Page 64 of As the World Falls

Except when I open the door, Lance is standing on the other side, ready to knock.

“Oh, hey,” I rush out.

“Where’s the fire?” he jokes, making me roll my eyes and smile at his basic humor.

I walk forward, forcing him to step back as I shut the door behind me. “Just running to the market around the block.”

“Oh,” he says, like he was disappointed.

I furrow my brows as I stand there, looking at him with confusion. “Why, what’s up?”

“It’s nothing,” he says, shaking his head. “It looks like you forgot.”

“Forgot what?” I ask just as it pops into my head. “Oh my god. It’s your birthday.” I wince as I say it, completely giving myself away.

He chuckles uncomfortably. “Yeah, but it’s fine. You just got back home, so don’t worry about it.”

We always went to dinner with his parents every year for his birthday. It was always what he preferred to do, and I, of course, obliged every year because he was my best friend, so why wouldn’t I? I felt like a real prick for forgetting this year.

“I’m so sorry. I’ve just been so caught up with everything, and then we?—”

“Got into that stupid spat on the phone where your boss took over the call?” he points out.

I cringe again. “Right…I’m sorry about that, by the way. I was having a rough day and wasn’t sleeping well.”

“It’s okay,” he says, not bothering to apologize himself, but since it was his birthday, I guess I’d let it slide. “At least you’re done with all that, right?”

“Oh yes. So done,” I rush out, my voice taking on a higher pitch for some reason. I was done. I was emotionally drained, and my brain was utterly fucked after all of the information I’d been enlightened with. Except, my brain was also a stupid little slut and wasn’t done constantly replaying that kiss with James. It kept popping into my head repeatedly, and I didn’t give myself a second to dwell on it. I couldn’t think about that whole ordeal right now.

“Good. So, dinner tonight, then? I think I decided on Chinese for my birthday dinner.” My stomach growls at the mention of it just as a groan escapes me. He laughs. “I take it that works for you?”

I nod. “Yes. I was going to cook tonight, but who am I to turn Chinese down?”

“Great, so…it’s a date,” he adds, throwing me off a little.

“With your parents,” I then add as a joke to solidify that this sooo was not a date.

He only smiles. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, dinner is in two hours. Do you want to ride together or?—”

“I’ll meet you there. I’m going to run to the market and get some shopping done beforehand.”

“Sounds good,” he says, stepping back toward his apartment. “By the way, we’re going to Ying Yue’s, so dress a little nicer.” He says it as he looks down at my outfit and then drags his gaze back to me. “The whole plastic look is cute, but?—”

“Oh, shut up.” I laugh, waving a dismissive hand at him. “I’ll dress to your satisfaction, birthday boy.” The suggestive words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and when I look at him, he swallows hard and nods at me.

He gives me a bashful smile before muttering, “Good,” in a deeper voice than I’d ever heard from him before going back into his apartment and shutting the door behind him.

I let my back crash into the hallway wall as a defeated breath escaped me. I just sent him the wrong idea, and he looked so hopeful, too, as I said it. I was an idiot. It made me want to crawl back into my apartment and layer duct tape over my mouth. I needed to start thinking before I spoke. Honestly, I needed to start thinking before I did anything these days.

Could this day go any more sideways? All I wanted to do was stay home, but now I have to get all fancy and go out to dinner.

I grumble some more as I push off the wall and finally head to the market. I had to be quick now since I had to be at the restaurant soon.

Forty-five minutes later, I walk home with five grocery bags, cutting the circulation off around my wrists. When I reach the front of my building, I spot my brother's car just pulling up to the curb and parking right out front.

“You’ll get a ticket for that, you know,” I tell him as he steps out of the car.

He shrugs. “I can afford it.”

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