Page 99 of Beyond the Hate

I groan. I am never going to hear the end of that.

“Hudson is not going to agree to a sex party,” Nova says. “He’s very protective of me. He won’t want anyone seeing me naked.”

“Same for Caleb,” Maya adds. “And he won’t go naked either. I haven’t managed to get him to go swimming in shorts yet. He’s very sensitive about the scarring on his leg. Naked is a no go.”

“I doubt Flynn would go for it either. I’m sorry, Paisley, but I can’t attend,” Sophia says.

“I am not having a sex party!” I shout since my friends apparently can’t hear me when I speak in a normal voice at a reasonable level.

“We’ll figure something else out,” Chloe says. “Maybe a costume party.”

“Will everyone please quiet down and listen to me for one minute?” I grumble. I don’t wait for them to agree before continuing, “Eli never celebrates his birthday. His family has this tradition of doing full day celebrations but Eli never participates.”

“Sad. Why not?” Nova asks.

I don’t answer her question. If she doesn’t remember Eli’s dad leaving the week before his sixteenth birthday, it’s best not to remind her. Eli doesn’t want anyone to pity him.

“I want to do something fun for him. He’s always doing everything for me. I want to be the one to surprise him this time.”

Sophia nods. “Then, we’re doing this.”

“We’ll help you plan. We know planning a party isn’t your strong suit,” Nova says.

“I don’t want Eli to find out. No one can tell him.” My friends nod but it’s not good enough for me. “Mermaid pinky promise.”

I personally don’t believe in mermaids but my friends take mermaid pinky promises seriously. We link our pinkies together. “No one will tell Eli.”

“Promise,” they say in unison.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Chloe squeals.

Maya flips a page in her notebook. “What’s your budget?”

“Budget?” I didn’t think about a budget. “I thought we’d invite everyone to the bar and then yell surprise when Eli walks in.”

Sophia bursts into laughter. “You’re cute.”

“We need a theme.” Chloe drums her fingers on the table. “I’m thinking rumrunners.”

“What about a prohibition era speakeasy on the sea?” Sophia suggests.

“Or pirate smugglers’ hideout? We could do a treasure hunt, pirate-themed trivia, and a rum-tasting bar,” Nova says.

“What about an island of the lost legends theme? We could have a storytelling circle, a solve the mystery game, and a hidden speakeasy,” Maya adds.

I moan. “I’m not getting away with a party at the bar, am I?”

Maya pats my hand. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

“Do you think Eli will enjoy it?” I ask because his happiness is all that matters.

I want Eli to be happy. I love him. His happiness is the most important thing to me.

I should probably tell him I love him at some point. But the time is never right. It’s a terrible excuse but what if he doesn’t feel the same? What if he runs away? What if he ends us?

I rub my chest as pain blooms. I can’t chance it. Not yet.

Chapter 29

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