5
LO
I slept great.
The next morning, I ordered breakfast. When I
opened the door, there was a birthday cake
on the table.
Mark was sitting behind it.
“Happy belated birthday, Sarah.”
I froze. The breakfast app was already on the
payment screen.
“I know you were upset about what happened
yesterday, and that ring is gone for good.”
His long, slender fingers pushed his phone
towards me
Г
“That style didn’t really suit you anyway. Pick
something else. Ashley is just a kid. Don’t
hold it against her. Kissing is important, but
she has never taken it seriously, you know…”
“You got me a cake? Thanks a bunch!”
I cut him off mid–sentence.
He stared at me.
“Sarah?”
I leaned over the cake, reading the inscription.
“Happy 18th Birthday, Forever Young.”
“What a great sentiment, thank you! I love it!”
く
He frowned. “Sarah…”
I was getting plates and silverware.
“What is it?”
He looked down. “Nothing.”
My voice was bright.
“This place has the best frosting in town. I
can never seem to get it. You really went out
of your way.”
He just mumbled, “Yeah,” distracted by his
thoughts.
“Sarah, about the ring…” “Here, the biggest
piece for you, you have to eat it all!”
I put the biggest piece in front of him.
Then I took a smaller piece for myself and
took a bite.
“Is this new? It’s really good.”
“Sarah.”
He frowned. “Can you look at what I got
you?”
I looked down.
His phone screen was on the DR Jewelry
website.
The brand that only lets you buy one ring per
customer.
く
My hand trembled.
I can’t even imagine how thrilled I would be to
see this before yesterday.
But now, I was just enjoying my favorite cake.
“No, it’s fine. That’s such a waste of money.”
“Sarah?”
Mark was looking at me like I was crazy.
I smiled. “Seriously, I don’t care about that
stuff anymore. Don’t waste your money. I’m happy you got me the cake.”
I put my empty plate on the table.
L
“I have a meeting today, I gotta get going.
Remember to put the plates in the
dishwasher.”
I went into the bedroom to change.
THUMP!
I heard a chair scrape back.
I turned around. Mark had put his phone
away.
“Whatever. I’ll get Ashley something. She likes
that kind of thing.”
He slammed the door on his way out.
He didn’t touch the cake.
L
I didn’t see him at school for the next few
days.
