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I flung htstand

Uncle Dex: Happy Birthday, Julez!

That forced a hint of a smile onto my face

Even though he was in and out of my life, Dex usually remembered my birthday

My phone vibrated again

Roman: Happy birthday, butterfly! Can’t wait to see you today

How did he knoas my birthday?

Intrigued and set dressed Even though the weather ariven o and trotted down the stairs

No one aiting forlunch I’d packed the night before and shoved it inout the door

I tried to get to school as early as possible to give me as many extra possible seconds with Roman as I could squeeze into a day

Thatfor me on the front steps

“Hey, birthday girl,” he said in that low, gravelly voice I felt down to my toes He swept me into an embrace and pressed his lips to mine

The school, the noises around us, even the fact that it waselse mattered

My mind flashed back to the cave at Fletcher Park When would we have another chance to be alone like that again?

Breathless, we parted We stared at each other for a few si about the cave too? Did he want to do more next time?

He smiled and lifted a small, square box between us “Happy birthday”

“Roman! You didn’t! How’d you know?”

One corner of his mouth curled in a sly smile “I have my methods”

The pretty blue paper had daisies and butterflies dotted all over it and I hated to rip it open “This is so pretty!”

“Please open it I want you to see what’s inside before school starts”

“Okay” This was already the best day I carefully eased my nail under the tape and peeled the paper apart without ripping it I’d cut out a piece and tape it into ht

Inside was a square purple box and I gently pried off the lid “Oh!” My breath caught “It’s beautiful!”

Daisies! He remembered how much I love daisies

The dark hunter green matched the leather of er over the e the carved lines of each petal “It’s beautiful I love it so much Thank you”

He brushed his knuckles over ’s as beautiful as you and you’re welcome”

Tears pricked htful he was

“Juliet, is it okay? You look like you’re going to cry” He sounded so distressed, I forced a smile onto my face