“He was standing behind her the entire time, and then he yelled at her. Like, really yelled. He said that she was full of shit and that she was, and I quote,” Hannah takes her hands and forms pretend quotations with her fingers, “‘a shitty fucking friend, and Sadie deserves better.’ Seriously, the look on Samantha’s face was priceless, Sadie. She was mortified. Her face turned about ten shades of red, and her eyes were so big I thought they were literally going to pop out of her head.”
Hannah and Anna start to laugh all over again, but I can’t even muster up a fake laugh. I just sit, confused as hell about what I just heard. I threw it in Rowen’s face that he and Samantha dated or were still dating, and he didn’t correct me. He didn’t say anything. Why?
“So, he and Samantha didn’t date?” I ask, and I’m irritated that my voice is full of hope.
“Apparently not. We aren’t sure of the whole story because we were too afraid to ask Rowen, and then Samantha’s family moved shortly after she left for college, so she hasn’t been back, not that she would give us any information anyway. She always hated us.” She did. She despised Hannah Marie and Anna. She said they were “annoying” and “too girly” for her taste, but really, I think she just hated that I had friends other than just her.
For the next few hours we listen to the music, catch up on all the gossip that doesn’t involve me (thankfully), and we make plans for my birthday, too. The night flies by and I don’t get home until after ten. I go straight to my room, mumbling an excuse that I’m tired (but really I was hiding the alcohol on my breath, and Hannah Marie was so drunk she had to leave her jeep at the park and walk home). When I finally dive into bed, hoping to fall into a deep slumber, I can’t. Thoughts of Rowen and Samantha keep clashing together, leaving me to toss and turn all night.
Nine
“Wake up, birthday girl!!” I shoot up out of bed to the sound of one of those birthday noisemaker things.
“Oh my GOD!” I take my pillow and throw it over my head, getting away from the obnoxious noise coming from my dad.
“Oh, come on, Sadie. You used to love when I did this.”
I peek my head out from my pillow and grimace. “I loved it when I was, like, seven, Dad. Not nineteen.” But the truth is, I still kind of love it.
My mom saunters into my room wearing her pink cotton robe with her hair pulled up into a bun. She’s holding a piece of cake with a candle in the middle, flame flickering with each step, and my dad joins in on her birthday song. I sit up slowly and smile at the pair of them. I used to hate that I was an only child, but now I think I love it. I don’t think I’d be this close with my parents if I had other siblings. I get all the love to myself.
I take a tiny bite of the chocolate goodness, and it melts on my tongue. I stifle a little moan. So, so good and so worth being woken up at the crack of dawn by an obnoxious noisemaker.
“Okay, what are you plans for after work? Anything?” My mom is sitting on my bed, watching me take bites of the cake she made.
“No, I’m going to come straight home, but tomorrow night I’m going to an early 4th of July party with Hannah Marie and Anna.” I’m somewhat excited, especially now that I know that Samantha won’t be there. She is really the only true reason that I have avoided so many get-togethers involving more people and now that I know she’s moved away, I couldn’t be happier.
“Well, don’t forget this isn’t your 21st birthday, little missy.” I roll my eyes at my dad’s pretend stern voice. He’s leaning against the doorframe with a playful scowl on his face. My dad is one of those dads that likes to act all protective and scary but the truth is, he probably wouldn’t hurt a fly. He can’t help but be friendly to anyone and everyone. Try going to the grocery store with him; it takes twice the normal amount of time because he strikes up a conversation with evvverryone. Even the produce guy.
“I won’t, Dad.” I climb out of bed and start getting ready for work, bombarded by continued random noisemaker sounds and the awful singing of my dad, popping his head in my room to sing me happy birthday, again.
When I get to work, I try my hardest to hide and blend in so no one remembers it’s my birthday, but Sash ruins that the second he walks into the employee room. He announces that it’s my birthday and hands me a gift, allowing my face to turn crimson, matching my lovely bathing suit. Everyone’s eyes are on me and I fight the urge to cover my face. But, no one really lingers on my scar for too long and I don’t even recoil. Maybe turning nineteen is like turning over a new leaf.
When I reach inside the bag and pull out the white tissue paper, I feel something hard and cool against my fingers. I bring it out and have to cover my mouth, subduing a laugh.
“Seriously?” I look at Sash and he’s holding in his laugh, too.
“What is it?” Hallie exclaims, and I turn the picture around and show everyone. It’s a black frame encasing a picture of me on my lifeguarding chair, looking out into the pool. Then right in the center are the words, “Country Club Hero Saves Little Boy From Drowning!” with the date underneath.
“I can’t believe you did this.” I glance at Sash, who’s beaming.
“Oh yes. We are hanging it right here.” He already has his nail and hammer out, ready to pound it into the wall beside the clock in machine.
I laugh and shake my head. “Thanks, Sash.” Just as I get the words out, Rowen walks in—late.
“Cutting it close; Only one minute until you’re supposed to clock in.” Sash’s voice booms with authority, but Rowen just rolls his perfect brown eyes.
“What’s that?” he asks as he watches Sash hammer into the wall.
“Sadie’s birthday present.” Sash motions to the picture frame that he has taken from my hands.
Rowen takes in the picture frame, a small smile playing at his lips. I can’t get away from him faster if I tried. I dodge any conversation Rowen wants to have by heading directly for my lifeguarding stand. Once I settle on my perch hoping that no one decides to drown today, I tentatively glance in his direction. He looks away quickly, and I’m left to avoid him all day, again.
By the end of my shift, I only managed to make eye contact with Rowen twice. Once while we were switching lifeguarding stands and again in one of my sweeping glances as I checked the area for anything exciting. And I have to admit, a thrill went through my body the second our eyes locked. It’s amazing that after everything we’ve been through, he can still make my body do unspeakable things.
Once again when I reach my car to go home, Rowen is wa
iting for me, right beside that damn truck. My shoulders slump in defeat. Why can’t he just go home before me, for once? That would have been the perfect birthday present.