𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐

AVERY
RAVEN

"Why the hell are you inviting Ava—let me remind you, Avery's step-sister—to your birthday party? That's absurd," Stella hissed, her voice dripping with venom, the words like daggers thrown at the very idea of having her around.

Lily let out a frustrated whine, twisting her fingers in her hair, a slight twinge of anxiety in her eyes. "Stella, she's kind of Avery's step-sister. And... she keeps dropping these hints about how she needs to be invited. You know I can't just ignore her, especially with her acting like she's the queen of the world." Her voice trailed off in a mix of guilt and frustration. She had always been the peacemaker, too soft to set boundaries, too afraid to disappoint.

Tomorrow night was supposed to be about Lily—her eighteenth birthday, a celebration of stepping into adulthood, a moment of freedom. But of course, Ava's presence threatened to turn it all into chaos.

Marcella, who had been unusually quiet, nudged my thigh under the table, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you okay with Ava being there?" she muttered, her words laced with the unmistakable edge of concern. She knew exactly how much tension Ava brought into every room she entered, especially where Lily was concerned.

I stared blankly at the plate in front of me, my mind circling back to the bigger picture. Ava's presence? It didn't really matter. This day was for Lily—her happiness, her celebration. I didn't care about Ava, not when I had other things gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. "Yeah, whatever," I muttered. "This night is about Lily, so let's focus on that."

Stella rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever, let's just get this over with. Let's talk about what you're wearing." She marched over to Lily's closet, a grin tugging at her lips as she rifled through the hangers like a lioness hunting its prey. "If we're stuck with Ava, at least let's make sure we look hot," she added, throwing a few dresses onto the bed, each one more ridiculous than the last.

After some back-and-forth, we finally settled on a new dress Lily had recently bought—a baby pink short dress that clung to her curves in all the right places. It was the kind of dress you could wear and instantly command attention, and Lily knew it. We all knew it.

"Hey, darlings," Lily's mom called from the doorway, her voice sweet and comforting. She carried a plate of freshly baked chocolate cupcakes, the rich scent of them filling the air like a warm hug. "I made some cupcakes. Enjoy!" With that, she left, and we all reached for the sugary treats, thankful for the small distraction.

As I sank my teeth into the chocolate, a text message from Alessio pinged on my phone, and a wave of warmth flooded my chest. He made it a point to check in with me every few hours, no matter how busy his day was. It was a habit, a gesture that made me blush every time, because no matter how messed up my life seemed, I knew I had him. And that was more than enough.

I unlocked my phone and smiled as I read his message:

'Hey, we just finished buying Liliana gifts.'

'That's sweet of you guys, tomorrow will be fun.'

'Did you eat? Should I order for you?'

'Yes, in fact, I'm eating cupcakes right now.'

'Good. Drink water too, Avery.'

I grinned, tapping out a quick reply, feeling the familiar flutter in my stomach. I liked his attention, his care. It was the kind of tenderness that felt rare in a world where everyone was too caught up in their own drama.

I glanced up, only to find Marcella and Stella watching me intently. They shared a look, then Marcella smirked. "He's so cute with you, but so mean to us. It's not fair," she said, sticking her tongue out in mock offense. I shook my head, laughing softly, taking another bite of cupcake.