Chapter 59: CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

EVA'S POV

"Happy birthday!"

The words rang through my room before I even had the chance to fully open my eyes.

I blinked sleepily, squinting against the morning sunlight spilling through the curtains as my bedroom door swung open. Standing by the doorway were my parents, both smiling so brightly it almost hurt to look at them first thing in the morning.

"Mum," I groaned, pulling the duvet over my head. "It's too early."

"It's never too early for birthdays," she argued, already making her way over to my bed. Before I could protest, she tugged the blanket away from my face and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from my eyes. "Look at you. You're another year older."

"Yet you still sleep in during the weekend," Dad added as he leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms. "I was beginning to think we'd have to bring the cake in here."

I laughed softly, finally sitting up against the headboard. She leaned down to wrap her arms around me before I could dodge the hug. I laughed again, returning it just as lightly.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thank you."

A smile found its way onto my face before I could stop it. For a brief moment, the house felt unusually full.

The smell of breakfast drifted faintly upstairs and I smiled again at the thought. My parents were always busy yet managed to make time for our birthdays.

My phone buzzed on the bedside table and almost instinctively, I reached for it, a text message from Peter appearing on the screen.

Peter: Happy birthday, little sis.

Peter: Coach has us training in like ten minutes but I'll call you once I'm free.

I shook my head. We had barely spoken since he left home and I could only imagine how exhausting it must have been.

Eva: Thanks.

Eva: Try not to die before then.

His reply came almost instantly.

Peter: No promises.

A quiet laugh escaped me.

"What are you smiling at?" Mum asked.

"Peter," I answered, locking my phone. "He says he'll call later."

"I'm surprised Coach is giving them enough free time to even make a phone call," Dad muttered.

"I told you that camp was going to be intense," Mum replied as she turned back towards me. "Now come downstairs before your breakfast gets cold."

"I'll be there in a minute."

I nodded, watching both of them leave my room before letting myself fall backwards onto the bed again.

My eyes drifted towards the ceiling as the quiet settled around me. Birthdays had always felt strange. And this year for some reason, it felt even stranger.

Eventually, I pushed myself off the bed, slipped into my slippers and made my way downstairs.

The dining table was already set by the time I walked in. Dad was halfway through his coffee while Mum placed another plate of pancakes in the middle of the table, insisting she'd somehow made too few despite there being enough to feed at least eight people.

It felt nice. And at that moment, I couldn’t help but feel Peter’s absence in the house.

"So," Dad eventually spoke up, setting his coffee mug down. "Any big plans today?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

"What do you mean, not really?" Mum frowned. "It's your birthday. Aren’t you throwing a party or something?"

“Peter isn’t home,” I shook my head. “It feels weird to have a party without him.”

Before either of them could reply, an all too familiar voice drifted in from the hallway.

"Happy birthday!"

I barely had enough time to stand before Lily came charging into the dining room.

"There she is!"

She threw her arms around me so suddenly that I stumbled backwards, laughing as I hugged her back.

"Good morning to you too."

"It is a good morning," she corrected, finally letting go. "It's your birthday."

"And therefore everybody else's business," Ryan finished as he walked in behind her carrying two brightly coloured gift bags. “Happy birthday!”

“Aw, thanks guys,” I smiled at them, collecting the gift bags from then. “You didn't hace to.”

“Lily and Ryan, right?” my mum smiled warmly at them. “Haven’t seen you two in a while.”

My dad agreed and the next few minutes was spent with them hugging each other warmly and my parents once again making promises to be more present.

“Eva has refused to throw a party,” my dad spoke up, reaching for his wallet. He could at all of us then with a mischievous expression on his face, pulled out his card. “In that case, you all can go out and enjoy yourself tonight. It’s on me.”

I exchanged excited glances with Lily and Ryan.

"We haven't exactly been around much these past couple of weeks," my mum urged. "Consider it our way of making up for that."

“Thank you!” I excitedly collected the card, waving it at Lily and Ryan. After spending the entire week preparing for our exams, we were all more than thrilled. “We’ll definitely enjoy ourselves.”

“Yes, we’ll do that,” Lily flashed them a smile, Ryan adding, “Thank you, really.”

“Have fun,” almost simultaneously, they rose to their feet, leaving the three of us in it. “And enjoy your breakfast. There’s more in the kitchen if you want.”

"So," Lily suddenly turned to me between bites the second they were completely out of sight. "What are we doing tonight?"

“Where are we going,” Ryan asked properly. “Should we hit the club?”

“With my parents’ card, how smart,” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just go to a restaurant. We deserve to eat something fancy.”

“I agree.”

“One hundred percent,” Lily agreed then leaned backwards, suddenly peering at me. “Well, anyone else you want to invite?”

I knew exactly what she was heading at. Aaron.

We’d been spending the past couple of days together and surprisingly, he'd become someone I genuinely enjoyed spending time with.

“I’m not sure he even knows today’s my birthday.”

“Well, tell him then,” she raised her hands in the air dramatically. “Tell him and then invite him. What do you have to lose? He’ll even bring you a gift if he’s smart.”

“Okay, okay,” I laughed and then pulled out my phone. I could feel both their eyes on me as my thumb hovered over Aaron's name for just a second before I opened the chat.

Eva: Hey.

Eva: So, um, today’s my birthday.

Eva: And my parents are forcing me to celebrate my birthday tonight.

Another second message followed before I could overthink it.

Eva: Do you want to come?

I barely managed to lock my phone before it buzzed in my hand. They both leaned over the table, wiggling their eyebrows at me.

I smiled shyly, as I looked down at the screen. He had already replied.

Aaron: Your first offense is not letting me know today’s your birthday.

Aaron: But since you’re inviting me, I’ll forgive you.

Aaron: I’ll be there.