Page 149 of Where We Bloom

“We already saw it, squirt.” Blake winks at me. “We helped.”

Okay, that makes me melt. “Youhelped? Youallhelped?”

“I did not.” Mik shakes his head. “Because Benji and I just arrived. So we need to see it with you.”

“Oh God, you’re going to make her leak again.” Alex looks panicked and takes my hand. “Come on, let’s go ogle your princess library.”

“I want to be a princess,” Birdie announces, skipping beside us.

“You already are, peanut.” I smile down at her. “And don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Of course, we all spend a crazy amount of time admiring my new space until finally, Brooks calls down the hallway.

“Okay, enough of that! Some of us want cake.”

“Jackie made it,” Skyla adds. “She wanted to come, but she went to the Iconic Women’s Collective party tonight.”

“Oh my God.” I turn to Millie, eyes wide. “You should be there!”

“I’ll stop in later,” she assures me. “I’m right where I want to be.”

I pull her into a tight hug. “I love you, Mills.”

“Back at you, birthday girl,” she says with a smile. “Now, let’s eat cake and get a sugar high.”

The massive cake is decorated with bumble bees,which makes me smile.

“Cute,” I say to Connor, who winks.

The birthday song always makes me feel uncomfortable, but after I blow out all of the candles—without starting a major fire—our moms cut the cake and serve it.

“I have one last gift,” Connor says, and I set my plate aside.

I can’t help my deep sigh. “Listen up, billionaire, you’ve done too much already.”

“I love that she calls him that,” Alex says to someone, making me smirk.

“I promise, it’s the last one for the day.” Connor passes me a box that has my heart stuttering and my head shaking side to side. “It’s not that kind of box.”

I shake my head, looking down at it. Scared to open it. Christ, what did he do now?

“Open it,” my dad says.

“I’ll probably cry again, and you know how I hate to mess up my makeup.”

Connor slides his hand into mine, threads our fingers, and holds on tight.

“Look at me, angel.”

“Gah, that’s so sweet,” Skyla murmurs, and my lips twitch as I turn my eyes to Connor’s.

“I know, today’s been a lot. Just humor me one more time.”

I rub my lips together and flip up the lid of the box, and stare down at a keyfob.

To a Porsche.

“Jesus, Connor.” I swallow hard and feel my cheeks heat.

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