"Happy birthday, Emma... Happy birthday to you!!" Different party guests cheered around Emma, who sat at the kitchen table in front of the big, pre-cut angel food cake with pink candles on top. Light music, soft jazz, played around them, overshadowed by the chatter of the guests. Technically, it wasn't even her birthday yet, but it would be in about an hour or so. Her parents had arranged the party the day before her birthday so they could open the new year in along with her birthday. She wondered how many of her parents' friends were actually there for her, or for the free alcohol.
Emma's eyes glanced around at the different faces, then landed on Claire and Whitney, who had showed up together. They sent her a smile. Niki texted her earlier, letting her know she would be showing up a little later, and Chris and Kandy also said they would come once they got settled in after leaving the airport. Emma smiled happily, knowing almost all of her friends would be here today. She told Blake he was invited, but she knew he wouldn't come just to keep the peace on her birthday.
Her father patted her shoulder, gesturing for her to blow out the candles. "Go ahead, dear," her mother said. Emma licked her lips. She closed her eyes tight, making a quick wish before blowing them out, which was followed by clapping and cheering. A few people here and there then took a slice of cake. Emma stood up, about to begin walking towards her friends, who were waiting for her.
"Wait, Emma, I want to introduce you to my work colleagues," her father said before grabbing her hand, pulling her in the opposite direction. She looked back at her friends, pouting. Claire gave her a light wave before she and Whitney picked up a wine glass, walking around the room.
Her father stopped walking in front of a few men Emma had never met before. They were all well-dressed. "These are my friends from work: Chad, Danny, and Parker. Guys, this is my daughter. It's her 18th birthday, can you believe that?" he said, full of excitement, grinning, making her laugh nervously. She could feel their eyes staring all over her, making her anxious. They were a bunch of pigs.
She wasn't even wearing a revealing dress or anything. Since the theme of the party was pink, earlier before the event, she had changed into her long, gradient pink dress. If they really thought she would be interested in any of them, they thought wrong. "I can believe it," one of them said, the one she believed to be called Chad. He was the youngest-looking, but still much older than her. He took a slow sip of his wine, making Emma question if he was intoxicated or not, because surely he wouldn't have said that if he wasn't drunk.
"Umm, nice to meet you all," she whispered, looking down as they responded with hellos.
Her father wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Now that she's of age, I guess I'll be having to beat the guys off with a stick now," he joked before removing his arm, making his friends laugh. Her father seemed to be having a great time embarrassing her, thinking she was inexperienced with men. He had no idea she just had her first orgasm only a few days ago. That thought made her cheeks heat up even more.
"That's part of life, Gerald. That's what women do. That's what they're good at—spreading their legs. I'm sure she'll learn how to someday soon," Danny said, rubbing his beard, looking over at her, making Parker laugh and hit his shoulder.
Who the hell did these men think they were? Did they think it was still 1880 or something? Women weren't objects. It made her blood boil, and she was a split second from giving these old farts a piece of her mind.
"Hey now... not my daughter. She'll stay pure forever," her dad said, patting her shoulder, making her let out a loud sigh.
Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder, making her turn around. "May I have this dance?" Her eyes widened. What was he doing here? She didn't see him come in. When did he get here?

YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...