Tales Of Birthday Parties And Designer Gifts You Don't Want
Tales Of Birthday Parties And Designer Gifts You Don't Want
Day 6 of The Andie Chronicles
James told me to be ready at 5 pm for my birthday party.
He called it that but he promised me it wasn’t anything big or over the top. Though, by his standards of what was over the top, I prepared myself for something too much considering the occasion.
I mean, thirty-five is not one of the big years to celebrate. And this wouldn’t be a thing if all my friends had remembered my birthday was five days ago.
I tried, for the sake of everyone, to pretend that didn’t happen.
A stretch limo pulled up out the front of 1 Lovelock Drive, a pink monster blasting 90’s dance music as soon as the door opened.
The driver opened the door for me and I climbed inside. I found James, Sophia, her ex-boyfriend Malcolm, GG, with her boyfriend Taylor, and my boyfriend, Douglas.
He was seated at the furthest point of the limo, too far to say hello to without insisting everyone else move for me.
He was smiling at me as I took my seat, blowing me a kiss like nothing was amiss between us.
Like I hadn’t tried to call him almost every day, or like I hadn’t left messages with his secretary to call me back. Or like it hadn’t been my birthday and he had totally not said anything to me about it.
As the limo departed, James announced we were going to dinner at my favourite restaurant in the city. I crossed my fingers for Rockpool at Crown.
Realistically, I had many favourite haunts but this one has magic I can’t quite put my fingers on.
As we drove, everyone chatted and sang to the music. I tried to smile as I watched Douglas talk with my friends, acting as if nothing was wrong. He was much like Sophia, who also tried to pretend no one was wondering why the hell she brought her ex to this little soiree.
That would be a conversation for tomorrow, I thought.
“You know me too well.”
I thanked James as we took our seats in a private room at Rockpool.
“Don’t thank me. It was all Taylor. He set it up and he’s getting the bill.”
That was sweet; my best friend’s boyfriend was paying for me. He has the means to do so, being one of the richest men under forty in Australia.
Yet, so was his brother, Douglas, whose girlfriend’s birthday it was. You would have thought Douglas would pick up the tab if anyone, right?
As we sat down, I felt him beside me. Douglas took the seat next to mine and as he got comfortable, he leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek.
“Happy birthday babe.”
“Thanks.”
I hated myself for my reply. But there was so much more I wanted to say, and couldn’t right now in such a public space, I had to hold my tongue.
“I have something for you.”
My instinct was to tell him to keep the present. That I didn’t want it.
But it was another thing I couldn’t say in front of all my friends in the expensive restaurant. And I couldn’t deny that I had no idea where he had been all week.
Perhaps he had a good excuse and I was being pushy. I might be angry for all the wrong reasons. Or I could be right to be angry as I highly suspected, and now I making excuses because I had to accept the gift.
Just when I thought this birthday situation was getting better, it was getting worse. Douglas lifted the aqua-coloured bag he had hidden behind him and presented it to me.
Oh fuck, it’s Tiffany’s.
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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