Twenty-Six
MIA
Something is wrong with AJ. She hasn’t told me I’m not allowed to leave my apartment, but she stops me everytime I even mention that I want to go out.
She showed up with coffee from the coffee shop I work at and she even brought me all my favorite breakfast foods.
She went to three different places to procure my preferred bagel, omelet, and muffins.
That was three hours ago. Three. She has been keeping me hostage in my own apartment ever since.
I’m still in my pajamas, laying on the couch with AJ’s legs weighing mine down. Every time I get up, she follows like a puppy. She checks her phone every fifteen minutes like clock work. And she keeps smiling. It’s fucking weird.
But at least she’s here. She’s the only one who’s reached out to me so far besides, Gigi.
My parents will wait until the birthday gala to wish me a happy birthday.
And none of the guys have even texted. I try hard to not allow myself to feel let down that a specific triplet hasn’t texted.
We have plans to go out tonight, so I’m not sure why AJ is adamant on spending the entire day with me.
I lift her legs off my lap, “You don’t have to spend the whole day here.
I know you probably have running to do or training with Rory. ” She stands in tandem with me.
“It’s your birthday.” She says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“You hate birthdays.”
“But you love them. I even bought a dress for when we go out tonight!” Her voice is full of heartfelt intention and I love her even more for it.
“Can we at least go and get tacos? I’m starving…” I whine.
She glances down at her phone and a genuine smile finally shows up on her face.
“Actually, let’s get ready early! I know we are supposed to go get tattoos and club later tonight.
But you’re right. Tacos sound perfect right now!
” She spins and starts walking down the small hallway to my open bedroom.
“Want to see my dress? I think you will be proud.” She smiles again over her shoulder.
She knows how much I love to dress up. After years of having to be in a one dimensional palette of outfits and expectations, it’s so freeing to be able to wear exactly what I feel like for the day.
She pulls out the bag she tossed in my room when she first got here this morning, unzipping it to show off a simple body con dress.
It has cutouts on both sides of her hips, low enough that the top and bottom of her viper tattoo will be showcased.
It only has one sleeve and as she lays it out, I can see that the one sleeve goes into a choker. She’s going to look deadly.
Then a thought occurs to me. I pull out my phone to shoot a text off.
Mia
Do you have a black dress with you by any chance?
D
I actually have two.
Mia
Perfect, pick your hottest one and we will meet you later.
I had a friend fly in to party with us tonight because I don’t have many friends but the ones I have I like sharing memories with. And tonight is going to be the best birthday I’ve ever had.
It only takes an hour to get us both ready.
I chose a black slip dress to make it more on theme with AJ’s dress.
There is a bit of lace that’s stitched into each side of the dress that dips down between my breasts and it hangs off my body easily, cutting off at my upper thigh.
Simple and sexy. I’m finishing up the final coat of mascara when a knock rattles through my apartment.
I glance up at where AJ is sitting on the bed and she just shrugs her shoulders.
When I open the door, there is no one there. It’s just an empty hallway. A bag on the ground catches my attention though. It has a note attached to it that says- meet me on the sidewalk.
“That’s creepy as fuck…” I mumble and close my door. AJ rips the bag from my hands and opens the door back up just as it has snapped shut.
“Let’s go!” She calls over her shoulder, no slowness to her stride.
“Are you on drugs today?” I grab my keys and phone and shuffle after her. I can’t let her walk to her death alone.
“It’s your birthday Mia.” She spins and nearly causes me to crash right into her. “If there was ever a day to do random shit that could get us into trouble. It’s today.” She smirks, “fuck it.”
Then she is confidently making her way down the stairs that leads to the front door of the apartment complex.
She’s a little taller than me, so it takes me a few extra hurried steps to catch up to her.
When I come around from behind her where she is stopped at the top of steps that lead to the sidewalk I can’t contain the excited giggle.
“You’re such a fucking weirdo, Rory!” I grip the bag from AJ and flop down next to him on the sidewalk. He’s giving me his most charming smile as he reaches beside him and holds out a container of salsa, in a bowl that matches the ones at the restaurant we go to every Monday.
“Now you two delinquents can have matching salsa bowls.” He leans over and kisses my cheek.
“Happy birthday, Mia.” AJ sits down next to me instead of next to her boyfriend.
He doesn’t look the slightest bit offended though.
She hands me a chip as I open the salsa.
“Oh! Here’s your actual gift though.” He speaks softly as he hands me a perfectly wrapped rectangle.
How funny we must look, fully dressed for a night out, scrunched together eating my favorite snack.
I pass the salsa to AJ and carefully unwrap the gift.
It’s a framed drawing from the exact night that I did this same thing with AJ, only we were both buzzed off of margaritas.
She never once made me feel out of place for being loud or overly excited.
And sitting with her on that curb, laughing until we cried, continues to be one of my favorite memories.
He even captured the tears rolling down my face perfectly.
AJ looks radiant though. It’s so surreal to see how others see you. We both look so carefree.
My throat restricts with the effort I’m giving to hold back tears.
I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his shoulders the best I can.
He’s too tall and broad for me to reach very far though.
“Thank you,” I breathe out. Rory is just one of those people who has every opportunity to hold himself higher than others because of who he is and how good he is, but instead he makes sure that your heart is always seen.
That’s why he is so perfect for AJ. She needed someone to remind her that her heart matters more than the shadows of her brain.
He wraps an arm around my waist and squeezes.
“You two are cut from the same cloth. Thanks for always taking care of her.” He whispers.
I pull back just in time to see his eyes focus fully on AJ sitting beside me.
When I straighten back out, she is stuffing another chip in her mouth. The bag is nearly half way empty.
Her eyes narrow at me, “Don’t judge me. I’m fucking starving. And bored.” She’s bored? It’s her fault we have been rotting on my couch all morning. She’s used to exerting so much energy every day that her body is probably in withdrawal from not running or hitting something.
“Can't have you girls getting angry over being hungry.” Rory stands up, taking the frame and wrapping paper from me. He tosses the paper in the trashcan a few feet away before reaching his hand out to AJ. “Let’s feed you.” He walks us over to his car and helps AJ into the passenger seat before taking his seat behind the wheel.
He lets me play whatever I want as he drives to wherever it is he’s taking us.
Oliver’s house. That’s where Rory is pulling into right now.
I can feel the blood in my veins start to pump faster and harder.
I’ve been here so many times, but never with other people.
There are several cars already here. I lean forward from the backseat and stare out the windshield as we pull up even closer.
“What’s going on?” My words are a little shaky as they fall from my lips.
“Don’t be mad at me.” AJ rushes out. “You will probably have to cancel your tattoo appointment, or see if we can go on a different day. Because you have a party you are about to walk into.” Rory parks as AJ turns around to check to see if I’m actually upset or not.
“You threw me a party?” I can feel my bottom lip start to quiver and that familiar tightness in my throat.
A tear escapes despite my attempt to keep it in.
Even my nose is stinging a little bit. “No one has ever thrown me a birthday party before.” I’m not sure if I actually speak the words or if they are in my head but from the look on AJ’s face, I’m sure she heard them either way.
“Don't you and your grandma have a big party every year?” She asks, clearly confused.
“It’s not a birthday party, Av. It’s a social event.
It has a purpose. Everything always has a purpose.
I’ve never had a party with just my friends.
Even when I was little, it was just a business dinner and Dad would make sure I got dessert.
” I get out of the car and pat under my eyes and breathe hard through my nose to get my emotions under control.
When AJ rounds the car to meet me on my side, she hugs me.
I’m always the one to hug her but she wraps her strong arms around me and squeezes with enough pressure to communicate that she is here for me.
“If it’s too much, we leave. No one will be upset.
” She assures me as she pulls away and nods at me.
I pull out my phone and send a quick text.
Mia
Change of plans, they threw a surprise party. Tattoos tomorrow?
D
I kept the day clear just in case this happened. I’ll see you at the club!