Lib Novel Page 88
“What are you two doing the rest of the day?” Nazarene asked as she picked at the sunny-side-up eggs she’d barely touched.
“Well, I’m taking the birthday girl here shopping to pick out a present.”
Tristan’s eyes went wide. “Birthday girl?”
“Today is my birthday,” I admitted.
Nazarene’s mouth dropped open. “Oh wow! How old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Aw…” She tilted her head. “So young.”
Not too young for your boyfriend. I shook that from my thoughts.
“How did I not know it was your birthday?” Tristan frowned.
“Well, I never told you.” I shrugged. “Now you know.”
Tristan said almost nothing the rest of the time at Sparky’s.
Before we parted ways, Nazarene planted a kiss on each of my cheeks, European-style. And Tristan left with a lingering scowl on his face.
***
Ethan took me to a fancy Italian restaurant in St. Louis that night. He did everything in his power to make me feel special, and I felt guilty, because I couldn’t stop thinking about Tristan. I felt so guilty, in fact, that I decided not to go home with Ethan, but have him drive me back to my mother’s house instead.
After I got home, about eleven thirty, Tristan texted.
Tristan: Are you alone or is he with you?
Emily: I’m alone.
Tristan: Can I call you?
Emily: Sure.
The phone rang a minute later.
I picked up. “Hey.”
He spoke softly. “Hi.”
“What’s up?”
“Did you have a nice birthday?”
“Yeah. It was a great day, actually.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t know. I feel so dumb.”
“How could you know if I never told you?”
“Still not cool. I should’ve investigated on my own.”
“It’s not a big deal. I don’t understand why you’re upset.”
“I don’t understand it myself, but I felt like shit all day because I couldn’t celebrate with you. It made me feel like we were strangers. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He sighed. “I guess old habits die hard. Or maybe…” He paused. “Sometimes they don’t die at all.”