Page 67 of Under Your Spell

‘Ugggg, Serena! Get OFF!!!!’ Lil wails, which is an extremely basic error as it only gives Serena more opportunity to cram sand in her.

Behind me, I can hear Theo laughing, the sound happy and soaring, and I pull myself up and out of the scrum, moving towards Mum, Petty and Ava, who wrap me in a much more dignified group hug.

‘Happy birthday, sweet Clementine,’ Petty whispers in my ear.

‘Our girl,’ Ava coos, kissing my cheek.

‘What are you all doing here?!’ I exclaim.

‘Theo organized it,’ Mum says, and then she’s walking towards him, her arms stretched out in front of her, kissing him loudly on the cheek. ‘You lovely boy,’ she says. ‘Our girls have been telling us all about you. I’m so happy to finally meet you in person.’

Theo’s cheeks are pink and he looks utterly starstruck as Mum continues to grip him just above his elbows, beaming up at him. ‘Th-thank you, Ms Monroe,’ he manages thickly. ‘It’s nice to meet you too. I’m a big fan…’

Mum waves a hand, ‘Oh, don’t you dare Ms Monroe me. It’s Dee. And you haven’t met Petty or Ava either, have you?’ There are more greetings, and then I notice two other figures: Henry and Bee hovering at the side.

‘Hi, Henry!’ I give him a little wave, which he returns.

‘Happy birthday, Clemmie,’ he smiles shyly, tucking his hands in his pockets.

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I can’t believe you’re all here.’ I turn to the woman beside him. She’s even more beautiful in real life. ‘You must be Bee?’

She nods. ‘It’s nice to meet you properly.’

‘You mean not just as the disembodied voice echoing from Lil’s bra?’ I say, and Henry doesn’t look at all fazed, only smiles bigger at the sound of my sister’s name.

Bee laughs. ‘Yeah, you’re much taller in real life.’ I grin at her and she grins back. Then Serena appears beside her, rumpled and sandy but not as sandy as Lil, which I think means she won.

Serena’s arm slips round Bee’s waist, easily, as if it belongs there. Henry and Lil are holding hands. I can’t believe how much things have changed in the last few months, and I try to ignore the pang of jealousy I feel.

‘So, what do you think?’ Serena asks, gesturing around. I take it all in. A huge wooden gazebo strewn with patchwork bunting has been erected in the middle of the beach. There are giant, confetti-filled balloons tied to weights and bobbing on long ribbons, and under the gazebo is a fire pit and piles of pretty, brightly coloured picnic blankets and giant, squishy cushions. Off to one side an entire tiki bar has been built and stocked with drinks and there’s a barbecue beside it, the coals already glowing orange.

‘It’s incredible,’ I say, dazed. ‘How did you pull this off?’

‘It was Mum and Theo,’ Lil says. ‘They arranged it all.’

‘With a bit of help from David, of course.’ Theo comes and stands beside me. ‘He says happy birthday, by the way. He sent you some flowers. They’re inside.’

‘David did?’ I ask, stunned.

‘I think he’s warming to you,’ Theo says. ‘I’m trying not to be jealous. He’s never bought me flowers before.’ He looks down at me. ‘So? Do you like it? Are you surprised?’

‘I’m so surprised,’ I say honestly. ‘And I don’t think I could like anything more.’

We just stand there, staring at each other for a moment. I don’t know how long, but long enough for Lil to clear her throat, and for Serena to grumble, ‘Well, fuck. Lil was right for once.’

‘Right about what?’ I ask.

‘Right about you and—’

‘Shall we get a drink,’ Bee interrupts quickly, squeezing Serena’s hand and tugging her away. My sister goes with her, but turns and glares at me over her shoulder. Then she lifts two fingers and points them at her eyes before pointing them at Theo in the universal symbol for I’m watching you.

‘I keep forgetting how scary your sister is,’ Theo says.

‘So scary,’ Henry whispers, and he and Theo exchange a look of solidarity.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a happy blur. Mum and Ava take charge of the barbecue, and Petty goes up to the house, pulling big bowls of bright salad, rice mixed with creamy green pistachios and slick pomegranate seeds, and platters of sweet, charred roast vegetables out of the fridge.

Theo lights the fire using way too much lighter fluid and nearly takes his eyebrows off.