"Happy birthday, Savi!" Carmen shouted and rushed to me.

"Gosh!" I exclaimed, trying to catch my breath from my friend's tight hug. "This is amazing! Thank you so much!"

Pamela came closer as well and hugged me too. Banks and Cohen took their turns after her.

The main culprit was present too. "Happy birthday, Savi!"

"Thank you, Charlie." As I hugged her, I peeked over her shoulder. "And that's Max over there, huh?"

Charlie nodded with a smile. "Yeah. I hope you don't mind that I invited him."

"Of course not." I moved closer to her ear. "Did you two...?"

"Yeah," she replied, happiness beaming in her eyes.

"Now!" Carmen intervened. "It's time for presents!"

"There are presents?" I asked excitedly.

"Well, what's a birthday without presents?" Carmen took my hand and pulled me towards the caravan. "For your new hobby..." She paused for a moment and turned to Cohen after that. "Come on, boy, move!"

Cohen handed me a red helmet with a beautiful ribbon on top.

"It's gorgeous! Thank you, guys!" I immediately put it on my head and turned to Jayden. "It suits me, right?"

Jayden smiled. "Perfectly." Then he removed it. "But I can't kiss you with it."

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Carmen started shouting from the side.

"Mmm." Sweet sounds came from my lips, intertwined with Jayden's. "I can't believe it! I know I keep repeating that, but I really can't believe this is all true."

"It is—a special birthday for a special girl. But I have some work to do now. I'll be back in a bit."

"Where are you going?" I asked, quite puzzled.

"It's a surprise," Jayden replied.

"More surprises?"

He nodded, put the helmet back on my head, and walked away.

"Hey, Savi." Pamela stood next to me the next moment. "How are you?"

"Amazing! Wait for a second, please." I took the helmet off, ran to the caravan to leave it inside, and turned back to Pamela.

"Savi, I want to talk to you about something. I'm sorry to bother you on your birthday, but I'm leaving tomorrow." Pamela said with a hint of uncertainty.

"It's okay, Pam," I said. "I'm listening. Let's go for a walk."

We took a stroll around the yard.

"I feel Carmen wants to stay here," Pamela said. "We've known each other for months now. She's always been smiling, full of emotions, and temperamental. But there's something different about her when she's here among her friends, around Jayden. The tension I've sensed at times is gone. It's like she's in the right place. I've given her many different jobs. But I think working at Moonlight is her calling. Am I right, Savi? Or am I imagining it?"

"This is her home, Pam. Her bond with Jayden is very strong. The attachment to the motel and her friends too. I don't know what to tell you..."

"A company in the nearby town is looking for a person in the HR department. The interview is next week."

"You want to move here?" I asked her with amazement in my eyes.

"Well, it's a crazy idea. I'm scared. I mean, I've been through bigger changes in my life, so it's not coming here that worries me, but it's what Carmen would think. What if that pushes her away? What if she thinks I'm forcing things? That I'm rushing?"

I stopped and grabbed Pamela by the shoulders. "Listen to me. Talk to her. If she had talked to you when I told her to, we wouldn't be having this conversation now."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, she's crazy about you. Don't let your doubts and fears stop you. You two are big girls, for God's sake! Talk to each other!"

"So, you think it's not such a crazy idea?"

"I think it's a great idea, if this is what you want."

"I want her. And there is nothing that keeps me in my city anyway."

"So, what are you waiting for? Go and talk to her!"

"Thank you so much, Savi!" Pamela hugged me.

"You are welcome."

She walked down, probably looking for Carmen, and I went to the table in front of the caravan.

Um. Onion rings. I reached over and took one. No one will know that one is missing. Or two. Or three...

"Busted!"

"Oh my God, Carmen! You scared me!"

Carmen burst out laughing.

"Well, well!" I heard a familiar voice behind us. "I didn't know there was a party tonight."

"Sophia," I muttered, turning towards her.

"I wanted to hang out with you guys, but it looks like I'm not invited. I'm going to go."

"Don't," I said. "Stay. Don't feel awkward about being here without a present," I told her with a note of irony.

"Great!" she replied and headed for the beer counter.

"Savi!" Carmen nudged me with her shoulder. "Are you sure you want Sophia to stay? I can discreetly kick her out if you want."

I turned my head to Sophia, then back to Carmen. "No. There's no need."

"As you wish." Carmen shrugged.

After a while, I went over to Charlie for a chat. Max had joined the boys, and they were talking on the side.

I couldn't wait for Jayden to come back. I was so curious about where he had gone...

"No way!" A shout that caught everyone's attention made me turn around too. Carmen kept shouting at Sophia. "Jayden wouldn't do that!"

"But he did! After he fixed my car, he kissed me. It almost happened to become more, but I stopped him since we were in the garage."

Everyone around was silent and looking at Carmen and Sophia.

I approached them. "What has Jayden done?"

"He kissed me. I'm sorry, Savi."

"When?"

"A few days ago. I had a problem with my car and brought it in for him to check it. Then it just happened. I'm really sorry."

"What are you sorry for, Sophia?" I stood right in front of her. "For trying to take Jayden away from me? Or for being a mean liar?"

"I don't lie!"

"I was there. In the garage. And I saw it all. I saw you kiss him. I saw him push you away. He told you he loved me, but that wasn't enough for you, was it? What more do you need to understand that Jayden won't come back to you?"

Sophia's face turned red with anger.

"Go away, Sophie." Carmen stood next to me.

"You have no right to push me away from here, Carmen!" She turned to Cohen and Banks. "Guys, tell her. We're friends, right?"

But in response, the boys came closer and stood next to Carmen and me.

"This is ridiculous!" Sophia cried hysterically. "Charlie!"

But Charlie also stood by me.

Max too. "Um, I don't know either of you, but I'm with her." He pointed at Charlie.

Sophia started screaming and stamping her foot.

"Goodbye, Sophia," I said indifferently, and we all walked away from her.

She screamed a few more times and then left.

I shook my head. "I would have believed her, Carmen. I probably would have believed her if I hadn't witnessed what really happened."

"Jayden wouldn't hurt you, Savi."

"I know. And yet..."

"Come on! Don't think about it! Jayden has proved his loyalty to you. And she's gone. Let's celebrate. Your boy will be back soon."

At that exact moment, Jayden parked the car in the yard next to the garage.

"Daddy!" I exclaimed as I saw my dad get out of the car along with Jayden.

"Happy birthday, my girl!" Dad said as he hugged me. "I'm sorry we're late, but I had very important work today."

"It's okay. I'm so glad you're here! Where's Mom? And what's the work on Saturday?"

"Your debt to Dominic is paid, baby." Dad patted Jayden, standing next to him, on the shoulder. "Soon, you will be able to start your life clean."

"What? How? Why?" I couldn't gather my thoughts to ask my questions.

"I sold the house and paid Dominic $500,000."

"What have you done? How could you sell the house?"

"For many years, I have been silent and watched your mother decide what was good for you. Now the time has come for me to decide. I'll be damned if I let this scoundrel into whose hands we thrust you, play tricks on you, and make fun of you! You are not alone."

"But, Dad! I told you he already has the ring."

"Now he has the money too. He has nothing to keep blackmailing you with."

This was... unbelievable! My father had sold his house to save me from Dominic. I covered my face with my hands. But when I opened them slowly, I smiled with tears in my eyes. "Thank you, Dad!"

He hugged me and kissed my forehead. "By the way, your mother is in the car. She is still struggling a bit to get over the fact that we're living in a two-bedroom apartment."

Dad patted Jayden on the shoulder again. "Shall we have something to drink?"

They both went to the table, and I walked to the car.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted her as I leaned in through the window.

"Happy birthday," she mumbled, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

"Whatever."

"Why don't you come out?"

"I'm fine here."

"I don't feel good knowing you're sitting in the car. I'm sorry that Dad has sold the house. I would never have asked him to."

"Whatever."

"Stop saying that! Come on, blame me! I know that's what you want to do!" I screamed so loud and didn't care that everyone could hear me. "Pour out your anger at me!"

"Savi." Jayden came and stood next to me. He leaned into the car and handed my mother a glass. "Here you are, Vivian. White wine, I hope you like such. We'll be out there. If you need anything, give me a shout."

He put his arms around my waist and led me to the others.

"Let's dance." Carmen took my hands and began to move to the cheerful beat of the music from Banks' guitar.

"Okay, okay," I replied, trying to keep my balance after Carmen's pull.

She lifted my arm high to spin me, but she pulled me so hard that I wobbled and crashed right into Jayden.

I couldn't stop laughing. After a while, Dad reached out and pulled me to him. "It's my turn to dance with my daughter."

Banks and Cohen continued to play. Carmen sang, jumped, and danced. Pamela tried hard to keep up with her rhythm.

As soon as the song ended, Jayden pulled me back against him for the next dance.

Without me noticing, my mother had come over to us. "May I join?"

Dad and I looked at each other and smiled.

"Wait," I told her. I bent beside her, undid her sandals' straps, and helped her remove them. "That's better."

And my happiness was complete.

The hours passed quickly.

"Cake! Cake!" Carmen began to shout, walking out of the caravan with a giant cake. She put it on the table, lit the candles, and nodded at me. I took Jayden's hand, and we moved closer.

"Make a wish," Carmen prompted.

I closed my eyes.

I had only one wish. May this happiness never end!

I blew out the candles and kissed Jayden. "I'll never forget tonight."