"Happy birthday, cutie!" Layla said, pulling me into a warm hug.
I smiled, though a small part of me ached. I wished my mom were alive to see me turn eighteen. I could almost imagine her rolling her eyes at the luxury of it all while secretly being proud.
"I have a gift for you. It's outside," my dad said.
"Wait, really?" I didn't wait for an answer. I practically sprinted to the driveway with Dad and Layla trailing behind me, laughing.
I stopped dead in my tracks and screamed. Sitting in the sun was a McLaren Speedtail in a stunning, custom shade of lavender. It looked less like a car and more like a spaceship.
"Is it really mine?" I asked, breathless. Dad nodded, looking more relaxed and happy than I'd seen him in weeks.
"Let me take a picture!" Layla offered. I posed by the sleek hood, feeling like a total stranger to my own life. This car cost more than the house I grew up in back in London. I hugged my dad tightly, thanking him over and over.
As soon as I got back to my room to pack for the sleepover, my phone exploded. Harry's name was at the top of the list. I didn't reply yet; instead, I posted the car to my Instagram and Snapchat stories, watching the views climb instantly. I packed a bag for the pool party and the "main event" tonight. Dad had already hired a driving instructor for Monday, so soon, I'd actually be able to handle that lavender beast in the driveway.
When I arrived at Hailey's, she ran out to meet me. "Happy birthday, baby! That car is insane! When are we taking it out?"
"Soon," I laughed. "As soon as I actually learn how to drive."
Brianna joined us, grinning. "The boys are planning something huge for tonight, but for the next two hours, we have the house to ourselves."
We headed to the pool. I wore a nude-colored bikini Layla had picked out for me—it was daring, but it made me feel confident.
We swam, drank milkshakes, and gossiped like we were back in London. Brianna mentioned she and Logan had been together for two years, which made me feel even more confused about my own messy love life.
I needed to use the bathroom and Hailey said I could use any one available upstairs.
I climbed the grand staircase, my skin still glistening and cool from the pool, my heart thumping a steady, expectant rhythm against my ribs.
I turned down the right corridor, trying the first two doors only to find them firmly locked.
When I reached the third, the handle turned with a heavy, expensive click. I pushed it open, expecting a guest room, but the air that hit me was thick, humid, and smelled intoxicatingly of sandalwood, rain, and masculine skin.
I froze. Antonio was standing in the center of the room, fresh from the shower and devastatingly naked.
The afternoon light caught the damp muscles of his back and the powerful, sculpted lines of his thighs.
My breath hitched, trapped in my throat. I knew I should turn—I knew I should apologize and run—but a magnetic pull kept me rooted to the spot.
My eyes betrayed me, tracing the hard, lethal V-taper of his waist and the dark hair that dampened his chest.
"I'm... I'm so sorry," I managed to whisper, though my gaze didn't waver.
Before I could retreat, the door swung shut behind me with a soft, final thud.
Antonio didn't reach for a towel. Instead, he turned and walked toward me with the slow, predatory grace of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
The space between us evaporated until I was pinned against the cool wood of the door.
Instinctively, I reached out to steady myself, my palms landing against the furnace-heat of his bare chest. His skin was slick, his muscles like granite under my fingertips. I could feel his heart drumming a low, heavy beat that matched my own.
He didn't pull away. He leaned in, his shadow eclipsing me, his scent filling my senses until I was dizzy. He trapped my wrists above my head with one hand, his grip firm and burning, while his other hand moved to tuck a damp strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was electric, trailing down the side of my neck and making my breath come in shallow gasps.
"Can I kiss you?" he rasped, his voice a low, dangerous vibration that sent a shiver straight to my core.
"I... yes," I breathed, the word barely a sound.
"I need to hear you say it, Andrea. Tell me."
"Yes," I gasped. "Please."
He didn't wait. He crashed his lips against mine, devouring me. It wasn't like Harry's frantic, boyish fumbling; this was the kiss of a man. It was deep, commanding, and hungry. His tongue traced the seam of my lips before sliding inside, claiming me with a sophisticated heat that made my knees go weak. I felt my body respond instantly, my chest tightening and a heavy, pulsing ache blooming deep in my stomach.
He let go of my wrists, and my hands immediately found their way to his shoulders, holding on for balance. His hands remained on my waist. I could feel the sheer presence of him pressed against me.
"Happy birthday, Andrea," he whispered against my lips.
He pulled back just enough for me to see the dark intensity in his eyes. I felt a surge of adrenaline. Trembling, I fumbled for the handle behind me, tore the door open, and practically stumbled into the hallway. I didn't look back. I ran down the stairs, my heart hammering like a trapped bird, the feeling of the encounter lingering.
"What took you so long?" Hailey asked when I got back to the pool.
"Nothing. Just waiting for my drink," I lied, my voice shaking. I could still feel the lingering effect of that unexpected encounter.
By four o'clock, we were resting in Hailey's room. I watched from the window as a car pulled away.
"Tonio's leaving," Hailey noted. "He's always working, even though he's already loaded."
"If I wasn't with Logan, I would definitely have a crush on your brother," Brianna joked.
"Eww, gross!" Hailey laughed.
"He's twenty-eight," Brianna continued. "The perfect age gap."
Ten years. It sounded like a lot, but after that kiss, it felt like nothing.
The sun went down, and the house transformed. Noah and Henry had turned the place into a club. People I didn't even know were handing me gifts and wishing me a happy birthday. I felt like a queen, but I was distracted. I was in a triangle with two brothers, and one of them was Hailey's older, successful brother.
Harry was nowhere to be found for the first half of the party. I danced with Hailey until a hand touched my waist.
"There you are, baby."
Harry placed a sparkling tiara on my head. "Happy birthday, my girl," he said. Before I could answer, he pulled me into a kiss in front of everyone. It was a statement kiss, meant for the crowd to see. The cheering was loud, and for a second, I thought: This is it. We're official.
Later, we went out by the pool for some air.
"So... what are we now?" I asked, leaning against the railing.
Harry looked at the water and shrugged. "I don't know," he said casually.
The words felt like a slap. My smile vanished. He had just made a public declaration of... something, but he couldn't even give me a simple answer about what we were?
"I think I want to go home," I said, the joy of the night draining out of me.
I met Hailey in the kitchen to let her know that I wa leaving
Hailey sensed the shift. "Are you okay, Andy?"
"Just tired, Hails. It's been a long day."
She sensed something was wrong but she decided not to push it " let me know when you get him" she said and I nodded.
I booked a ride and left. When I got home, the house was quiet. I walked into my room, ready to throw myself on the bed and cry, but I stopped. Resting on my pillow was a massive lilac teddy bear. Next to it sat a beautiful bottle of perfume and a card.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA! MAY YOUR SPECIAL DAY MARK THE START OF A GREAT YEAR. - A."
It was so formal, so "official." And yet, looking at that lilac bear, my heart felt a warmth that Harry's public kiss hadn't given me. I fell asleep hugging the bear, wondering why the "complicated" brother was making me cry while the "unexpected" one was making me smile.