As soon as I walked in the door with Mae and Jerome following, Tulips ran over. "Ryder!" she said.

"Hello, birthday girl," I said, bending down to give her a hug. "I can't believe you're eight already. It feels like we just celebrated your seventh birthday."

"I know," she said with a smile. "And now I can be the center of attention. Like always."

I chuckled. "You are starting to get very arrogant. Good job keeping up the Prince charm."

"Don't praise her," Alan said. "She's getting even more annoying than me and Orchid."

"What about Nolan?" Tulip asked.

"He stopped being annoying once he got a boyfriend," Alan muttered,...