Page 24 of Charger

I laugh along with her. “That’s probably true. He’d be all like… Why can’t you just let me sleep? It’s not that big of a deal. Then he would get upset later for not making it a big deal.” I roll my eyes.

She sighs, looking at me all motherly. “Mom, it’s way too early for you to start crying. I’m only eighteen—it doesn’t mean I’m getting married and having babies.”

“Damn right you’re not.” She playfully swats my hand. “But time flies by and before you know it, you will be married with children of your own. And then you get to watch them grow up to become amazing adults, just like today.” Okay, so my mom has a way with words, for sure.

“Okay, well, now I might cry so let’s calm it down.” I sniffle, grabbing my glasses from the end table.

“Oh, here.” She hands me a small box with an envelope. At first, I assume it’s from her and dad. But my mother wouldn’t have used a brown paper bag as gift wrap. “Zach dropped it off early this morning and said to give it to you.” An automatic smile forms, one that I couldn’t stop if I tried.

“Well, I’m gonna go put some coffee on before your father has a stroke.” She kisses my forehead before leaving my room.

After I complete my morning routine, I sit on my bed in front of Zach’s present. It makes me sad that we haven’t talked all that much this week. He said he was having trouble at home… with his mom. Luckily that guy never came back.

I start with the card. On the front, there’s a picture of a shooting star that says Happy Birthday. Not expecting the long, hand-written message inside, I start reading it.

To my pretty girl,

Sorry I have to miss your and Garrett’s birthday today. Mom has an AA meeting and I’m driving her ass. If not, I know damn well she won’t go. Guess it’s a start. Anyway, I’m sorry I haven’t seen you much this week. I think about you every day and I can’t help but remember the sweetness of how you taste or the touch of your skin. Yeah, I’m going to tell you how I feel whether or not you feel the same. Even though, I know you do too. It’s only a matter of time before you admit it. I know we’ve been best friends for a long time, but the feelings I have for you are real, Jules. I hope you have a great birthday because you deserve the fucking sky and all the stars in it.

Yours truly,

The hottest boy in school.

All I can do is stare at the card in my hand, rereading it a few times. Okay, my naïve self needs to stop thinking he’s only a horny teenager and get over myself. So, Zach does feel the same way I do. I’m nervous, excited, and terrified. All at the same time.

With my hands shaking, I fumble to open his present. Inside, there’s a necklace with a silver star charm hanging from the chain. It’s absolutely beautiful and so thoughtful. It also makes me feel bad knowing that he probably spent most of his summer earnings on this. He spent a lot of his time working at his uncle’s bike shop.

When I hold it out in front of me, my heart does a flip flop. The same way it always does for him. On the back, it’s engraved with my initials. Zach’s the first boy, (who wasn’t a family member) to ever buy me a present.

My brother, half asleep, drags himself into my room. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair. “Happy birthday, loser.” Pulling my desk chair out, he falls down onto it.

“Right back at you.”

“Present from mom and dad?” He nods at the jewelry I’m holding.

“Um, actually it’s from Zach.”

“Oh?” His eyebrows scrunch together.

“So, what plans do you have today besides the big birthday dinner?” I say, quickly changing the subject.

“I don’t know. Might take Lisa to mini golf before it closes for the winter.”

“Sounds like fun.”

There’s a moment of silence. And I know he wants to ask me about Zach.

“So, you two have something going on or what?” His wheels are turning, as he looks from the necklace back to me. I don’t know what to tell him. Does it really matter?

“To be honest, I don’t really know, maybe.” I pause to make sure he doesn’t have a meltdown. “Are you mad about it?”

The brief hesitation in his voice scares me. I would be crushed.

“Nah, my best friend and my sister, why not?” He shrugs and I let out a sigh of relief. “Just know if he hurts you, best bud or not, I will end him.”

I shake my head. “Always so dramatic, bro.”

“Just sayin’.” He gets up from the chair and yawns. “Well, I guess I’ll go shower.”

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