Tales Of People Forgetting Your Birthday And Lovers Who Don't Materialise
Day 1 of The Andie Chronicles
Today is my birthday.
And like all birthdays, it should be an amazing day.
There should be metaphorical fireworks going off in my life. My loved ones, family, friends should be everywhere, celebrating with me, teasing me about reaching my mid-thirties, and showering me with happy memories.
It should be a day I reminisce over until the next birthday, assuming nothing could top it.
But today is a Monday, and any old Monday in the eyes of the big bad world. You wouldn’t know it was my birthday, and the way it’s going it’s probably going to stay like that.
James was unusually late to work today. He only lives two streets away from my place, 1 Lovelock Drive, where we’ve overtaken my dining room and turned it into our productive office space.
It wasn’t like him.
I thought he might have been going to the cafe and getting cakes and whatnot to celebrate. Alas, when he materialised at my front door, he was empty-handed.
“Sorry I was late. Went out last night and you know how it goes.”
I didn’t bother asking about where my invitation was. Perhaps he thought I wouldn’t like where he was going. He often goes to gay clubs on his own, or with friends of his who are gay.
He doesn’t like it when we girls tag along.
“Sounds like it was a good night.”
I didn’t know what else to say, which was weird for my best friend. We normally had lots of things to say. Thankfully, we always had the topic of work to fall back on.
“We have that meeting with a supplier in half an hour. Do you want to review the samples again?”
James nodded but insisted we have coffee first. I was surprised he wasn’t raiding our emergency supply of Red Bull.
The day ended pretty early. It got to around four before James said he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore and insisted on going home. “Will you be ok here on your own to finish up for tomorrow’s meeting?”
“Fine.”
I didn’t mention that I thought we would go out for dinner for my birthday. Or at least celebrate with an end-of-day cocktail.
“Besides, I assume Douglas is taking me out to dinner tonight. I should probably get ready.”
I felt guilty as James left. I had lied to him. I hadn’t heard from my boyfriend, Douglas, all day. Not a text, a call, not a surprise bouquet of flowers at the door.
I hadn’t heard from really anyone, except my mum and my Aunty who lives in Queensland. It would seem the world had forgotten I had turned thirty-five today.
Perhaps it was a good thing.
But I’m more convinced it’s a sign of what’s to come.
And it doesn’t look good for little old me.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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