I swipe at the tears that automatically pool in my eyes.
“No tears.” Mom hands me a tissue. “If anyone gets to cry today, it’s me.” She sniffles, and her eyes well up.
“Don’t cry, Mom.” I reach out and envelop her in a hug. “I’ll never stop the waterworks if you start.”
She eases back, clasping my face in her hands. “I can’t believe you are eighteen. It seems like it has happened in the blink of an eye.”
Dad sits on the other side of Mom, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “You have given us so much joy, Vivien. You were the miracle we prayed for, and no parent could ask for a better daughter. You are the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful girl with a big compassionate heart, and we are so very proud of you.”
“You forgot intelligent and talented,” Mom says, laughing softly as she brushes tears from her cheeks.
Emotion weaves around my heart, and it feels fit to burst. I know how much Mom and Dad wanted kids and how difficult it was for them to conceive. Then Mom had a succession of miscarriages before getting pregnant with me. They tried for more kids after I was born, but she never got pregnant again. I think, if it wasn’t for Reeve, and the fact he’s like a surrogate son, they would have adopted. Warmth spreads across my chest as I wrap an arm around each of my parents. “If I’m all that, it’s because I had the best role models. Thank you for being the best parents a girl could have.”
“Lord.” Mom waves her hands in front of her beautiful face. “It’s entirely too early for all this emotion.” She laughs again while tucking strands of her lustrous black hair behind her ears. “We thought we would take you to breakfast.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Maybe you can drive us in your new car.” Dad hands me a rectangular black box. His hazel eyes—so similar to my own—sparkle with happiness and excitement.
My heart is pounding as I open the box, squealing when I see the Mercedes-Benz keyring. “No way!” I lift excited eyes to my parents. “You didn’t get me a Mercedes AMG GT!”
Mom winks, and her green eyes are tearing up again. “We did.”
I clamp a hand over my mouth. “Oh my God. This is too much.” We have a garage full of cars and SUVs outside, but my parents know I’ve been salivating for an AMG since I got my first permit. I never thought in a million years they would get me one, because they are careful not to spoil me too much. They have instilled in me the value of money, and I know how fortunate I am to have grown up not wanting for anything. “So much for not spoiling me,” I murmur, unable to contain my grin.
“It’s a special occasion, and we figure if you enjoy driving it we’ll see more of you once you leave for UCLA.” UCLA isn’t far from my parents’ house, and even with the shitty L.A. traffic, the daily commute would be manageable. However, Reeve and I want the full student experience, including living away from home. We plan on finding accommodations close to the campus, and we’ll start actively looking as soon as Reeve is back home.
“You guys are the best.” I squeeze my parents before jumping up to get dressed.
My sadness at Reeve’s absence is relegated to the sidelines as I drive my parents to breakfast in my brand-new car.
My heart is swollen with emotion, and my hand shakes as I hold my cell, watching Reeve’s very public, very romantic, birthday message for the umpteenth time. He posted it four hours ago, and it’s already had over two million views. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve watched it, and my eyes turn watery every single time.
As well as flowers, he sent me a massive box filled with gifts, including a diamond-encrusted heart bracelet to match my locket, a stunning black and gold Chanel purse, a bunch of Victoria’s Secret lingerie that made me blush, and a stunning Charlotte Tilbury makeup set. I nearly keeled over when I opened the box, and I’m blown away by how much thought and effort he went to for my birthday.
I would trade every gift just to have him in my arms for the night, but he has still managed to make me feel like the most treasured woman on the planet, and it goes a long way toward dispelling the jealous doubts I’ve been harboring.
“Man, Reeve’s so pussy-whipped I’m embarrassed for him,” Nate supplies from somewhere behind me.
“Shut the fuck up.” Audrey flips him the bird. “I’m trying to listen.”
“Babe, you’re starting to give me a complex.” Alex props his butt on the edge of the couch in our living room. Outside, the band is getting set up in the massive marquee Mom had erected on the grounds of our house. I had considered renting a club in downtown L.A. for my party, but I don’t want any paparazzi sniffing around. Plus, if we had the party in a club, we’d be forced to drink soda all night. We have stashed a supply of beer and vodka in the garden, and the rents have promised to leave us to our own devices once the music starts, so that’s when the party will really start.
“If it means you raise your game, I’m not sorry I’m obsessed with Reeve’s message.” Audrey winks at her boyfriend, moving the recording back to the start so we can watch it again.
Reeve is shirtless, sitting cross-legged in gray sweatpants on his hotel bed, looking so fucking gorgeous, I wish I could transport there through my cell and jump his bones. His hair is damp, and a few beads of water cling to his ripped upper torso confirming he’s not long out of the shower.
Is it weird to be envious of those little water droplets? Because I am.
I can almost hear the collective drooling of females as he flashes a wide grin at the camera, showcasing his perfect set of teeth as he talks.
“Hey, guys. Today is a very special day, because on this day eighteen years ago, the most important person in my life was born.” He holds up a baby picture of me, and if it wasn’t so cute, I’d yell at my mom for sending him that. Audrey grips my hand as we watch and listen together. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for this gorgeous, smart, funny, compassionate, loving woman,” he adds, replacing the baby picture with a picture of us from his birthday in January. Our arms are around one another, and we’re smiling at the camera. “Have you ever loved someone so much it physically pains you to be apart from them?” he asks, rubbing a hand across his impressive chest. “As much as I am loving bringing Camden Marshall to life, I am missing my baby so much.”
He leans in closer to the screen, and hearts are breaking all over the US. “I love you, Viv. You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I don’t even care that the guys are going to give me shit for this.” He blows me a kiss, and I melt onto the couch. “You are my world, and I wish I could be there to hug you and kiss you. Only twenty-seven days until I see you again. I can’t wait. Till then, have the happiest of birthdays, my love.” He blows me another kiss before ending the recording, and I flop back on the couch with the biggest smug grin on my face.
8
“You so need to up your game, Alex.” Audrey attempts to scowl at her boyfriend, but she’s wearing a dazed dreamy expression that I suspect isn’t much different from mine. She leans in, pressing her mouth to my ear. “I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. He just professed his love for you in front of the world, and there’s no denying the sincerity of his message. Honestly, I think I’m half in love with Reeve now myself.”
I laugh, nudging her in the ribs as I start scrolling through the comments. “That had better be a joke. Hands off my man.” I’m smiling as I read through the fan messages, but it doesn’t take too long for my smile to fade. A lot of the messages are swooning, mentioning how romantic Reeve is, and how lucky I am, but there are nasty comments too from girls who think I’m not pretty enough for Reeve, and there are a few comments stating Reeve should be with Saffron and not with me.