.
Sloane hums. “I quite like all the veggie stuff I’ve tried so far. My mom really wants us to eat more plant-based. Dad is a big meat lover, but the doctor isn’t happy with just how much he eats.”
Dad sighs. “Yeah. As much as I love a good bacon butty, they’re not great for the body. I’ll admit I don’t mind going veggie for most meals except for this one.”
Laughing, I clap him on the shoulder. “We’d never take away your Full English, Dad.”
“And that is why I love you,” he replies.
Mum hands me a bunch of cards. There is one from her and Dad, Jenna, my Gran and Grandad, plus one from my aunt.
“Damn, will this be the last year I get money in a card?”
Mum laughs. “Yup, that’s it. No more ten-pound notes.”
“Well, that sucks,” I pout.
“Ha, I still have four years of it.” Jenna grins.
Rolling my eyes, I open each card. Sure, as the day is long, each one has a ten-pound note in it, even the one from my parents. I save them all up and spend them when we visit the UK.
My grandma, however, has also included a check for…Jesus Christ.
“Bloody hell, Gran’s given me three grand!”
Jenna whips the paper out of my hand and stares. “What the hell!”
Snatching it back, I stare at it. “This is way too much. I need to call her.”
“Hold your horses,” Mum says. “She called me last night and told me she was sending you some money. She also said you’d react like this.”
“Well, yeah!”
“Eden. Shut up a second and let your mum explain,” Dad chides playfully.
“Remember that painting you did, the one Gran took back to the UK with her? It was her first visit I think.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember she said you should sell it?”
“Yeah, but then I never heard anything from her about it.”
“That’s because she wanted it to be a surprise. She sold it and kept the money. She and Grandad figured it would make a nice eighteenth birthday present. Maybe a little nest egg for college.”
“That’s amazing, Eden. You sold your first piece!”
Sitting up a little taller, I smile at everyone. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“Proud of you, love,” Dad says, standing. He clears our plates and begins loading the dishwasher.
Mum looks at her watch. “You guys need to get a shift on. You’re going to be late. Sloane, we’ll see you tonight, love.”
“You sure will. Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious and…an experience.”
Mum and Dad chuckle. Jenna stalks out of the kitchen, clearly pissy that I’ve made some money. Whatever. I’m not going to feel bad about it. I’m doing my part to support her in what she wants to do with her life. She could afford me the same.
Pushing all thoughts of my demonic sister out of my head, I run upstairs to grab my bag. Sloane is by the door waiting for me. Jenna is standing beside her, looking at me.
“Um, everything alright?”
Jenna sighs. “Sorry, E. That was a trash move. I’m really happy for you. I might not have the art gene, but I know how good you are. I was sulking, and that wasn’t cool.”
“Okay, thanks. Do you want to walk with us?”
Shaking her head, she takes her earpods from her pocket. “Nah, I’m going to meet up with Alexis. See you later. Have a good day.”
Taking Sloane’s hand as we walk down the path, I grin at her. “You really are a Jenna whisperer.”
Pulling me close, Sloane slips her hand from mine and snakes it into my jean’s back pocket. Smiling like a fool, I throw my arm around her shoulder.
“I just seem to understand her, I guess.”
“Well, thank you.”
“I’m really looking forward to tonight. Are you sure about it though?”
“Of course I am.”
“But this is like a family tradition.”
“That you should be a part of.”
Is it too much?
“I know what you’re thinking, Eden.”
Kissing her temple, I laugh into her hair. “Of course you do.”
“Then just ask.”
“Is it too much? Too serious?”
The snort is both unexpected and adorable. “You think me spending time with your family could be too serious? Were you there for all the very intimate and serious things we did the other night?”
Heat crawls up my chest. “Hell yeah I was there.”
“Then you know the answer. I just didn’t want you to feel obligated to invite me.”
“Pfft. Now who’s being daft.”
Pulling me to a stop, Sloane tucks both arms under my hoodie and around my waist. “Do you think we should stop being ‘daft’ with each other?”
Bumping her nose with mine, I lean down and murmur against her lips. “Probably.”
I end the conversation with a deep and somewhat inappropriate for the time and place kiss. Best birthday ever.
Remember the viral video of the goat screaming? That’s me right now. I’m making that noise as I try to lower myself to the toilet.
This is all Jenna’s fault. Okay, that’s harsh. She just bought me the game for my birthday. Still, I need to be mad at someone, and she’s the person I’m choosing.
My birthday evening went as planned. Sloane came home with me after school, and we started the art party. Pizza was ordered and consumed. Paint was applied liberally to canvas and nearly every inch of our clothing. It was a blast.
After a long shower and change of clothes, we all chilled out in front of the TV, where I opened my birthday presents.
Mum and Dad gave me money. I’d already got a fat check from Grandma and Grandad, so that was that.
Sloane bought me a muscle tank with a tiny kitten on it, lifting weights in one paw and wielding a paintbrush in the other.
God knows where she got it from, but I love it.
That left Jenna, who bought me a fitness game for the Switch.
I was pretty pleased with it, to be honest. I’ve been doing well with my cardio, and don’t totally hate it anymore.
I’d mentioned to Jen that I’d like to build a little more muscle.
Nothing major, just enough to support my skeletal frame.
We ended up playing it. Sloane did a workout with me. Mum, Dad, and Jenna cheered us on from the sofa. It was funny at the time. Not so much now.
See, the thing is, I’ve probably done three squats in the entirety of my life. Never attempted crunches or pushups. Lifting a cup of tea was about my limit.
Anyway, I did far too much last night and now my whole body is in pain.
Every muscle is screaming at me with each motion.
I’m literally having to use the wall and basin to help lower myself to the loo.
My leg muscles hate me, and in turn I hate Jenna.
How dare she support me in my bid to get fitter?
Sloane is waiting in the kitchen when I waddle in. My ass and hips hurt too, so I’m walking funny.
“Morning, babe,” she says with more than a hint of humour in her voice. Of course she isn’t in pain. Last night showed me just how limber my girlfriend is. She breezed through the workouts without breaking a sweat.
“Morning,” I reply darkly. I’m in such a shitty mood. This afternoon is gym, and I’m not sure how the hell I’m going to get through the day as is, let alone doing any more exercise.
“Um, are you a little sore?”
“You could say that.”
She takes my hand and guides me to the closest chair. “Have you got any sports gel? It will help ease your muscles.”
“Sloane. Do you think I have sports gel? Really?”
She bites her lips and I know she wants to laugh. “Oh, you’re grumpy. Okay. Well, the best thing for you is to get moving. We need to warm your body up.”
I’m really happy Mum and Dad seem to be already gone for the day. I’m not sure I could cope with everyone’s amusement right now.
Inhaling my coffee and toast, I’m ten percent more ready to face the day.
It’s going to suck major fucking balls. Still, I shuck on my sneakers with way more difficulty than usual.
Sloane looks like she’s busting a gut to help me, but I’m stubborn and proud, which she clearly sees, so she waits for me to groan and grumble my way through getting ready.
Five minutes into our walk and I am feeling a tad better. My thighs still feel like they’re on fire, but I can move them easier now.
“I can’t run today, babe,” I say just before we get to school.
“No, you shouldn’t. Count today as a rest day, but don’t sit around doing nothing. Maybe just do a walking circuit in gym. Make sure you get up frequently and move around.”
“This is so embarrassing.”
It feels like everyone is looking at me. I know they’re not, and it’s just my head being daft.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re trying to improve your health. It takes time. Now we know to go a little easier.”
As I’m about to respond, Kiera jogs over with a smile on her face. It’s aimed at Sloane. I get a perfunctory acknowledgement.
“Hey, are we still on for coffee today?” she asks.
“For sure. I’ll bring the sign-up sheet for the 5k.”
Sloane told me she’s meeting up with Kiera. Apparently, the soccer captain is all about “just being friends” now and helping organise the school’s charity run.
“Cool. I’ll see you at lunch then.”
I don’t miss the quick touch of Sloane’s hand, or the clear longing in Kiera’s eyes. I doubt Sloane does either. But what ya gonna do, eh? Sloane’s a grown woman who can choose her friends. Kiera and I will never be besties, but I’ll be cordial for Sloane’s sake.
The bell rings and I groan loudly, causing several people to look at me. Just standing still for a few minutes has my legs seizing up again. Sloane barks out a laugh and pulls me along.
“I’ll see you in gym, okay?”
It sucks I won’t get to see her at lunch, but then again, I should probably check in with Pia and the others. It’s been a while since we’ve had one-on-one time. We will also need to go over our part of the organising for the race.
Since telling my friends about my idea to hold a charity 5k, everyone has been freaking awesome. They’ve helped set everything in motion, and we’re on track to get the event ready for the last day of this semester.
Sloane steps away but I pull her back in for a kiss. I’ve been a grump this morning and now I’m feeling sorry for myself. Sloane’s kisses are the cure, and by the way she’s smiling and snickering at my pout she knows it.
“Ah babe, let me kiss it better.”