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IRIS HAD ASKED CIARA to help plan Liam’s surprise birthday party, but Ciara had kept herself busy. And eventually Iris had given up.
It was already the day of the party—the second of September. Liam’s official birthday was the following day, but it would have been a Sunday, and Saturday worked better for a party.
Ciara should have been getting ready, but instead she was cleaning gym machines with Jesse. She wanted to be late to avoid Iris.
“Shouldn’t you be heading home?” Jesse asked. He knew about the party, because Ciara had told about it.
“She’s cheating. I don’t know how to act normal if I have to see her and Liam in the same room.”
“Play a role, you’ll be fine.”
“Until Henry sees right through me.”
“He’ll be busy talking with Liam’s friends that he hasn’t seen in a while.”
Ciara sighed. “Maybe. And he’ll have Jenna there, too.”
“And they’ll be busy snogging.”
“I wish I could take a plus one.”
Jesse chuckled. “You’d take me with you?”
“Yes!” Ciara said, stating the obvious.
Jesse smiled. “I’d come with you, to be honest. Free booze sounds fun.”
“Maybe I should fake a stomach ache,” Ciara thought out loud.
“And Henry won’t see right through that?”
“Good point.” Ciara sighed. “Again.”
“Look, you’ll be fine. You can leave somewhat early, claiming that you’re tired,” Jesse said, wiping a treadmill clean.
“I hope so.”
“You should go, you know.”
“But—”
Jesse stood straight, playing with the rag in his hands. “I’ll be fine. There’s not much to do. Then I can call it a day.” He gestured to the clean gym machines. “Go home and get ready as slowly as you wish, but at least get ready.”
“Fine.” Ciara handed the wipe in her hands to Jesse. “If tonight becomes a disaster, I’m blaming you.”
“I want to hear all about it on Monday after your hangover.”
“Not planning to have a hangover.”
Jesse smirked. “Good luck.”
“Until Monday!” Ciara waved her hand and grabbed her bag.
***
IT WAS EIGHT BY THE time Ciara made it to the party. She sneaked in with no one paying much attention to her late arrival. She had bought a gift together with Henry and Jenna, and they had already given it to Liam, so she didn’t have to worry about that either.
They had changed the flat using magic. Instead of the somewhat small living room, there was a vast hall. It reminded Ciara of a nightclub, but there were more lights.
Ciara regretted not helping with the party. It didn’t look like Liam’s ideal birthday celebration. Not even close.
“Ciara Jareau?”
Ciara twirled around, coming face to face with one of Liam’s friends—Shawn Sears.
She smiled. “Shawn. It’s been years!” The music was blasting loud, and she hoped Shawn could hear her over the noise.
Shawn smiled back. “It has. I heard you were in America.”
“I was, but I’m back now.”
“Are you here to stay?”
Ciara shrugged. “I’m here for now.”
Shawn nodded. “I see, I see.”
“What about you? How’s life?” Ciara asked—not just to make small talk but to find out.
Shawn chuckled. “I have a boring desk job.”
“Shawn Sears has a boring desk job?” Ciara said, acting shocked.
Shawn smiled but rolled his eyes. “Who would have thought, right?”
“Well, you’re not the first shocker. Jesse Kingston works at a gym.”
Shawn’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“He owns it.”
“I expected him to become a hit wizard or something.”
“Surprised me, too.”
Shawn sipped whatever was in his cup. “I bet.” He paused for another sip. “Didn’t you two date in school? Before you and Liam were a thing?”
“We did.”
“And you’re dating again?”
Ciara laughed, shaking her head. “No.”
Shawn wiggled his eyebrows a little. “But?”
“I’m helping him with the gym, that’s it. I’m suspended from work, so it’s nice to do something.”
“And you haven’t slept with him recently?”
“Just once.”
Shawn grinned. “There’s always that one time.”
Ciara rolled her eyes.
“Anyway, it looks like you are missing a drink. Should we get you one?” Shawn offered his arm out like a gentleman.
She gripped onto it. “That’d be nice.”
It had been a while since the last time she had been at a party of that size. Theo had still been alive. It had been his friend’s birthday party.
“What do you think about the party?” Shawn asked, leading Ciara through a crowd of people.
“A little crowded.” It was too much like the previous party she’d been to. The entire situation brought back too many memories. It was overwhelming.
“Not Liam’s style, for sure,” Shawn said.
“Unless he’s changed his preferences.”
Shawn led Ciara to the drinks table. “I doubt he has.”
“You two still hang out?”
“At least twice a month.” Shawn picked up a mojito in a can and handed it to Ciara. “Is that good?”
“Perfect. Thanks,” Ciara said and opened it.
Shawn leaned against the table and sipped on his own drink. “So you’ve been helping Iris with the wedding.”
Ciara grimaced and brought her drink to her lips. “I have. It’s weird she asked, but I didn’t want to let her down.”
“Did she tell you Liam almost called it off?”
Ciara’s eyes widened. Her focus was solely on Shawn, as if the music and the drinking people in the background had disappeared. “The wedding? Really?”
“Yeah. Guess he’s having a quarter-life crisis.” Shawn shrugged.
“Already?”
“Apparently.”
“I hope I won’t be around to see him in his fifties.”
Shawn laughed. “Oh, it’ll be terrible!”
“Yep!”
“You know, you need to drink faster to get drunk.” Shawn nodded at Ciara’s mojito can.
“Who said I want to get drunk?”
“Are you afraid you’ll try to hit on Liam because of old feelings?” Shawn teased.
“No, of course not. That’d be awful.”
“So, what is it?”
“It’s a secret.” One big secret that could ruin a relationship.
“Who else knows about it?” Shawn asked, tilting his head.
“Only two people here, I think.” Me and Iris.
“Two people? You and who?”
“Not telling you.”
“So, have you seen Liam yet?” Shawn asked.
“No. I came late, so—”
“Get ready to sing him a birthday song then,” Shawn joked.
“Hi.”
Ciara turned around to see Liam, smiling at her. She smiled back. “Hi and happy birthday. I won’t sing like Shawn here suggested. Just to save your ears.”
Liam’s smile widened. “Thanks. Shawn sang already, so I think my ears have done enough bleeding for tonight.”
“Hey!” Shawn scolded.
“Liam!”
Liam turned to see who was calling for him. “I gotta go,” he said apologetically. Turning to Ciara, he added, “I’ll see you later.”
Once Liam had walked away, Shawn turned to look at Ciara. “You sure you’re not into him?”
Ciara’s eyes widened. “What?”
“He seems happy about you being back.”
“What does that have to do with my feelings? Besides, he was my friend before—”
“I’m going to be very blunt now,” Shawn warned. “I think you and Liam are unfinished business.”
Ciara glanced the way Liam had gone. “I broke up with him so he could be with Iris.”
Shawn, who had just taken a sip, spit it all out onto the floor. “For real?”
“Yes, for real.”
“Well, I think he’s regretting his decision now.”
“Hardly. They’re getting married.”
“Because Iris wants to get married. If you ask me, I’m team Ciara.”
“There’s only team Iris.”
***
“CIARA!”
Without much of a warning, Henry wrapped his arms around Ciara’s neck, hanging off her.
Ciara hugged him back, noting he was drunk. “Hi, Henry.”
Jenna trailed behind him. “He’s like a big baby.”
“Every time he drinks,” Ciara said.
“If this is girl talk, I know why guys hate it so much,” Henry mumbled, stepping away from Ciara. He returned to Jenna’s side, wrapping his arms around her.
“Henry!” Shawn returned with new drinks for him and Ciara, his face brightening. He handed Ciara’s drink to her and turned to Henry. “I was looking for you earlier.”
“Looking for me?” Henry slurred.
Shawn nodded. “I need you, to be honest.”
“Okay.”
“Do you think your brother is into Ciara?”
Jenna’s eyes widened, and she turned to look at Ciara.
Ciara shook her head. “Shawn is crazy.”
“Crazy, right, for sure,” Henry said and turned to face Ciara. “Why else would Liam be so concerned about your recent behaviour?”
“He hasn’t been—”
“He just hasn’t said that to you,” Henry said, cutting Ciara off.
A smug smile made its way onto Shawn’s face. “See?”
“Not funny,” Ciara said. “There are people around us. You could ruin a wedding with false information.”
“Except it’s not false,” Shawn said.
Ciara rolled her eyes. “He loves Iris. They’re perfect together. I didn’t break up with him just to get back together years later. End of story.”
“I’m still team Ciara,” Shawn said.
“There’s no such thing,” Ciara hissed.
“Henry and Shawn, how about beer pong?” Jenna asked, noticing Ciara’s frustration.
“I’ll be back soon.” Ciara handed Jenna her drink and turned around. She walked through the crowded room and left the party.