Grace

Ten

Reece

I don't know what happened between the two of them the night Leigh returned, but whatever it was ignited a thick layer of tension that has yet to die down.

Leigh's been easy enough to deal with. She usually is after a binge. She lays low. She drinks, but mostly to put herself to sleep. For the most part, this is the most Leigh that she ever is. The closest thing to in her right mind that she'll probably ever be.

And it's all in good timing because today is Gracie's birthday and I really need her on her best behavior for this.

"No more phone, Melissa. Come on," Julieta snaps, getting a low chuckle out of me. "You've been on that thing all day."

Melissa huffs, rolls her eyes, but does as she's told, setting her phone face down on the table and slides it beside her full glass of water.

"So when's the birthday girl getting here?"

"One of her little friends should be bringing her in as we speak—I won't hold my breath on that, though. The girl's a little, all over the place."

Ruby means well, but fuck. I'm starting to regret giving her the responsibility of delivering Grace.

She was excited when I got in contact with her and told her I wanted to plan a surprise dinner, and swore she'd help it go as planned with ease, but I told her to be here thirty minutes ago and Grace hasn't responded to any of my text messages since this morning.

"I can't believe my little baby Gracie is already seventeen," says Leigh. "Time flies."

"Isn't she eight—"

I cut my sister's sentence short with a hard stare.

Yes, Gracie's eighteen today. I've already corrected Leigh three times just this afternoon. I'm honestly just glad she's here, I can't really expect much more from her than that. Even simply knowing what age her own daughter is.

"Aw, you guys," Grace gushes making my eyes dart around the room until I see her. "You didn't have to do this."

I smile at her as the three girls come toward. Her eyes taking in the balloons and gift bags sitting off to the side.

I turn my eyes to Ruby, narrowing them at her in disappointment before tapping my wrist. She only grimaces at me and mouths what looks like sorry.

"Bitch, it's your birthday. There's no shouldn't-haves here," Trinity tells her, pulling her arm around her neck into a tight hug.

Her smile grows as the girls squeeze her in between them, giggling and laughing over something that'd only make sense as an inside joke.

Julieta nudges me hard and makes me blink myself out of my thoughts. "Introduce us, idiot."

I clear my throat. "Um, Grace."

She looks at me and then my sister, her smile nonfading.

"This is my sister, Julieta. Jules, this is Grace."

"Ah, the infamous Gracie."

"Infamous?" Grace grins and whips her head at me, and I simply roll my eyes with a solid smirk.

"Only in the best ways, Grace."

"Better be." She crinkles her nose, her fist hitting my lightly on my chest before returning her attention to Julieta. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I was beginning to think you were a myth."

Julieta lets out a burst of laughter and the wide look in her eyes lets me know she has a lot to speak on that, but I'm glad she's smart enough to save it for another day.