The birthday cake flickers with twenty-nine candles. Under a pergola running the length of Patty’s ranch, everyone yells at him to make a wish, which he does before blowing out the candles. He opens cards and gifts, one by one, celebrating his special day in nothing more than his bathing suit, looking trim and buff, handsome to his core.
Brian makes his way over to me. He discreetly settles beside me. Both of us stand next to the deep end of the pool. The ogre holds a bottle of beer in his right hand. He’s half tanked. He leans into me, smiles, and whispers, “I know you don’t like me.”
“I never said that.”
“Don’t lie to the both of us. You seethe with hate for me.”
“Again, I never said that.”
He turns to me, keeps his fake smile plastered on, and says, “Stay away from my brother. Stop
