You’re seventeen. Congratulations! You’re legally allowed to have sex now!

Under the words is a picture of a cherry.

“I can’t believe you got this card,” I squeal through a laugh.

“Well, I kinda got it online.”

“I shall cherish it forever and keep it with me always. If I ever get caught doing the nasty, I can show them my friend Alice told me I could legally do it.” I stuff it in my purse.

We both burst out laughing.

“Ladies!” I hear my dad call from downstairs.

“Coming, Major,” I shout back. “Better get a move on.”

“Did you invite anyone from school?” Alice asks as we make our way downstairs.

“Just the people from my study hall. I knew I had to invite someone or my dad might get disappointed and think I’m not making friends at school. He always worries with how we used to move so much.”

“Cool.”

“I’m not sure any are coming. I didn’t even give a real invite, just kinda told them when and where one day, so who knows.”

When we hit the bottom step, I see I’m wrong. Everyone is here.

“Oh, shit,” Alice mumbles next to me. “You’re going to have to be all social and crap with everyone.”

I let out a sigh, seeing my plan might have backfired. I was hoping the birthday party would be small, but it looks like everyone showed. Even people from Eli’s work, who I’ve been volunteering with. I spot Sherry, and I have to fight an eye-roll. I shouldn’t be shocked everyone from Eli’s work came. I volunteer there every day after school since the first time Eli took me there, and I was planning to do more on winter break and over the summer, too.

Not only that, but it looks like my dad invited people from his work, too. The house is full of people, and the pleasant thought of a quiet party at home with just a few people goes up in flames.

I put on a giant smile, knowing how much this means to my dad.

“Hi everyone!” I yell, waving. Happy birthdays fill the air, and I feel Alice drop back. She hates crowds, and I won’t drag her into them. They aren’t my favorite thing in the world, but they also don’t bother me that much.

I make my way around the room, stopping to talk to people from school.

“Happy birthday,” Sam says, pulling me into a hug. He sits next to me in study hall and we also have a few of the same classes. Sometimes we share notes and help each other. He’s always super nice and it’s hard not to be friendly with him.

“Thanks.” I smile up at him. “I’m happy everyone came.”

“We wouldn’t miss it.” Tyler, another boy from my class, says, pulling me into a hug. Mandy pops up next to him, wishing me a happy birthday, too. I get lost in conversation with them about the upcoming football game. Nick has been playing terribly, which makes me smile inside. We fall into an easy conversation about school gossip and I’m immediately more comfortable.

I can’t help but see Eli standing off to the side out of the corner of my eye. He’s talking to Sherry, but his eyes are on me. I give him a small smile before turning back to talk to everyone.

I pass through the room, talking to people and saying hi. I’m thankful for the flats Alice gave me, knowing I would have never made it in my heels this long.

My dad comes up beside me and pulls me in for a hug. “You ready for your cake and presents?”

“I’m always ready for cake and gifts, Dad.”

“Come on.” He keeps his arm around me as he leads me through the living room. We pass by Eli, and I want to reach out and touch him. I clench my hand to keep from doing it.

“I know Eli has been working hard to teach you how to drive, so I got you a little something.” He opens the front door, and parked in the middle of the yard is a white jeep with a giant red bow on it.

“Happy birthday, bug,” he says in my ear. I burst into tears and turn to hug him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He lifts me off my feet like he used to do when I was a kid and I got excited when he’d pick me up from school. He gives me a kiss on my cheek and places me back on my feet.

“I’m sure Eli will take you out to test it after the party if you like.” I glance over at Eli, who nods in agreement. Sherry places her hand on his arm, mumbling something about them having plans.

I feel the ground fall out from beneath me, but I try to hide it by yelling, “Who’s ready for cake?”

Chapter 8

Eli

“You want to take it for a drive?”

I nod to the jeep as Maggie stands there staring at it, her eyes wide with excitement. The last of the guests have left and she came outside to look at her new ride.

“Let me get my wallet,” she says, bouncing inside.

It’s not two seconds later she’s got her stuff and she’s practically jumping into the driver’s seat. I climb in the passenger side, and she spends a few minutes playing with all the buttons and adjusting them to her satisfaction. She looks so freaking adorable, like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Where to, cupcake?” she asks, bouncing in her seat.

“Why don’t we go to the lake? The sun is about to set, and the drive will be nice.”

“Oh, perfect,” she says, and we take off.

The whole way over she’s talking about the party and who showed up. How she was surprised so many people came, but I wasn’t. She’s truly a ball of sunshine, and people are attracted to that.