Troubled

55

chapter fifty-five
percy

"Happy Birthday to you, Haply Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Percy, Happy Birthday to you!"

My mom and Paul cheered as I rolled my eyes and blew out the eighteen lit candles on my bright blue birthday cake.

"I will never get over the blue food!" Paul said with a grin as my mother started cutting slices of the cake. "It's so funny, I love it!"

My mom blushed as she placed the biggest slice on a place and handed it to me. I was pretty sure she hadn't revealed the true nature of our blue food tradition to Paul, but the guy loved it, unlike Gabe.

"So, eighteen," Paul said to me with a smile. "Are you excited? You can vote!"

I laughed. "Oh, yeah, I can't wait. And I can now legally get a tattoo."

"But you won't!" my mother scolded me playfully. "At least I hope not."

"Don't worry, I won't," I assured her with an eye roll. "Or I could get a heart with mom in it."

My mother rolled her eyes, a habit I had clearly inherited from her. "I know you're joking but please don't get a tattoo. Anyways, are you excited?"

I peered at my mom and Paul, who were both wide eyed and wearing matching grins. "For what? Being eighteen?"

My mother shrugged as she started cleaning the kitchen. "Yes, that. And we have some....news."

My heart dropped. "What news?"

Paul looked at my mom and smiled. "We're going to be moving apartments, if that's okay with you. It's this nice place near here, three bedrooms, two bathrooms."

"We're moving?" I asked, clearly stunned.

Paul nodded. "I mean, only if you're okay with it. I know you're going off to college, but I want you to know you still have a home with us. If you don't want to move, just say the word and we won't."

I shook my head as a grin appeared on my face. "No no, I'm completely fine with it. Thrilled, actually. I can't believe it, we're moving! And heaving an extra room, too. How can we afford all this?"

My mom shrugged. "I mean, Paul is helping since we're married now. And, umm, not to be greedy or anything, but I'm pretty sure I'm getting a book deal. I mean, it's nothing certain, but my publisher seemed really interested in my book, like, really interested."

A grin spread across her face as I instantly stood up and pulled her into a congratulatory hug, which caused her to smile even wider.

"I'm so happy for you!" I told my mom. "And you're sure we can afford this? With my college education and everything?"

My mom nodded. "It'll be tight, but I don't want you to have to worry, okay? Just enjoy your cake, and afterwards you can start packing, we're trying to move in next month."

"That sounds....amazing. What are we going to do with the extra room, though? An office?" I asked curiously.

My mom peered at Paul, a grin appearing on her face. Paul nodded at her slowly. "Well, I already had an idea in mind."