Page 98 of Always Love You More

I don’t want to leave, if it means leaving her.

“Jameson,” my mother prompts, the word pulling me from my thoughts.

I focus on the candles in front of me, watching the wax begin to melt. Closing my eyes, I blow them out and silently make my wish.

My mother slides the plate away from me and starts to pluck out the candles.

“I’ve gotta head in early,” my father says, pushing away from the counter. “See you at the garage tonight.”

He’s throwing a party to celebrate, something he started doing since I’ve gotten older. It’s not how I’d choose to spend my birthday—around a bunch of people I don’t know all that well. They usually get really rowdy, too. It’s just not my thing. But, what am I gonna do? Not show up to my own party? So, I tip my chin. “See you tonight.”

The front door slams closed behind him as I pour syrup over the plate of pancakes my mother sets back in front of me.

While I eat, she moves around the kitchen, cleaning as she hums to herself. I lean back in my chair, appreciating one of the few moments I feel at peace inside this house.

I mop up the remaining syrup with my last bite then bring the plate over to the sink. My mother takes it with a satisfied look. “That good, hmm?”

“Always,” I tell her. “Thanks for making them.”

Before she can answer, a horn sounds from outside.

“Gotta go,” I mutter.

She nods. “See you at the party.”

I push open the door and make my way out to Luke’s waiting car.

Billy jumps out and pulls me into a one-armed hug, slapping his other hand against my back. “Happy birthday, old man.”

The joke is worn out at this point. I’m only two months older than him, but he reminds me any chance he gets.

I move into the back seat, and Luke turns, wishing me a happy birthday, too.

“You coming to the party tonight?” I ask. It’s rare that Luke ever hangs out at things after-hours and even more rare that he lets Billy, but in the past, my birthday has been an exception.

“Course we’ll be there,” Luke answers before pulling away from the curb.

“Sam coming?” Billy asks.

I’ve never brought her to a party at the garage before, but when she found out about the one tonight, she insisted on coming.

“She’ll be there.”

“Sweet!”

“Just keep an extra eye on her, yeah?” I say, noticing the way Luke tenses at the fact that I even have to ask. He lets out an angry breath but doesn’t say anything, so I continue on. “Johnny will be there, too, but just in case, you know …”

Billy’s quiet for a second before he says, “Yeah, course I will.”

We pull in front of her house, and I start up the lawn like I do every day then knock on the front door and wait.

A couple minutes go by before the door swings open and she walks out. For just a moment, she looks upset, but by the time she focuses on me, she’s smoothed out her expression.

She inches into my space and glances up at me. “You look older,” she murmurs.

“You saw me yesterday.”

“Hmm,” she breathes, slipping her arms around me. Her cold hands slide up the back of my shirt, dragging over my bare skin.