Fatal Wounds

20

Valentina

"Happy birthday, sweetie." Dad smiles once I blow out the candles on the cupcake he and Brooke got me.

"Thank you dad." I lean into his hug and feel his lips briefly press against my head.

Brooke and dad got into my house with Brooke's key and surprised me with breakfast in bed. When they pulled out the cupcake and candles, I can't lie I did get teary eyed. This is my first birthday without my mom.

The first time I blew out candles without her standing beside me, the first time she didn't get to give me a birthday hug or kiss, the first time she doesn't get to hold me in her arms and tell me how much she loves me and remembers the day I was born like it was yesterday.

Brooke reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze, "She's here. Promise, she's here in spirit."

"Yeah." I smile.

"Enough tears." Dad pulls away and pats my cheek, "it's your birthday, she'd want you smiling." He grins when he sees my lips tug up, "perfect. Now what are your plans for the day?"

"Theo's coming to pick me up later." Brooke grins and wiggles her brows while dad raises a brow.

"I thought this Theo was a friend?"

Crap. Somehow I had forgotten of the little encounter that occurred on Valentines. "He is a friend." I nod wincing as soon as I say it. Theo and friend don't sound right when put together.

"Yeah. A very nice friend." Brooke mutters making me nearly choke on my orange juice.

I wipe my moth and send her a look, "Is Brian a good friend?"

Her cheeks go blazing red. "Yes. Very good friend in fact."

"Okay!" Dad clears his throat painfully loud. "I don't want to know any double meaning to those sentences so let's place an end to that conversation. I've met the two gentlemen and I can tell they are both genuine, that's all I need to know."

"Right." Brooke cringes as her cheeks turn a deeper shade of red.

"Alright. I should busy myself with cleaning before I hear any unwanted details of you twos' extracurriculars," extracurriculars? I think I do choke this time. When dad heads to the far side of the kitchen towards the sink I glare at Brooke. "Very good friend?"

"What!" She says with wide eyes. "It slipped!"

"Sure." I playfully glare at her. "It slipped." I scoff shaking my head.

"You're one to talk Ms I'm going with Theo later tonight."

"For dinner." I stress, "he's making me dinner."

This time she raises a brow and mutters, "Vale I'm pretty sure he'll be making you his dinner tonight."

"Brooke!" I laugh, sneaking a look over at dad making sure he didn't hear. Thank God he's busy washing dishes. I push half my cupcake to Brooke watching her bite back a smile. "Am I wrong?"

"Well I'm not sure." I hum taking a bite. Theo and I might've not had penetrative sex yet but we're definitely headed in that direction based on what we have already done. "Maybe I'll be dessert."