I'm awoken by faint laughter in the living room, I instantly jump out of bed but before I run to check if Paul is finally home I stop realizing he is not alone. Instead I head to the restroom to wash my face and put clean clothes on, I toss the dress I'd worn the day before on the floor, unbothered by the mess.

I take a deep breath before heading out not sure why I was so anxious. I find Paul with Joe and Candy, Joe sitting on the floor, playing a ukulele, Candy sitting comfortably on Paul's lap. I don't like the fact that he's comfortable with it as well. Once they notice me Paul begins to talk,
"Rachel, where's my birthday sex?" He asks half laughingly.
"Your birthday was yesterday and you weren't here" I reply instantly annoyed.
"So? We can have birthday sex all weekend."
"I'll give it to you" Candy says bluntly facing him with a smile that enrages me, when he hears that Joe looks away from the small instrument and at her, she disregards him.
"Where were you?" I demand interrupting once again the flirtatious looks between my boyfriend and her.
"That's not your business."
"Really!?" I ask confounded, my heart races a little.
"Really" he states. I notice how Candy and Joe are as surprised as me by his unusual attitude.
"What the fuck were you doing?" I ask.
"Celebrating my birthday and you?"
My eyes become blurred I know it only means tears, "I was here, waiting. I thought you said we'd spend it together, with the cake you asked me to bake."
"Memory must've slipped with the alcohol, you know how it is."
"Uh no. I don't" a tear trails down my cheek, "do you even care?"
"Care about what? That you're acting like a cry baby?"
"Fuck you! What is your problem?!"
"At the moment, you are."

Candy gets off his lap awkwardly, she excuses herself, "well, I have a job to go to, see you guys later." She leaves, Joe too gets up but heads to the restroom as an excuse.

"Why the fuck are you being so dramatic?!"
"Dramatic?! You were gone 24 hours without notice, not one call. I sat here stupidly all day, crying all night worried. Don't dare call me dramatic!"
He pouts mocking my tears, "aw, come here baby, give daddy a kiss."
I frown shaking my head.
"Don't you say no to me"
"Or else?!"
"I'll make you say yes."
"Don't come close" I state.
"You can't say that, you're mine" he says walking towards me. I back off a bit startled by his hand on my waist.
"Don't fucking touch me Paul!"
"Are you sure?"
"YES!"
"I'll leave you, you'll be alone again. Forever."
I break down into his arms crying of humiliation, self-pity, rage, but also an aching heart because I admittedly don't want him to ever leave me.
"Do you love me?" I ask confused.
He wraps his arms around me, they feel gentle unlike his words. "Why do you ask? You know I do."
"Then why are you treating me like this? Why are you being mean?"
"I don't know. I just, I didn't have a great night" he says guiltily.
"Why? What did you do?"
"Nothing, I was out with Joe that's it."
"Doing what?"
"We just went to buy some drinks, we were gonna head here afterward but we had two too many. I decided to crash at his place instead because I didn't wanna bother you being intoxicated."
"Is that it?" I ask doubting.
"Yea!"
"You promise?"
"Why do you think I'm lying? Do you want me to say I cheated or something?"
"Did you?"
"No! I mean, not actually, it doesn't count."
"So you did?!"
"Rachel we were drunk."
"Who?"
"I'm not supposed to tell anyone."
"I'm not mad I just wanna know who it was."
"I can't, it's too embarrassing to admit."
"What do you mean? Now you're being dramatic. Just say it."
Suddenly Joe interrupts, "will you two just make up already?"
"Shut up Joe, mind your own business" I reply.
"This is my business."
"What?" I ask confused, and then it makes sense.
"Wait, you and Joe...?"