Page 98 of Wanted You More

His eyes roll, giving me a sense of normalcy that eases my tense shoulders. “Of course. Can’t upset the birthday girl, can I?”

I grin at him. “You could try, but it wouldn’t work in your favor.”

The professor clears her throat. “Are you ready to start class, Ms. Cole?”

Lincoln and I share a look before I sit back down beside him.

He elbows me.

I elbow him back.

And just like that, things seem better.

***

The Kingsleys’ backyardis decorated with my favorite color everywhere. Purple and silver balloons hang from the fence, and my name hangs from the covered back porch.

“Did you custom order that?” I ask Elizabeth, pointing toward the banner. “I’ve never seen it spelled that way anywhere.”

Noah pops up on the other side of his mother with a sly grin. “I told her to buy the one that was spelledA-U-S-T-I-Nand Sharpie theIinto anE, but she told me that wasn’t going to happen.”

I snort. “You would say that.”

Elizabeth sighs at her son. “I was not going to do that.” She pulls me into a hug and squeezes. “Don’t you think Austen deserves something nice for her big day?”

Noah looks at the two of us with a crooked smile before nodding. “Yeah, she does.”

I return the smile easily. It’s a big change from last year’s birthday when Noah didn’t want to be around me. The fact they wanted to throw me my party and host whoever I wanted to invite means the world to me.

Especially because Noah took the day off of everything to be here.

When I see Kennedy walk through the fence with Ben, I wave at her excitedly. She still hasn’t been back to her perky self, but at least she started going to class at the end of the week. Mostly because she talked to her parents about the breakup, and they told her to never put her life on hold for a boy.

That’s sound advice I’ve tucked away because who knows when I’ll need it again?

I step away from Elizabeth and Noah and hug Kennedy when she approaches with a small present in her hands. “I told you no gifts.”

She shrugs guiltily. “I felt bad showing up without anything. It looks really good here.”

Elizabeth beams. “Thank you!”

“This is my roommate, Kennedy,” I tell her, weaving my arm with Kennedy’s. “Kenny, this is Noah’s mom, Elizabeth.”

My roomie looks between the mother and son duo before nodding. “I can see it.” She smiles at Elizabeth. “Thanks for having me. Your house is pretty. My mom would be jealous of your garden out front.”

Noah and I groan at the same time. It’s me who says, “Don’t get her started on that garden or she’ll never stop talking about it.”

“Hey!” Elizabeth counters defensively. “I am proud of that garden and have every right to be. It won—”

“Best Summer Garden in 2020,” Noah and I say simultaneously. We share a look and start laughing while his mother sighs again at our playful teasing.

Kennedy’s lips waver into a ghost smile as she peers between Noah and me but doesn’t say anything.

I gently tug her arm. “I’m glad you’re here. I should tell you that Lincoln is coming today. I couldn’tnotinvite him.”

She tries to hide the face she’s making, but I see it. With reluctance, she shrugs. “I figured he’d be here. You’re friends.”

I haven’t told her about us talking because I wasn’t sure where we stood. She asked if he said anything about her in class, but I chose not to open that can of worms. Yet.

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