Page 121 of Tiny Fractures

“Did you now,” I chuckle. “I’d say something snarky, but honestly, I can’t argue with you.”

I get comfortable on my pillow before I drift off to sleep. The last thought on my mind is Ronan.

Friday, August 27th

Cat

I wake up bright and early the next morning to Vada singing happy birthday to me—loudly and very much off-pitch. I blink my eyes open, laughing at her rendition as she holds a plate of pancakes in her hands, a lit candle adorning the stack of flapjacks.

“You are even more embarrassing than my mom,” I laugh once she finishes singing, and I sit up to blow out the candle. “But I love it,” I say, then close my eyes and make my birthday wish.

“What in the fucking world, Vada?” Zack grumbles as he shuffles into Vada’s bedroom wearing navy pajama bottoms and a black t-shirt. “It’s way too fucking early for this,” he says, and plops down on her bed next to me. “But hey, happy birthday, Cat.” He starts to reach for the plate of pancakes Vada is still balancing in her hands.

“Hands off!” Vada says, and smacks Zack’s hand away.

He gives her a scathing look while I laugh.

“Oh, come on Vada, let him have some. I can’t possibly eat all of these,” I say, and take the plate off her hands.

“I like you,” Zack says to me with a grin. He starts picking at the top pancake, tossing pieces into his mouth. “So, what’s the plan for today?” he asks and lets himself fall back onto the blanket. “Party at Shane’s?”

“Duh,” Vada responds, rolling her eyes at her twin brother. “But first, we’re going shopping.”

“Nuh-uh, I’m not going shopping,” Zack says, his mouth full of pancake.

Vada rolls her eyes at him again. “Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. It’s a girls’ thing, anyways. You’re not invited,” she says. “Now, if you could please leave my room so Cat and I can get ready, that would be great.”

Zack gets up and stretches his arms above his head. “Whatever. You guys have fun,” he says, takes the top pancake from the stack, and walks out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Vada and I get ready, then head out to Murphy’s for an early brunch. We meet Tori, who’s sitting in a small booth.

She waves us over. “Happy Birthday, Cat!” she says sweetly, and gives me a hug.

“Thanks.” I sit across from her and take one of the menus. I’m surprised to see Shane walk toward us. “Don’t you usually work evenings?” I ask him when he reaches our table and stands next to Tori, who immediately reaches her arm around him and leans against his hip.

“Yeah, unless I have plans for the evening. My dad’s gonna close for me tonight since we’ll be celebrating your birthday.” He winks at me. “What are your plans for today?” Shane asks me, Tori, and Vada.

“A little bit of shopping, maybe some lunch, then we’ll head over to your place,” Tori says.

Shane nods as he winds a strand of Tori’s gorgeous dark hair around his finger. “Nice. It’s just the three of you?”

“Summer is going to meet us a bit later,” Vada says.

“Cool. Alright, what do you guys want to eat?” Shane takes our orders and then joins us at our table for about fifteen minutes before he starts hollering orders at some delivery people who marched into Murphy’s with a cart full of booze.

Vada, Tori, and I meet Summer in the city, and we spend the next few hours strolling through stores and enjoying each other’s company before we grab a late lunch. Somehow we end up on the subject of sex, and Tori chitchats about how glad she is that Shane has his own place now, especially after his sister, Lauren, walked in on them in the middle of a very steamy, R-rated scene.

“Lauren got the full view,” Tori laughs, though her cheeks take on a rosy hue. “She’s probably traumatized for life.”

“I’m glad to hear it’s not just Ran and me who keep getting interrupted,” I say.

Vada laughs. “I’m really good at barging in on you guys, huh?”

“You and everyone else. But, yes, you definitely seem to have a real talent for it,” I agree. My phone vibrates in my pocket and heat rushes through me when Ronan’s smile flashes across my screen. I love this picture of him. I took it at the beach one afternoon. The sun was setting and it reflected in his green eyes so beautifully that they looked turquoise and complemented his tanned skin and dark-blond hair perfectly.

I take a few steps away from the girls and answer. “I’m sorry if this freaks you out, but my heart gets all fluttery when you call me,” I answer the phone with a sigh.

Ronan chuckles. “Why would that freak me out?”