Brian's grandma brings in a chocolate cake with raspberries on top and a candle in the shape of an eighteen.

A rush of air leaves my lips, extinguishing the flame, and I make three wishes while Brian and his grandparents sing Happy Birthday to me. We eat the dessert and chat. At the end of the evening, Evelyn gives me a plant in a beautiful flowerpot. I try to object, but it's difficult to say no to a woman who has been nothing but kind to me from the get-go.

"They like you," Brian says as we leave his grandparents' house later.

"I like them, too," I reply. "You have an amazing family."

Brian chuckles. "Yeah, I really do. It's never dull when all of us are together. I hope you liked your birthday, Kitten."

"It was wonderful," I say as we stroll toward our cabin. "Thank you."

"No problem. I wanted you to enjoy it. You don't turn eighteen every day."

"What did you do for your eighteenth?"

Brian shoves his hands in his jacket pockets and looks at the ground. "Got drunk, ended up in a club. You don't have to know more."

"Spent the night with a girl? You can say it. You're older than me, and I'm not that naïve."

"Yeah, Kitten, although spending the night isn't what I'd call it. I wasn't too happy, I guess. I missed my friends and my hometown and was fed up with everything."

"I feel that way sometimes, too," I say. Brian and I climb the wooden steps, and he lets us in, switching on the lights while I hang the jackets by the door.

"I'm gonna smoke," he says, taking a pack of cigarettes out of his jean pocket.

I follow him onto the terrace and watch him light a cigarette after he puts it in his mouth.

"I want to try it," I say.

Brian raises his eyebrows. "Why would you?"

"Curiosity." I shrug. "I won't start smoking; I just want to know how it tastes."

"Here," Brian says, handing me his cigarette. I bring it to my lips and cough when it's in my mouth, and I let in the smoke.

Brian laughs as he goes back into the house. He returns with a glass of water and gives it to me. "Drink, tiger."

"Disgusting," I say after gulping down the liquid.

"It is." Brian nods. "The fucked up thing is, you get accustomed to it."

"Have you tried other things?"

"Drugs?"

I nod.

"Yeah, but nothing heavy, just some weed. I don't smoke it now. I never liked it, I guess," he says.

I fall quiet and wait for Brian to finish smoking. We reenter the living room and sit on the couch. Brian pops some chewing gum into his mouth, and I wonder if he wants to kiss me.

Sadness washes over me because we'll leave the cabin in the morning. What will happen once we're home? The scenario in which we date isn't realistic, but much to my surprise, I like the idea.

"What's on your mind, Princess?" Brian asks.

"Thinking that I'd love to stay here."

He sighs. "Me too, but you have school, and Pops needs me at the garage. Being an adult isn't fun, Kitten. On the bright side, now that you have a phone, you can text me whenever you want."

"After you," I say, making Brian chuckle.

We both yawn, but Brian's the first to rise to his feet. "Time to get some shuteye."

I nod and turn off the lamp before following him upstairs.

Brian gives me the en-suite and goes to get ready for bed in another bathroom. I'm under the covers when he's back in nothing but a pair of black boxers.

I've seen him shirtless, but it's different now that we've kissed. My eyes linger on his well-defined abs, and he catches that, smirking as he gets under the comforter and faces me.

"Good night," he whispers and edges forward. His mouth brushes across my cheek, but I press my lips to his instead. It's my birthday, and I deserve a proper kiss.

Brian's hesitant. The sudden change in him confuses me, and I kiss him harder. This time, his tongue meets mine.

I go with my instinct and mimic the way Brian's kissing me. He must like it because a soft groan leaves his lips, and he rolls me onto my back, trapping me under his hard body.

Feeling him sets my skin on fire, and I tug at Brian's hair. He places kisses on my jaw, and then his mouth moves down to my neck. Brian licks the skin there and bites softly, making me squirm under him. I put my hands on his bare back and caress his skin while he gives me wet, open-mouthed kisses.

And then, he stops.

"I shouldn't, Kitten," he whispers against my skin. "I'm dying to, but I shouldn't. Please, don't be mad at me."

"It's okay," I say, trying to catch my breath.

Brian wishes me sweet dreams and falls asleep after a while. I take much longer to drift off.

***

We leave Brian's grandparents' home after breakfast, promising to visit them soon.

Mile after mile, we get closer to our town. Would my mom be angry? Will she ground me once more? A part of me fears her reaction. Another part of me worries about the change in Brian, who's been quiet and serious since last night.

It's lunchtime when we're back. I get off Brian's bike and accept the flowerpot, the phone, and the bag with my new clothes.

"Thank you," I tell him again.

Brian rewards me with a small smile. "It's nothing. I'm glad you had fun. If you have problems with your mother, call me, and I'll talk to her."

"Will do."

As soon as Brian leaves, I go home. Mom isn't there. By the time her key turns in the lock, I've put everything away and done the laundry.

"Leah?" she calls from downstairs.

"Coming!" I yell and go to greet her.

"Where have you been? I was worried!" she says.

Mom's holding grocery bags. I take them from her and stroll to the fridge. "I won't apologize," I say as I place the food on the shelves. "I told you I didn't want to see Gavin, much less have dinner with his parents, and you didn't listen. I stayed at my friend's."

The silence is suspicious. I turn and catch Mom studying her fingernails. "I made a mistake. Forgive me," she says.

I frown. "What?"

"I thought that family was different, Leah. I thought they cared about us, but they don't."

I sit at the kitchen table, expecting her to tell me more.

"Gavin picked me up, and we drove to their house despite your absence. I thought you were throwing a tantrum and would show up once you'd calmed down. It's good you didn't. The whole thing was a political campaign. Gavin's father gave me a piece of paper with a speech on it. They wanted me to tell about the Martins helping us in front of a crowd of supporters in their garden. I refused to do it."

Brian wasn't wrong when he said Gavin's family would try to use us. "Then what?" I ask.

Mom lets out a sad laugh. "He told me to give the money back — the money the Martins gave me to pay the rent. I'll do an extra shift to earn more so I don't owe them."

"They aren't good people, and Gavin isn't a good guy. You should've listened to me instead of trying to make me date someone I don't like."

Mom rises from her chair and walks up to me.

I fail to hold back the tears when she hugs me and whispers, "Happy Birthday, baby."

***

On Monday, I sit next to Annie in class. Her eyes widen at the sight of my phone. "Holy... Where'd you get that?"

I opt for the truth. "It was my birthday on Saturday, and Brian gave it to me."

Annie stares at me. "Brian, as in O'Brien? Kenzie's best friend?"

"Kenzie's?"

Annie laughs. "Mac's full name is Mackenzie. The guys call him Mac, but he's always been Kenzie to me."

"Yeah, that Brian," I say.

I shouldn't mention anything about our time together. I haven't heard from Brian since Sunday morning. It hasn't been long, but I thought he'd text me. I hesitate, but Annie's my only friend, and she has a boyfriend. If someone can cast light on the mystery called Brian, it's her.

"We kissed," I say. "And he took me to his grandparents' place on the coast. It was the best birthday, but he hasn't texted despite saying he would."

"He might be busy. He told Kenzie they had tons of customers this week."

"I think he's ignoring me on purpose, Annie. He might've gotten scared after spending the weekend with me."

"I don't know what to say," Annie tells me. "It's true Brian's never had a girlfriend. Bella was his longest relationship, and she wasn't his girl, just someone he had a good time with. Maybe he sees you in a different way."

I bite down on my lip. "Right. He sees me as someone who's not good enough for an experienced guy like him."

Annie laughs. "No, Leah. If I'm right, he might see you as someone who's too good."