The Things That Make Us

Chapter 9

Hannah

It's my birthday less than a week later.

  I'm finally eighteen, at the end of the first week of July. I've been in Florida for almost a month and it's beginning to feel like home. I can feel it transforming me. Erin hasn't asked me about my plans for the future, about how long I plan to stay, and I appreciate that. I have no idea. I've enjoyed my time in Florida so far and she knows I'm working now, about thirty hours a week. I haven't even told her that my mom called me. I want to forget that ever happened.

  Erin knows it's my birthday when I come into the main house that morning - thankfully I have the day off - but I'm pretty sure no one else knows. Seb is shocked when he comes into the kitchen and sees the balloon bouquet and tray of chocolate croissants on the counter. The look on his face is funny because it's obvious he feels like he's forgetting something.

  "Who's... birthday?" he asks, confused. He's in shorts and a white t-shirt and his eyes look tired.

  "Hannah is eighteen today," his mom tells him, with a smile.

  "Oh, wow. Happy birthday." he says to me right away. "Sorry... I didn't know, I didn't get you anything."

  "It's fine, no presents needed," I say. "Honestly, just being here has been the best gift."

  "Well...  I have plans with Sabrina today... or else I would have-"

  "Seb, it's fine, honestly. Thanks, though," I smile at him.

  He grabs a croissant and grins at his mom before disappearing from the kitchen again. Erin shakes her head and then smiles at me. "Glad you're off today. What are you up to?"

  I shrug, because I have nothing really planned. "I'll probably just do some reading."

  "Reading?" she repeats. "On your birthday?"

  "I like reading."

  "I am just working until 2P.M. I'll take you out for food when I get home? Think of somewhere you want to go?"

  "You don't have to..."

  "Hey... stop being so silly. It's your birthday and you're with us, let me treat you," she says with meaning.

 "Okay. Yeah, thanks."

  Her and I have gone out together a few times, for shopping for essentials and for lunch, once. She treats me like she'd treat family, which feels surreal. I am her family, I know that. But for so long, I only had my mom. Now I'm actually looking forward to going out for a birthday dinner with her.

  I'm back in the pool house after a shower when I hear a tapping on the door. I'm barely dressed, so I rush over to grab a t-shirt before looking over to see who it is. I can just barely make out his shadow behind the frosted glass, but I know it's Cannon.

  My stomach flip flops as I cross the room to open the door. I told him it was my birthday today, when he texted me yesterday to say hi. So I know he's here because of that. But this is the first time he's just shown up here, for me. It feels very different. Everything feels different since we had sex, but we've kept it a secret. We've seen each other at work all week and we've had some stolen kisses, but we haven't really hung out since then. Since neither of us really want Seb to know, it makes it difficult to plan anything together. I gave Cannon my cell number before he left that afternoon, though, and he's texted me a bunch over the last week.

  "Hey," I say, opening the door to let him in.

  Cannon looks over his shoulder to make sure no one is watching us. "Happy birthday." He smiles.