All because I liked a BOY?

Birthday celebration

The sun was warm against Bible's back as he walked up the familiar path to Jeff's house. In his hand, he clutched a small, carefully wrapped gift, the weight of the day pressing on his shoulders in the best way. It was Izzy's birthday, and for Bible, it felt like more than just a celebration — it was a step closer to being part of Jeff's world.

The house buzzed with the energy of excited children and the warm chatter of adults. Jeff moved through the living room, checking the decorations one last time. The banner, the balloons, and the table piled with wrapped gifts — everything was ready for Izzy's birthday party.

Bible arrived right on time, a sleek gift bag in his hand. He gave Jeff a soft smile as he entered.

"Hey," Bible greeted, his voice low, eyes gentle.

"Hey," Jeff said, the corners of his lips curling up. "Thanks for coming."

Before Bible could respond, a familiar squeal cut through the noise. Izzy came running, her sparkly blue dress twirling. "Uncle Bible!" she shouted, jumping into his arms.

Bible laughed, catching her. "Happy Birthday, princess."

He set her down, and her eyes sparkled. "You’re just in time!"

As more guests arrived, the party began in earnest. Kids ran around playing games, laughter filling the air. Everything seemed perfect — until Bible caught sight of two people sitting off to the side.

Megan and Mile.

Jeff's smile faltered when he saw them, his grip tightening slightly around a paper cup. Bible noticed the tension in Jeff's jaw. Mile offered a polite, apologetic smile toward Bible, but Jeff simply looked away, his jaw clenched.

---

The cake was brought out, the kids gathering around the table to sing “Happy Birthday.” Izzy blew out the candles, her face lit with pure joy.

She grinned, taking the first slice of cake and handing it to Jeff. "For you, Daddy!"

Jeff's heart melted. "Thank you, sweetheart."

She turned and took another slice, carefully walking over to Megan. "Here, Mommy!"

Megan smiled softly, brushing Izzy’s hair back. "Thank you, baby."

Izzy then handed pieces of cake to her friends and the other guests, including Bible and Mile. Bible accepted his slice with a warm smile.

Then, Mile bent down and handed his own piece back to Izzy. "For you, birthday girl."

Jeff's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn’t invited Mile.

His voice was low as he leaned toward Bible. "Why is he even here?"

Bible’s gaze flickered between Jeff and Mile. He didn’t have an answer, but he reached out, giving Jeff’s hand a reassuring squeeze. "It’s just one afternoon. Let’s focus on Izzy."

Jeff sighed, his shoulders relaxing a little. "Yeah. You're right."

---

After the cake, it was time for the gifts. Izzy excitedly tore into each one.

Mile handed her a neatly wrapped box. "Happy Birthday, Izzy."

She opened it, revealing a high-end set of art supplies. "Thank you, Uncle Mile!" she chirped, though Jeff's expression remained tight.

Megan followed with her own gift — a beautiful dollhouse. "I hope you like it," she said.

Izzy’s eyes sparkled. "I love it, Mommy!"