Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The living room sparkled with a warm, inviting glow from twenty-eight candles on Jonathan's cake. Laura who was trying to hide her nerves, fussed over the final details with Jonathan's family. She'd poured her heart into this surprise—every detail, from the chocolate cake he loved to the decorations that matched his laid-back style. Tonight was supposed to be special, a chance to show Jonathan how much he meant to her.

"Everything looks amazing," Jonathan's sister said, giving Laura a reassuring smile. "He's going to love it."

Laura forced a smile with her racing heart. She had been looking forward to this night for weeks, hoping it would set the stage for what she planned to say after the party.

"Relax," his sister nudged her gently. "He's gonna love it. You know he will."

Laura nodded, swallowing the knot in her throat. It wasn't about whether Jonathan would love the party. He always appreciated her efforts, he always appreciated her. But the thought of finally confessing her feelings made her palms sweat, but she was determined to make tonight perfect.

Then, the sound of a car door closing outside jolted everyone into action. The lights were already dimmed, and the room was filled with anticipation.

"He's here!" someone whispered.

Laura took a step back, positioning herself behind his family, letting them take the front line. Her heart raced as the door creaked open.

"SURPRISE!" The room exploded with noise, laughter, and smiles.

Jonathan stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes wide before breaking into that familiar, lopsided grin. "No way!" he said, running a hand through his tousled hair. "You guys didn't..." His grin widened, and he stepped further inside. His gaze quickly found Laura who was hiding behind his sister. "You did all this?" he asked, clearly touched. His smile softened, and for a moment, his eyes lingered on her with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

Laura shrugged, trying to sound casual as she stepped forward. "Your sister helped. I just did what I do best—throwing a party."

"Wow, this is incredible," Jonathan said, giving her a quick hug. His touch was familiar, comforting, but it stirred different emotions in Laura. "Seriously, thank you. It means a lot."

"No problem," Laura replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're the one who always makes birthdays special. I'm just returning the favor."

Jonathan laughed as the sound filled the room with its usual warmth. "I don't know how you do it. You're always on top of things. How do you manage to remember all my favorite things?"

"It's a talent," she joked, nudging him playfully. "Or maybe I'm just a little obsessed with making sure you're happy."

"You've definitely got a knack for it," he said, grinning. "I'm lucky to have you in my life."

Laura hummed at his words but the conversation suddenly shifted as Jonathan's family pulled him toward the cake and presents. Laura watched him interact with everyone, the same Jonathan she'd known since childhood—effortlessly charming and always the life of the party. But tonight, it felt bittersweet. She was here, putting on a brave face, planning to tell him how she really felt.

She stayed on the edges of the festivities, chatting with his family and trying to ignore the way Jonathan's jokes and laughter tugged at her heart. The distance between them seemed to grow with each passing minute, and the weight of what she had to say felt heavier.

As the evening wore on and the room began to settle, Jonathan found her again, leaning casually against the wall. The playful tone in his voice was replaced by a more genuine warmth. "Hey, birthday cake thief," he said as a grin tugged at his lips. "Did you finally get a chance to snag a piece for yourself?"

Laura chuckled softly. "Not yet. I've been too busy playing hostess."

"Of course you have," Jonathan teased. "You're always making sure everyone else is taken care of first. I swear, you're like a birthday fairy."

She laughed with her heart aching a little. "Just trying to make sure you have a good time."

Jonathan's smile faded slightly, as if he wanted to say more, but the thumping bass of the music from the speakers drowned out his thoughts. He glanced around, visibly frustrated with the noise. Laura noticed the shift, and her heart fluttered in her chest. She, too, had a lot she wanted to say, but this wasn't the right place. Confessing her feelings here, amidst the music, the crowd, and his family, felt too awkward and too risky.

She bit her lip and decided that now was her chance to take him outside, away from the noise, where they could finally talk in peace. "Hey," she said, stepping closer and raising her voice over the music, "do you want to—"

But before she could finish, Jonathan's phone buzzed loudly in his pocket. He glanced down at it, his brows lifting for a split second before a grin flashed across his face. "Hold on a sec," he said, already stepping back as he answered the call.

Laura's stomach sank. It was the smile he gave whenever one of his flings called. She could hear the familiar playful tone in his voice as he greeted whoever was on the other end, likely one of his random girlfriends, someone who caught his eye this week. The sound of her own heartbeat suddenly felt louder than the music as Jonathan raised a finger, silently telling her to wait, and walked away, phone pressed to his ear.

She stood there, frozen, watching as he strode toward the corner of the room, his attention fully consumed by the conversation. Any hope of getting him alone, of telling him how she really felt, dissolved like a fading spark. The confidence she'd been building all night crumbled in the face of that simple, careless gesture.

He didn't choose her. 

Not now, not in this moment. He chose the random girl on the other end of the line.

Laura's shoulders slumped, her hand falling back to her side. What was she even doing? How could she compete with the steady parade of girls who came and went in Jonathan's life? He'd never seen her that way—just his best friend, the girl who organized his birthday parties and laughed at his goofy jokes. She'd always been right in front of him, but somehow, it was never enough.

Suddenly, the party felt too loud, too crowded. She felt out of place in a moment that should have been hers. With a deep sigh, she moved toward the back, slipping out the door into the cool night air.