Page 149 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Since when?” Hayden asks, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Since my birthday,” I quip.

He rolls his eyes as he adds some cheese to the sub he’s making.

“And that is when, exactly.”

I mumble the date under my breath.

“I’m sorry, a little louder.”

“Fine,” I huff, giving him the date.

“What did you do for it?”

“I didn’t have a massive party, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“So what did you do?”

“Nothing,” I mutter.

“Nothing?” he repeats, his eyes wide with horror.

“Yeah, nothing. It isn’t a big deal. Just another day.”

“But you were thirty. It should be a big deal because you are a big deal, and you deserve to be celebrated.”

Emotion tickles my nose, tears burning the backs of my eyes.

Don’t cry. Do not cry, not over this.

“Yeah, well. No one else agrees, so I just…continued as normal.”

“That’s fucking bullshit,” he snaps, a lick of anger in his tone. “What about your parents?”

“What about them? They forgot I existed the day I broke out of the chains they had me shackled by.”

“Shit,” he hisses, dragging his hand down his face. “Here,” he adds, handing me the sub he’s put together.

Silently, I take it, my fingers brushing against his warm ones, sending a shot of electricity down my arm.

“Thanks,” I whisper before lifting it to my mouth and taking a bite.

“We’re gonna have a do-over.”

I frown. “A do-over? For what?”

“Your birthday.”

“Oh, no. That’s okay. I haven’t celebrated in years; this is normal now.”

“And that is exactly why you should be celebrating,” he argues. “Leave it to me.”

“Hayden,” I warn. “I don’t want to threaten bodily harm, but if you so much as even consider throwing me a surprise party, I will hurt you.”

He chuckles, totally unfazed. “Leave it to me, baby. I’ll come up with the perfect way to celebrate.”

“Really not necessary,” I mutter.