“Surprise!”everyone yells in unison, holding up party poppers as Cecelia walks into my parents' house. “Happy birthday!”
Everyone’s here, even Aspen’s whole family, and I don’t think she expected it. Neither did I, to be fair, because it’s not often we can get together at the same time. Especially for Silas it’s a crazy feat, considering he hates parties that don’t revolve around murder.
Cecelia stares at us for a moment in complete shock before a smile erupts on her face. “Wow. Thank you.”
Heath is the first to approach with a gift, shoving it into her hand. “Congrats, sis.”
She opens it up and pulls out an expensive Louis Vuitton bag, squealing, “Oh my God, Heath!” She jumps into his arms.
“You like it?” he asks.
“I love it!” she replies.
Atlas is up next, placing a tiny box in her hand. “I thought you might appreciate something small.”
She opens up the box, and it’s from Cartier, a ring with plenty of diamonds.
“Love it!” she says, immediately putting it on her ring finger, which already has too many rings. “You guys always know what I like.”
Orion rolls his eyes. “We grew up with you, of course we know how much you love the rich life.” But he still offers her a giant box from Chanel, and she jumps up and down like a little schoolgirl from the excitement before ripping the box open and pulling out the magnificent dress.
“God, I love you guys,” she says.
“Yeah, they sure know how to spoil a spoiled-rotten kid,” I say, winking before I pull out the box I saved. “But they don’t know where your heart truly belongs, now do they?”
She puts it all aside and grabs the box from my hand, throwing off the lid to reveal the sweetest hand-made, velvety cupcakes she has ever laid eyes on, bought by yours truly.
I know what my sister likes. She might shriek for a bunch of expensive branding, but she’ll die for this.
“You didn’t,” she says, gasping with excitement. “These are all mine?”
“All of them. Mom and Dad bought a separate cake for the guests,” I reply. “Happy birthday, Sisi.”
“Fuck yes,” she says, pulling one out to dig in immediately, and her eyes nearly roll into the back of her head.
“Cupcakes, huh?” Orion throws his arm around my shoulders. “Cheapskate.”
“I can’t help that I know what she likes,” I reply, grinning. “More than any of you fuckers.”
She devours the cupcakes like an animal, and we all laugh.
“Can’t believe you actually went into that shop. I thought you hated it there,” she says with a full mouth.
“A soldier never backs down from a battlefield,” I say, wriggling my brows.
“Thank you, everyone,” Sisi says.
“Hold up, you haven’t even opened our gifts yet,” Xavier tells her.
“Yeah, there are some self-care supplies inside that I’m sure will come in handy when you go back to Prodigium Academy,” Melody says, winking.
“Oh, I’m not going back there for a while,” Cecelia says. “I’ve decided to take a few semesters off and take some classes at Spine Ridge U instead.”
“Wait, for real?” Xavier’s jaw drops.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re staying!” Orion says, hugging her tight.
“You guys didn’t know yet?” I boast.
