I started the morning of my twentieth birthday by opening my journal and writing down what I hoped to accomplish this year. Finishing my second book and editing the first, getting a job, and excelling in my studies were the main items on the list. A year ago, I also wanted to meet someone. And now I had Jim, whose text was already there when I woke up.

In the picture he attached, Jim was standing in front of the clerestory window of his condo, shirtless, with a coffee mug in his hand and a smile on his face. I grinned, reading the caption.

Jim: Happy Birthday to the girl I'm honored to love and call mine. Can't wait to see you and kiss you.

P.S. This could be your view every morning. 
Love,
Your sugar rockstar.

I wasn't sure which view he referred to—his sculpted chest or the cityscape behind the window, but I wouldn't mind waking up to either.

I typed the reply.

Me: I love both views. Thank you, baby.

Knowing Dad was most likely waiting for me, I took a quick shower, did my hair and makeup, and put on a white sundress. Jim didn't tell me what he planned, but if we ate on a terrace, the clothes I chose would be a good fit.

I grabbed a small purse and went downstairs. Dad was in the kitchen, and as soon as he heard my footsteps, he spun around and stared at me.

"Gasp. Is she the same tiny baby I held in my arms twenty years ago? There must be a mistake."

Dad's arms wrapped me in a tight hug. Moisture filled my eyes, and I blinked several times not to let it spill onto my cheeks. 

"Happy Birthday, Pumpkin," he said. "And please, tell your boyfriend to stop doing what he's doing. You'll be his financial ruin."

I took a step back. "Thank you. And what do you mean?"

Dad pointed a hand toward the living room. "See for yourself."

Buckets of roses sat on every surface, turning the room into a garden. I plucked a small envelope from the biggest bouquet and pulled out a small card.

Happy birthday, baby. I love you. See you at 12 sharp. Hope YHLF is ready for MSOD. 

I stared at the abbreviation, but then realization hit me.

Hope your hot little furnace is ready for my sword of desire was what Jim meant. My cheeks heated and surely looked as red as the roses.

Dad quirked an eyebrow. "Did Hendrix sext you in a card, Pumpkin? Makes me grateful I didn't read it."

"Oh my God." I started to shove the card into my pocket, forgetting that the dress didn't have any, and the piece of carton fell to the floor. I scooped it up and put it back into the envelope. "Well, I'll be going," I said to Dad. See you in the evening." Not awkward at all, Ava.

"As usual." He kissed my cheek. "Have fun."

Thanks to my sleeping in, it was already twelve. As I walked out of the house, I mentally went through my plans for today.

Lunch with Jim would happen first, but Dad and I would have dinner together. Since I was born at ten p.m., he always gave me my gift at that exact time. And not once in my twenty years of life did I ask him about that night. Not because I wasn't curious, but out of fear. He got me but lost the person he loved. What if he stayed single because he was afraid of losing someone else?

"Baby."

Jim's voice put an end to my thoughts. I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck.

"Happy Birthday." He squeezed me tightly and pressed his lips to mine, claiming them in a tender kiss.

"Thank you for the roses," I said when we broke apart. "But it's too much."

Jim silenced me with another kiss and then cupped my cheeks, putting his thumbs under my chin so I'd tilt my face up and look at him. "Not too much. Maybe not enough because you deserve the best birthday and gifts."

I was lucky. To the rest of the world, he might've been a mega successful rockstar, but to me, Jim was the sweetest and most attentive, caring boyfriend I could've asked for. 

"Let's go." He pecked my cheek and opened the door of his Audi for me.

"Where are we going?" I asked when he drove out of my driveway.

"Marina," Jim said. 

It meant he planned to have lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants, and nothing was better on a blistering summer day than the refreshing ocean breeze.

After the Audi came to a stop and Jim helped me out of the car, I glanced around, trying to guess where we would eat.

"Baby." Jim chuckled. "It's over there."

He nodded toward the docked yachts, and I gaped at him. "For real?"

"Yeah. Come on."

A giggle escaped me when I tried to keep up with Jim's long strides and failed. He seemed eager to get to the yacht. It would be the first time I'd visited one, and my excitement ratcheted up with each step.

Slowing down, Jim took my hand in his. "Ours is the seventy foot one over there. Have you ever been on one?"

"No." I grinned. "But I've always wanted to try it."

"Today's the day, then. I have a license, but we'll have a captain. I'd rather spend time with you than worry about the route."

The whole thing seemed surreal right until a member of the crew helped me aboard. 

"I'm going to show you around," Jim said, leading me inside. "Here is the main deck salon."

Sunlight flooded the room, making the polished wooden floors look even shinier. My eyes paused on the cream couch in front of the window and then shifted to the small dining area in the same space.

Jim slung an arm around my shoulders. "The cabins are downstairs. Wanna see?"

I kissed his jaw. "Sure."

We descended some steps, and Jim opened a door on the right side of the narrow hallway. "This is the master bedroom."

I peeked inside. Just like upstairs, everything was tastefully decorated in beige tones. What I loved even more was the huge window opposite the bed. "It looks comfy," Jim whispered in my ear. His lips brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck, awakening all my senses.

"I read the card," I said. "And Dad saw me blush."

Jim placed more kisses on my skin. "Good to know I still make you blush. My cute little thing has been getting bolder lately."

"Has she?"

Jim's hold on me tightened. "Oh yeah. Hot and adorable. My throbbing virility approves. Now come on because I can't stand next to the bed with you for much longer."

"No patience." I ran my fingertips over Jim's forearms.

He kissed my forehead. "None, and you're to blame."

I followed Jim out of the cabin, and we headed to the upper deck — the only part of the boat I hadn't seen. As soon as my feet touched the floorboards, my mouth fell open.

"Surprise!" 

My dad, Harper, my godfather, the girls, and the band guys were waiting for me. I glanced at Jim, who winked and nudged me forward so I could receive my birthday hugs. 

My godfather was the first to congratulate me. Then it was Harper's turn. "Happy Birthday," she chirped and kissed my cheek. "Hope every wish of yours comes true."

"Thank you." I beamed. "I can't believe Jim did all of this."

Harper's lips stretched in a grin. "He came to the hospital to invite your dad and me. You should've seen my colleagues' faces when Jim O'Brien wanted to talk to doctor Lincoln."

My eyes sought Jim, finding him next to Uncle Leo and my dad. Just when I thought he couldn't surprise me more, he organized a party like no other.

"Give her to us." Ivy appeared next to Harper and tugged at my arm so I'd hug her. "Happy Birthday," she said. "You look amazing."

I took in Ivy's glowing complexion. "So do you. How's the little one?"

"Growing." Ivy looked down at her stomach. "No sickness so far, and I hope it stays this way."

"Fingers crossed. Have you seen Jay?"

"She has." Isla drew her arms around me from behind. "Happy Birthday, Ava. We haven't even started celebrating, but I can tell it's gonna be the best party ever. Like the League thinks the same."

Ivy scowled at my auburn-haired friend. "Traitor. It's bad enough I can't avoid the guy unless I jump off the boat. And don't you two dare to look at my stomach or use the B-word."

"We won't," I said. Ivy was being extra feisty, and I didn't want to make her mad.

"The B-word." Isla giggled. "There are lots of B-words. Birthday, beach, bitch, baby…"

Ivy huffed. "Isla needs to get laid. Too much Netflix makes her unbearable."

Isla stuck her tongue out. "I wouldn't mind, but I need a decent guy to deflower me."

A burst of laughter escaped my lips and died when I saw Fin right behind Isla, staring at the back of her head.

Ivy turned around and snorted. "Finlay, just in time. Isla was calling you."

The crimson of Isla's cheeks rivaled the bright color of her hair. She swiveled her head and then pivoted and dashed to where Harper was talking to my dad.

Those two looked tense. Harper was fidgeting with her bracelet, and Dad ran his fingers through his hair twice in under a minute. Both of them plastered the fakest smiles ever on their faces when they caught me observing them.

"Lunch is here," Jim called. I felt the heat of his body behind me, and then his warm hand splayed over my stomach. "Let's go, baby."

We sat at a big table covered with a white tablecloth. A different member of the yacht crew brought in the plates with appetizers.

Ivy was the first one to start chewing. She might've been just as slim as before the B-word, but she was already eating for two.

"Like the League. I know you love wine. Here you are," Jay said, pouring a generous amount in Ivy's glass.

"Thank you," she squeaked. Taking advantage of Jay's momentary distraction, she gave Isla her glass and took Isla's empty one, bringing it to her lips.

The puzzlement on Jay's face was hard to miss. He reached for the bottle to refill Ivy's goblet, but I took it from him. "We want some, too."

"Didn't you prefer the red one with the cold meat, cute little thing?" Jim frowned.

"White's perfect. I want to try the shrimps."

"Makes sense."

Jim was oblivious, but Uncle Leo gave me a look that screamed busted. When he wiggled his brows, I pressed a finger to my mouth.

After a while, I could cut the tension at the table with my knife. Isla and Fin were both checking each other out. Dad and Harper desperately tried to talk to anyone but each other, and Ivy bit her lip each time Jay touched a bottle. Nick and Uncle Leo were the only calm people, maybe because Jim's bandmate kept texting someone, and my godfather had seen too much in his job to be surprised by human weirdness anymore.

My boyfriend had stolen at least five kisses by the time our fish was on the table. And just as we dug into the entrées, the yacht moved.

I marveled at the blue water and the cloudless sky, and then my eyes roamed the port and the city we'd just left behind. 

"Do you like it?" Jim asked, caressing my bare shoulder.

I leaned into him. "Very much. Thank you."

His lips barely grazed mine when Jay yelled, "More wine, Like the League?"

"Sure. But I need to use the bathroom first." 

Ivy rose to her feet, as white as the fabric covering the table. Isla gave me a look.

"I'm going to show Ivy where the bathroom is," I said to Jim. "Be right back."

Without waiting for a reply, I went after my friend. Isla was on my heels, and as soon as we were out of everyone's sight, Ivy clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Oh no," Isla whisper-yelled. "Over here, fast."

Lucky for us and the luxurious interior of the boat, Ivy made it to the toilet just in time. 

After emptying her stomach, she groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Damn it. I must've overeaten."

"I think it's the B-word," Isla whispered. "You have to woman up, Like the League. So what if Jay knows? I've already had three glasses of wine, thanks to you, and I'm a lightweight. I'm going to end up dancing on the table if you don't stop giving me your drinks."

Ivy straightened up but returned to her kneeling position by the toilet just as fast.

"I'm going to bring you some water," I said, opening the door.

Jay entered the hallway at the same time and halted when he saw me.

"Ava. What's going on? Is she okay?"

His worry was cute. Although I didn't think Jay would be less interested in Ivy if he knew she was pregnant, I wouldn't betray my friend and tell her secret. I didn't have much choice—lying was my only option.

"She's seasick," I said. "I'm going to give her some water."

"Seasick?" Jay rubbed his chin. "Okay. Call me if you need help."

"Will do."

Jay disappeared through the doorway, and I took a deep breath. Crisis averted.

I darted to the salon and opened the minibar to grab a bottle of water.

Ivy was slightly less pale when I was back. 

"Thank you, baby," she said, accepting the drink. "Was that Jay you talked to out there?"

I sighed. "Yeah. He came looking for you. Asked me what happened."

Ivy paused mid-sip. "What did you tell him?"

"The obvious. That you got seasick." I shrugged.

Ivy squeezed her eyes shut and banged her head against the wall. "Fuck."

"Why?" Isla said. "I'd probably say the same. Food poisoning is lame because the food is excellent and fresh."

"I know." Ivy studied her nails. "It's just that… I told him I could sail. And he also knows my parents and I spend lots of time on our small yacht every summer."

Hello hello!

If my phone isn't lying, the text to speech is available for Android now too, so you can listen to the chapters.

I had to split it in two, so the second one should be up soon! Predictions? What could go wrong, right?

Also, Turn the Pages bookclub chose me as their featured author this week, and I will be doing an Instagram live on Sunday. If you want to meet me and ask questions, I'd be happy to chat with you! I'll announce the time on my wall and Instagram profile. I'm active there, so if you want to see book-related content, give me a follow.

Have a nice day!