Chapter 3

Maybe the way I'd been so distant lately finally hit a nerve with him.

James used my birthday as a reason to pull out all the stops and throw a party.

He transformed the venue into a starry galaxy.

Every detail perfectly brought to life every whimsical dream I'd ever had at sixteen.

He even managed to track down those glass lanterns I loved as a kid, which hadn't been made in years, and strung them up all along the path.

I watched everything unfold, completely calm, not a ripple in my heart.

The party hit its peak, and that's…