Page 95 of The Kiss of Deception

Shaped like the trophy I won all those weeks ago on the luckiest day of my life, the small features a flickering candle. The flame vanishes with an exhale, a small spiral of smoke between us.

Cheers erupt, volume dimmed when Zoe’s finger dips into frosting and snakes swiftly through the air to smear it across my cheek.

“Oops.” She giggles.

I want to pull her finger into my mouth and suck, for cleaning purposes, but I refrain—crowd around us and all that. It’s a lot less scandalous that she licks it herself, pink lips puckering around the digit, the hollowness in her cheeks disappearing into a grin.

Aching to touch her, I tuck her long overgrown bangs behind her ear. “Do that again and I—”

“I never want to hear the end of that sentence, Miles Blackstein.”

That voice has a direct line to my heart, and I finally see beyond my entire eyesight.

Warmth radiates through the very center of my chest to consume my whole body, cresting in a grin that blooms until my face hurts. “Mom?”

Hands that held me from my very first breath caress my cheekbones with tenderness. Taller than average, she looks small by my side ever since my sweet sixteenth, so she has to tip her face a little to meet the eyes I inherited from her.

“Happy birthday, honey.”

“Mom!” I pull her into my arms. It’s been too long. First resolution for my 28th year is to remedy that and visit her often. “You’re—How are you here? Why did you tell me you couldn’t come?” I babble, swaying us from one foot to the other.

“It’s called a surprise,” she deadpans with glossy eyes.

“I’m so happy you’re here.” I almost jump to hug her again. “I missed you so much!”

With a sniff, she draws back again, gesturing towards the crowd that dispersed to give us privacy. “Go on, greet your guests.”

Outside, they mingle in the heat. All except for one. Hands inside jeans pockets, Nicholas leans against the wall. He grabs the bottle I offer, tips its neck to greet mine with a click, and we take a swig.

“The beer sucks,” is his opening line.

Admittedly, it sucks.

My girl’s knowledge about beer isn’t great. If I had to guess, I’d say Zoe perused the shelves in the store for approximately five seconds before settling on the most expensive, convinced that higher price equals better quality.

“Just chug it down with a smile. Or whichever scowl consists of your smile.”

Unnervingly impassive, he stares at me. “I was impressed when I got the invitation. Didn’t expect it, considering you became an avid recluse ever since you set foot in this city.”

“Maybe I decided to explore your lifestyle, see what’s so unparalleled that you cling so hard to it.” I tip my bottle in his direction. “Or maybe you weren’t invited to previous parties.”

He ignores me, all knowing. “I understand now, though. The party theme is… enlightening.”

The neutral palette of our home is covered by a rainbow of balloons, some high up in the vaulted ceilings, some littered across the floors. Paper streamers cascade from the wall, glitter and confetti twinkle between plates of food on the tables. More decorations around than whose names I know. All that’s missing is a bouncy castle—though, maybe I just haven’t noticed it yet.

The best damn party I ever had.

I grin at my friend, all teeth and dimples. “I think the words you’re searching for are ‘Happy birthday, dear handsome best friend. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a very, very small part of your blessed life.’”

For a long time, he eyes me with deliberate silence as he takes another swig of the shitty expensive beer. “10 years, huh?”

I narrow my eyes. “You calling me a kid?”

“If the shoe fits…” My best friend, the bastard that he is, shrugs. “I, however, was wondering how I’ve put up with you for an entire decade.”

The edges of my lips hitch back up to their normal height. “We both know you can’t live without me.”

He hums. “My skin has shriveled considerably during the last year you spent in meditation inside your penthouse.”

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