The Favor (BOOK 1 & BOOK 2 INCLUDED)

11. The Perks of Being a Girl

Instead of waking up, skyrocketing out of my bed and jumping around on my Birthday as I did when I was younger, I didn't even remember that it was December thirteenth. All I could think about was the amazing memories I made the previous night, and how perfect the moments were. I wish I could go back in time and stay there forever.

I couldn't help the smile on my face, the way I was grinning ear to ear. My worst fear became my best memory, and it made me feel warm inside. Thanks to this guy, I learned how to swim.

But thinking further into the night, I realize that Brendon is gone. I feel let down in a way, but then I open my eyes to see balloons everywhere and a note next to me in the bed.

"Dear Lilypad,

Get ready and come downstairs for breakfast. We need to be out the door by 11:00.

-Love,
Brendon"

It's only 9:45, so I get out of bed with the biggest grin of all time. I decide to wear a red romper with blue flowers on it. To cover up, I use a denim jacket. I use cute sandals for shoes. After curling my hair, I put in a crystal blue head band tied at the middle that match the color of the blue on the romper, along with silver earrings. The makeup is light, nothing on my eyes but a matte pink for a lip shade.

Walking down, there are arrows on the ground leading me down the stairs to where Brendon and my Mom are talking in the kitchen. There are plenty of decorations around the house, including some presents on the table that surround a beautiful cake.

"Happy 18th Birthday!" They shouted. My mom came up to me and hugged the life out of me. But she wouldn't let go, and I wasn't sure why. Over her shoulder, Brendon was smiling at me. Suddenly, her body started to quiver and I realized she was crying.

"What's going on?" He mouths to me, panic set in his eyes. He must know what this is like, with a mom as sensitive as Danielle, he'd know to be worried.

"I don't know," I mouth back. "Mom... What's wrong?" I pull her away, and she is definitely crying. "Mom."

"It's just... when you were born, I thought that I'd always have my little princess forever. You were the best thing in my life, and you still are. But you've grown up. I took advantage of these years, and I went to work and left you along because I knew nothing would ever change. But I couldn't be anymore wrong. You're a woman now, an independent one I might add. And I couldn't be more proud of you," she starts to make her ugly turtle-cry face, and I feel my eyes start to sting.

"Mom..." My voice almost  breaks.

"No... This isn't about me, it's about you. You becoming an adult. And that is why I have your present waiting outside for you," these words exhilarate me. What's outside? Oh my God.

I probably instantly run to the door, look outside to see the car of my dreams.

A bright red jeep.

I feel like I'm on cloud nine, that's how in love I am with this car.

"Mom!" I yell at her. How much did this cost? I didn't even want to know.

It's from Henry and I. We love you so much, we wanted you to have something to travel in to pursue your dreams."

And that is when I started crying on the spot, because I see Henry walk up the steps and say "happy birthday, Pumpkin!"

Let's rewind a bit here.

So when Mom was pregnant with me, she had her own version of Talon to support her. His name is Henry, and really he's the closest father figure I've got. I don't have uncles or aunts either, so I refer to him as uncle Henry. But another thing, he's really rich. Like seriously rich. He owns the company  Ford, yes, the car company. Mom has always denied his requests at getting us a new car, but I guess this is the exception.