Flyte
••• Little White Lies •••
🛹🥺💖
where are you?
Sent 8.03am
Me
Picking up something special ;)))
Delivered
🛹🥺💖
:0
Sent 8.04am
I smiled at my phone as I exited the comic book store with Jay, bag in hand. It was a quick phone call and stop by, but at least I wouldn't be going into Lloyd's birthday empty-handed. I'll do something more heartfelt next year, when I have the luxury of time on my side.
"Thanks for taking me, Jay," I turned to the lightning ninja with a grateful grin. He shrugged, freckled cheeks puffing with a beaming smile.
"Hey, I should be thanking you!" he said brightly. "It got me out of doing the breakfast dishes!"
I giggled as we made our way to Mr. Robuntusson's store for the second part of my gift.
"What did you get him?" I asked Jay as we strolled down the nearly empty sidewalk. It was early for a Saturday morning, and aside from the joggers, it was just us.
"Mm, nothing," Jay shook his head. "He doesn't really like birthdays."
I blinked, shoulders dropping.
"Oh," I said, glancing down at the bag in my hand in disappointment. "Should I have not..?"
"Nah, don't worry about it," Jay shook his head as we crossed the road. "I'm sure he'll love it anyway."
"Why doesn't he like birthdays?" I asked, frowning softly. "That doesn't sound like Lloyd."
Jay shrugged. I suspected that he knew the reason very well and was keeping silent by choice. I pursed my lips but didn't press. I had more important things to think about, like remembering which candies Lloyd liked best.
After catching a ride back to the monastery on Jay's dragon, we bounded inside. It seemed that the only thing we were doing for Lloyd's birthday was a big lunch, which honestly didn't feel more special than usual. I was genuinely stunned - I assumed that Lloyd would be all about birthdays, but I guess not.
"Does he hate birthdays? Or just impartial?" I asked.
"Impartial," Jay replied as we walked up the steps to the entrance. "He doesn't love it but he doesn't hate it."
I nodded in acknowledgment, clutching the bags tighter. I hoped that he didn't think I was being pushy last night when we talked about it.
Lloyd was in the game room with Nya, playing on the PlayStation while shoving each other with snarling grins. Cole sat on the armrest, watching amusedly while Kai played on his phone, tongue sticking out between his teeth. Zane sat on the other side of Nya and read.
"Hey, birthday boy," I murmured, pressing a kiss to Lloyd's neck as I slung my arms around his shoulders. He brightened.
"There you are!" Lloyd chirped, pulling me around to sit in his lap after tossing Jay the controller. "I woke up without you. It was super sad."
"Sorry," I smiled, patting his cheek. "I had to get your present."
Lloyd's expression dropped slightly and a feeling of guilt crashed through me. My smile faded.
"You don't have... it's okay if you don't want me to-"
"It's alright," Lloyd smiled softly, arms tightening as I was pressed into his chest. "Thank you."
I caught Kai's gaze as I curled into Lloyd. His unreadable amber eyes dropped. My confusion only grew.
🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃
Things settled once more when Naomi arrived and I worked hard to push back my concern. She and Cole did that cute blushy awkward greeting and for a while, all felt right in the world.
