4
By Wednesday, the bruise on my cheek is finally starting to slowly fade, and so is everyone at school’s fascination with it. I know people still wonder about Aiden, though, whispering in the halls when we walk by, as he’s being used as the main focal point in the anti–Andrew Kessler for governor campaign, but only a few brave souls have dared to ask him anything about it.
Aiden officially turns eighteen today, and we bring him a cupcake-cake for lunch. We couldn’t get a cake knife in the cafeteria, and a bunch of cupcakes iced over to look like one cake is a lot easier for us to divide.
“I told you not to make a fuss.” He sinks into his seat, looking like he wants to disappear as Annalisa lights the candles on the cake, completely ignoring him.
“No singing,” he orders, staring directly at Noah, who immediately inhales and belts out at the top of his lungs, “Happy Birthday to you . . .”
We join in as Aiden looks mortified, making us all sing louder, which annoys Aiden to no end. He blows out his candles as quickly as possible and we all rip a cupcake from the tray.
Aiden leans over to me as I devour my cupcake. “Jason and Jackson want you to come over after school. They want to make me a cake but don’t want me to see it, and I don’t let them mess around in the kitchen without supervision ever since I let them make a smoothie and they got chunks of fruit all over every square inch of it. So they want you to help.”
I try not to let it show on my face how happy it makes me that his brothers chose me over Mason or Julian or any of our other friends to come over and help them with their surprise cake.
“Sure. I didn’t know you were allowed back.”
The rest of the table continues their own conversations, not listening to me and Aiden. Across the table, Noah and Mason shove a whole cupcake each into their mouths and try to grab the last chocolate cupcake before anyone else.
“The police cleared the crime scene and collected whatever evidence they need. I’ve been allowed back a couple of times to get clothes and stuff, but the twins haven’t been back yet.”
“They didn’t want to make the cake with Natalia?”
He shakes his head. “They specifically wanted to do it with you.”
This time I can’t stop the thrill from reflecting on my face. They want me to help, and now I need to make sure we make the best damn cake that has ever graced this world. “I’ll pick up some ingredients and be there after school.”
When I show up at Aiden’s later, Jason and Jackson have pulled out every bowl, spatula, and kitchen measuring instrument they own. After we kick Aiden out of the kitchen, they help me unload the ingredients from the car and we get to work.
“Do you need help cracking the eggs?” I ask Jason as I mix the icing.
“Nope! I got it,” he replies, focusing intensely on the task at hand. His tongue sticks out in an adorable way as he selects an egg from the carton.
“Make that a yes. He always gets the shell in the bowl.” Aiden waltzes into the kitchen like he wasn’t banned by the three of us just thirty minutes ago.
Jackson shields the bowls and pans laid out on the counter with his body. “No peeking!”
“I already know you’re making me a cake,” Aiden says as he leans against the door frame.
“Yeah, but you don’t know what kind,” Jason retorts, matching Aiden’s stance with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Okay, you heard them, out of the kitchen.” I shoo Aiden into the hallway and away from spying on our baking attempt.
“I don’t like feeling useless.” He pouts, which only draws more attention to his perfect lips.
“I know, I know. You like taking care of everything. But it’s your birthday, let me be the responsible adult for once.”
He puts an arm around my back and draws me closer to him. “I’m eighteen today. I’m technically the adult here.”
“Then go do your taxes or iron your clothes or do whatever it is adults do. I got this.” I use every ounce of willpower to untangle us, but he just holds me closer and brings his lips to mine.
Like every single time I kiss Aiden, I melt into him. I can feel the heat emanating from his body as I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer to me. This is what a normal life with Aiden would be like. Yes. This is all that I want.
“Shit!” a voice exclaims from the kitchen, and Aiden and I push apart.
“Language!” Aiden scolds, heading into the kitchen to see what happened before I stop him.
“I got it,” I intervene, stopping him from venturing into the kitchen any farther. “Responsible adult here, remember?”
“Fine.” He steps back and it looks like it takes some effort. “I came to remind you guys that everyone is going to be here in an hour and a half.”
“Oh wow, time flies! Okay, no big deal, we got this.” I turn back into the kitchen and find Jason and Jackson hunched over the bowl, fishing around in the chocolate batter with forks.
“What happened?” I ask, looking into the bowl.
“I think I lost, like, half an eggshell in the batter,” Jason sheepishly admits. “Maybe more.”
He thinks? A quick glance at the clock tells me there’s no time to start over. “Let’s just see if we can find it, or as much of it as we can.”
“What if we don’t find it all?” Jackson frowns. He wanted this cake to be perfect.
“It’ll add . . . texture to the cake. No big deal,” I reassure him.
An hour and forty-five minutes later, the table is set and the cake is iced, and our friends have arrived to celebrate Aiden’s birthday.