I hugged them both and pointed out the various points of entertainment. “Glad you two could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss this,” Sylvie said. “Olivia told me Miller had spared no expense.”
Frannie touched up her lipstick then threw her Maybelline in her fanny pack. “She also told us there might be some single dads here. So if you see any who look like they’d enjoy an evening out with a more mature woman, you send them my way.”
“There are a few dads in attendance,” I said as I panned the growing crowd. “But the ones who have joined us are probably in their mid-thirties.”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with that.” Frannie patted her wig and took another look. “Nothing wrong with that at all.”
“Is the big surprise still a go?” Olivia asked me.
A wave of nerves hit as I nodded. “It is. The final present will be opened at four o’clock.”
“What else could a girl need?” Sylvie shook her blond head in disbelief at the farm. “You’ve got helicopter tours, cornhole, laser tag, an obstacle course, horse rides, henna artists, more photo booths than even Frannie can handle, and that beautiful giant slide with an inner tube that’s calling my name.”
Not to mention a local band performing cover songs of pop hits, tables upon tables of food, plus slushie fountains. It truly was unreal. “I think this will be a birthday Ava will never forget.”
“Or Miller.” Olivia sent me a worried look. “Does he still not know?”
“Not know what?” Sylvie asked.
Frannie’s eyes rounded with delight. “I smell intrigue.”
“Nothing to concern yourselves with—yet.” I put on a nervous smile as Miller made his way toward us. “Let’s just say we have one more attraction that will definitely top them all.” I hoped.
“Speaking of Mr. Hotness, here he comes.” Sylvie waved him over. “Mmm-mmm. Girl, you should let him put a ring on it.”
“We’ve been dating five seconds.” My lips were smiling, but my words were not.
“We’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Olivia said.
“Sure have,” Frannie added. “Mostly by way of illegal surveillance methods, but still, you two arefire.”
“Hello, ladies.” Miller approached with Ava and Poppy at his side. He slipped an arm around me and kissed my cheek, smelling like earthy man and potential heartbreak. It was a heady combination. “This is quite the party.”
“It’s amazing.” Ava’s smile was a work of art, something that should be captured in oils, then framed and hung in a museum alongside other priceless greats.
“I’ve already had two slushies.” Poppy wiped her hand across her purple lips. “Uncle Miller said I’m cut off.”
“Moderation is so hard,” Frannie said. “Girl, I get it.”
“It looks like your entire school showed up,” I said to Ava. “They must like you a lot.”
Ava’s face was absolutely transformed with happiness. “I’ve already had two girls ask me to hang out next weekend, and one boy wants my number.”
“You can give him my number,” Miller said. “So I can text him the wordsnoandway.”
“I’m probably gonna be mad about that later,” Ava said with a grin. “But not now. Because I have too much to do. Come on, Poppy, let’s go grab a cupcake and slide down the hill.”
“Wait for me!” Frannie called as she hustled after them.
Sylvie used the conversation lull to round on Miller and stick a pointy fingernail in his chest. “What exactly are your intentions for my favorite granddaughter?”
“I’m standing right here, Sylvie,” Olivia mumbled.
I knew Sylvie was only teasing, but it felt good to be so loved unconditionally by my grandmother as her very own. We were not related by blood, but we were bonded with something even stronger—love—a gift I’d never stop being grateful for. “I don’t think we need to harass Miller right now,” I said. “He has hosting duties to tend to. Parents to welcome, boys to scare away.”
“I’m afraid Hattie’s right.” Miller surprised me by kissing me on the lips, a take-your-time, who-cares-who’s-watching smooch. I didn’t want to be rude to our host, so of course I returned his very public display of affection. “I do need to handle some hosting business.”
