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“Yup. It really is.”
“Aren’t your favorite colors blue and yellow?” She gives my outfit an appraising once-over.
I’m wearing a long, off-white tulle skirt that nearly touches the floor and a pale blue, off-the-shoulder shirt. My bra is the same color. “I don’t mind pink.”
She squeezes my arm. “We’ll make a plan once you’ve graduated to go on a trip somewhere. Just the two of us – anywhere you want. I’ll even brave any big city you might want to go to. Plus before you settle into a new job, you can visit me and North for a week. We have a month-long retreat in Arizona next month. I think you’d love it.”
“That sounds fun,” I agree. My mom is one of the most sincere people I know. Maybe that’s why things feel complicated with her.
“And maybe you can bring the owner of the cologne you’re wearing,” she whispers. My stomach drops.
“Zara, I poured you a white wine.” Dad hands her a stemmed glass.
“Peggy, I have prosecco for you.” He passes me a fluted glass with BIRTHDAY GIRL etched in pretty cursive. “Oh! And I got you something special.” Dad rushes off and returns a moment later. “Ta da!” He holds out a tiara in rose gold that also reads BIRTHDAY GIRL.
“Oh wow! That’s just…so fun!” Thank sweet baby Jesus that dinner is coming to us and I don’t have to go out wearing a birthday crown.
“I thought you would like it.” Dad beams.
“I love it, Dado. So much.” I try to match his smile, but lie-riddled guilt gnaws at me. I love him and how hard he tries, but I think he still sees me as nine and not twenty-one.
“Maybe Zara can help you put it on?”
“I can absolutely do that.” Mom squeezes my shoulder.
“Great.” Dad gives us two thumbs-up. “I’ll call the Thai place and make sure we’re still on target for a six-thirty delivery. Guests should arrive any minute.”
“Mom and I can manage the door. You do whatever you need to,” I assure him.
As soon as he disappears down the hall, Mom turns to me. “How many times has he called the Thai place today?”
“Three, I think. But I dropped off a bunch of signed merch yesterday so I could thank and warn them in advance. He just wants everything to be perfect.”
“He loves you to pieces.” She helps fasten the tiara to my hair. “Although I think someone forgot to tell him you’re turning twenty-one, not twelve.”
I shrug. “I’m his one and only.” The effort he’s gone to over my birthday proves that.
She nods thoughtfully. “It would be good if he found someone.”
“Agreed. I’ve been trying to get him to date, but I’m not having much luck. Maybe whoever buys the night with him at the gala auction will end up being the woman of his dreams.”
Mom and I laugh. Last year at the auction, he was purchased by a woman who would have loved more than a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night even though she was closer to my grandmother’s age than my dad’s.
“What’s he waiting for?” Mom muses.
“I don’t know. Maybe for me to be done with school and on my own? He’s really focused on what’s coming after he hangs up his skates. He may want to be settled in the next phase of his career.”
“Sounds like an excuse not to let anyone into his heart except you,” she says. “Does he realize the pressure that puts on your relationship with him?”
“He gave up a lot for me,” I say defensively.
Her smile turns sad and knowing. “He’s always chosen you, sweetheart. From the moment you were born, you were his first and only love.”
This conversation is getting heavy, as it sometimes does with my mom, and I’m already carrying enough guilt. So when the doorbell chimes, I rush to answer it. Rix, Hemi, Tally, and Tristan stand in the hall. Tristan is holding a box from Just Desserts, and the girls all hold wrapped gifts.
“This was supposed to be a present-free night,” I say with my hands on my hips.
“Pfft. As if.” Hemi rolls her eyes.
