This Love

24

The weekend of my birthday comes a few weeks later. I'm woken up by Jill and Lexi on the Saturday, they serve me breakfast in bed with candles in a stack of pancakes as they sing happy birthday. I sleepily blow out the candles, they clap and cheer as I yawn, "sleepy start to being 25 babe" I wave away Lexi's comment, "I've been going to sleep so late, so much happening at work" Jill pats my shoulder, "we've all been there, me with some of my catering events and Lex with some of her clients" I nod and they bring me into a group hug. I giggle and I enjoy the embrace, "this is going to be your year Cal, I'm positive" Lexi kisses my cheek and they let go of me leaving the room like they were never there.

I smile at my friends' antics and start digging into the pancakes sighing at how amazing they taste. My phone starts ringing, I pout not wanting to move away from the pancakes, "answer your damn phone Cal, I hate that ringtone" I hear. I laugh moving the plate of pancakes off of my lap, setting it next to me before stretching towards my nightstand where my phone is sitting. Once I've pulled the charging cord out of the phone I bring it closer to me, a grin appears on my face when I see Dan's name on the screen. I tap the accept button bringing the phone up to my ear, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORGEOUS" I cringe at the volume of the Australian's voice, "too loud Dan" I say, he chuckles "sorry" suddenly I realize that I never told him when it was my birthday. "How did you know that it's my birthday?" I ask while playing with my comforter, "Jill and Lexi might've told me" he replies, I laugh, "that doesn't even surprise me" he laughs too, "to be fair you never told me" I scoff, "you never asked, plus I don't know your birthday" he chuckles "July 1st" I blink at his response, "you were born on Canada Day?" I ask in surprise, "to me it's just a normal day Cal" I huff.

"I missed your birthday" I say sadly, "it's okay, I usually don't do anything big anyways" he tells me, I look down, "I wish you would've told me the day of" he sighs, "Callie don't worry you'll be around for next year's celebration" I lift my head eyes wide, "you think?" I can imagine the smile on his face, "I'm pretty positive you'll be there" I grin. "I hate to do this Cal, but I gotta go" I nod even though he can't see me, "that's okay you're busy" I reply, "bye gorgeous" I smile, "bye hotshot" he hangs up and I put my phone back onto the nightstand so that I can finish my pancakes.

——

After spending the majority of the day relaxing on the couch my two friends pull me to my feet, I whine about not wanting to get up. "You're gonna have to Callie, we invited some people over for a little party" Lexi tells me as the two of them walk me to Jill's bedroom. I'm stopped at the foot of the bed while Lexi goes to the closet, she reappears with a long garment bag, "twenty five is kind of a big deal so we got you something for tonight" I lift an eyebrow intrigued, she hangs it on the door and Jill unzips the bag. I gasp when I see light reflecting off of the gold material, I stand up approaching the garment, "this seems a little too formal for a house party" I say to my friends, "it won't be, we told everyone to dress fancy for this" I smile at Lexi and then Jill, "thank you for this, it's gorgeous" they come over and hug me, "happy birthday babe, you're gonna look killer in that dress" Jill says into my ear.

A few minutes later when my friends push me to room to get ready my eyes take in the shiny ruched material, then the slightly riské neckline that will show off the little cleavage that I have. Before I get dressed I go to my bathroom to put on some makeup. I reach for my usual minimalist look, but stop myself at the last second remembering that tonight is meant to be fancy so I grab my darker eyeshadows and lipsticks.

Once I've completed the look I go back to my room where I slide off my sweats and put on the gold dress that my friends got for me. When I turn to my mirror I'm in awe at what I see, the material draped on me perfectly my fingers touching the dress gently as I spin around to see the open back. A knock interrupts the daze that I'm in, "ready Cal, people have started to show up" I bite my lip but stop almost immediately remembering the lipstick on my lips. I take a deep breath and open my bedroom door, Lexi is grinning at me. "Wow twenty five looks good on you" I blush and she tugs me out into the hall before leading me to the living room. My jaw drops at the transformation, I see the big '25' on the wall first then I grin at the balloons scattered around the room. "When did you?" she laughs, "you took a long time and we work really fast" I smile, "you guys are the best" she shrugs and we walk further into the room greeting some guests that are present.

I'm pulled away from a conversation an hour later, "picture time!" Jill exclaims as we stop in front of the big '25', I laugh at her excitement and a flash goes off. "That one's a keeper Cal" Lexi says before handing her phone to Jill for some shots with just the two of us. We switch up the poses a few more times and then Lexi hands me a full champagne flute, "now just the birthday girl" I smile at them.

My mind strays from the party thinking about the one person that isn't present. "Callie" I blink looking at my friends, "you were thinking about him weren't you?" I shrug and look down at the flute, "you'll see him soon, don't worry" I look up with a small smile, "yeah I know, I just miss him" they come over and give a group hug. After a few seconds I let go, "okay enough I don't want to get all mushy" Jill laughs and the two of them back up, "let's get this smoking hot picture of you Cal" I nod and we spend the next few minutes taking pictures in the hopes of getting a good one for Instagram.

——

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Callieeee, happy birthday to you!" I grin at the cake that gets brought out. My hands move over my mouth to hide how happy I am, the big '25' on the cake the centrepiece as I close my eyes to make a birthday wish. I blow out the candles once I've silently made my wish, my eyes open and I see phones pointed at me, probably capturing the moment making me grin even wider. Everyone claps before the cake is put on a table, Jill hands me a knife so that I can cut the first of many pieces. The rest of the night is filled with laughter and posting pictures on social media, no one realizing what is to come in the morning.