Page 117 of Unspoken Truths

“Did you know there’s a beach in Oregon?” Lili asks with a smile.

“I did not,” I gasp. “I feel as if this is pertinent information I need to know.”

“It’s really cute there, and the beach is beautiful,” she says. “We could easily spend a few days there and have a great time.”

“Book a week trip with my credit card,” Emil insists. “Get away from all the bullshit of the Kings, and reset before school. It’s about an hour and a half drive from here.”

“Oh that sounds amazing,” I admit. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. I hope it helps with how awful school has been,” he says. “I tend to overdo things, so I’ll stop there for now.”

“I can’t imagine more,” I say, shaking my head in awe. “This is seriously more than enough. Thank you, guys.”

“You deserve it all,” Mom says with a wistful smile. “This hasn’t been an easy few months, but you’ve somehow managed.”

I’d love to tell her drugs helped, but I haven’t taken any. Finishing up our breakfast, Lili and I get up from the table.

“Enjoy your day,” Emil says. “Be safe, please.”

“We will,” Lili promises. “Come on, let’s go to the car.”

“I still don’t know where we’re going,” I tease as a staff member brings her an insulated cooler. A backpack is also handed to her, and I realize she’s had all of this very well planned.

“I know,” she says with a smirk. “I’m taking you hiking, but I promise it’ll be fun. We’ll take it slow. I want to show you all the best places in Portland.”

“There is one more thing,” Mom says, leaning forward. “I got us tickets to see The Darkest Nights in concert. They’re coming to town in September.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, gasping. “Oh my god, Mom. They’re my favorite!”

“I know,” she says with a nod, hiding a smile. “That’s why we’re going.”

“Thank you!”

My feet are moving before I realize it, and I’m hugging both my mom and Emil tightly.

“This has already been an amazing birthday,” I tell them happily, backing away. “Thank you again.”

Walking with Lili, she bites her lip as she grabs my hand in the foyer.

“I also bought you a gift,” she says. “It’s not anything big?—”

“I’ll love it because you got it for me,” I tell her, and honestly mean it. Gifts are all important to me, due to how infrequently I receive them.

“Okay,” she says, looking nervous as she hands me a small pouch.

Is that jewelry?

Interest piqued, I open it and allow the item to slide out onto my hand. It’s a gold bracelet with two interconnected links, both paved with expensive diamonds. My lips part in surprise, because it’s an exquisite gift. It reminds me in a way of two people connected together on a strand.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” I whisper. Asking about the piece is gauche, and not something I do. It feels like too much, but too beautiful to refuse. “Thank you.”

“It reminds me of us,” she says, picking it up from my palm. “We’re connected to each other, regardless of all the other things we’re doing throughout the day. This way, you’ll have a part of me with you.”

“I love this,” I breathe, watching her as she clasps it to my wrist. It’s a perfect fit, close enough to my skin that it won’t get caught on anything else, while not pinching me either. “It’s so pretty.”

“Good,” she says with a nod. “It fits the girl I bought it for. I bought one for myself, and it’s upstairs. This way, we can always wear them.”

“This is such a great gift,” I say, blinking rapidly. It really is so beautiful, and the sentiment is incredible.

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