Temporary Fix | 18+

27

My instagram was constantly pinging with a new notification. It'd been happening all day. Though everyone knew I wasn't big on celebrating my birthday, the wishes never ended and I tried to reply to them all with gratitude.

I'd already been out with Antony in the morning, and though we left on a bit of a sour note, the day was good otherwise. The tulips he'd given me were sitting on Niccolò's countertop and I tried to ignore how wrong it felt to have them there. I used my somewhat voluntary 'homelessness' as an excuse.

Instead of letting my conscience get the best of me, I grabbed the vase, securing it and my purse before I walked out the house. It was best I dropped it off seeing as though I had to meet with my parents regardless.

My ride was filled with R&B hits blasting from my speaker and I was practically screaming when Sza came on. I tried my best to ignore the car I knew was trying to subtly follow me since I'd left Niccolò's house. It was him who wanted to waste his time.

I couldn't help my smirk as I drove through our property gates and the car stayed lingering down the street. That smirk quickly fell when I saw a familiar car in our driveway. A part of me hoped it was Antony and not Valentin seeing as though I'd been dodging him the entire week.

When I put my car park and pushed the door open, the drivers door to the vehicle followed and Valentin stepped out.

Great. 

His eyes found me immediately and I had to forced my smile to return his. "Mr. Chekov, great to see you."

Instead of moving to the door he moved towards my car parked a bit behind his, "Rosalyn, it's always a pleasure." He pulled me in a side hug, "happy birthday. How does 24 feel?"

His hand falling a bit to my rib had me pulling away eagerly, "can I be honest and say I feel the same as twenty-three?"

He laughed at that before falling in step with me to head to the door. We couldn't get inside fast enough. "Once you hit thirty, you'll start to feel the difference. I tell Antony all the time, his lifestyle won't be the same at thirty."

My brows furrowed but I chose to ignore his comment. I knew exactly what he meant by Antony's lifestyle. Was he implying the lifestyle would continue after the marriage? I may have been looking into his words too much but I wasn't stupid.

I let out a dry laugh pulling my key out the bunch, "right."

There's a cleaner lingering by the foyer and she rushes over to greet us, grabbing Valentin's coat and the vase from my arm. "Thank you, Giselle."

She smiled at me before disappearing after a happy birthday. Always so quiet.

Valentin trails after me in the main living room and I see that my parents are both seated on the couches with gift bags and I spot an envelope on the coffee table. The table rotates, having two levels and as Valentin bends the corner behind me, my father reaches out and rotates the table, hiding the side with the envelope and instead showed all the gift bags.

Huh.

My mother is the first to stand with a wide dimpled smile on her face. "Hey, baby!" Her fingers swing frantically from excitement as she ushers me forward and I can't help but to match her happy energy as I shuffle forward faster with a grin. "Happy birthday, brace-face."

I scowled at the childhood nickname but fell into her hug regardless. My days of broken brackets, painful rubber bands and stupid retainers were long gone.

"Kill the nickname, ma. But thank you." She only laughs, kissing my cheek before I turn my attention to my dad. His expression was a bit serious but his eyes were light as he stood.