Sienna

By the time the sun dipped and the sky turned that deep, purple-blue color, the birthday party had started to slow down. People were dancing, laughing, drinking, but the energy had softened into something warm and easy.

Then slowly, one by one, the adults started gathering their things.

Lena kissed my forehead again, telling me to get some rest later and not do “too much nonsense,” which made Jaxon laugh behind me. Liana hugged me so tightly I felt her heart beat against mine. My dad squeezed my shoulder gently, smiling at me with that soft look he had been wearing all week.

“Happy birthday, baby,” he said. “Enjoy...