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Anna carefully placed twenty-two candles around the chocolate cake she’d spent the morning baking. The smell of chocolate filled the kitchen. This was the first time Anna had baked in this kitchen. She’d gone out to the store to get the cake tin and the baking utensils especially. To finish, she’d lavished a thick layer of chocolate icing on top because why not? She held a flame to each candle, hoping that Hayley would like the cake, hoping that Hayley would have a nice birthday even though she was far away from her home and struggling a bit today.

Everyone was in Hayley’s room hanging out. She couldn’t wait to get back in there. Anna picked up the heavy cake and waddled through the flat with the flames flickering as she went and butterflies in her stomach for some reason.

“Happy birthday”?Anna sang as she entered Hayley’s room, with Rose and Lauren immediately joining in?“to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear homesick-but-totally-loved-here-as-well Hayley, happy birthday to you.”

Standing up, Hayley beamed at Anna holding the cake. Her smile was so wide. So beautiful.

“Hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray!” Rose and Lauren cheered, and Anna joined in.

“Thanks so much, you guys. Anna, this cake is so sweet of you. Oh my god.”

“Happy birthday, Hayley,” Anna said. “I hope you like it.”

“Look at that chocolate icing!” Rose said, practically salivating.

“She’s never baked either of us a cake before,” Lauren said. “It looks so good.”

It was true. Anna had been friends with Rose and Lauren for two years, and they had lived together for one year, and had never baked either of them anything.

“It does. I feel very privileged,” Hayley said, locking eyes with Anna.

Looking into Hayley’s eyes made Anna feel things she’d never felt before. Their eye contact often got so intense Anna had to look away. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she didn’t not like it. “Right. Come on.” Anna shook her head. “You’d better blow out the candles and make a wish.” Anna placed the cake on Hayley’s desk next to her birthday cards and the bottle of prosecco.

“So bossy,” Hayley said. “Yes, ma’am.”

Anna pretended she hadn’t heard that. Hayley was so flirty. It was hard to know when she was being serious and when she was just playing around. She wasn’t flirting with Anna. She was just a very charming person. She had a way with people. That was all.

Hayley bent over and blew out the candles with one sweeping breath. Her cheeks looked great as she did so. God, Anna shouldn’t have been thinking that.

Lauren handed Hayley the knife. “Make sure you have the first slice or your wish won’t come true.”

Rose laid out the plates and Lauren poured the prosecco.

Hayley cut generous slices of cake. “You guys really are the sweetest. I’m so glad I forced Anna to let me live here whether she liked it or not.”

Rose and Lauren shared a quick look. They had teased Anna constantly about it. Anna knew full well how rash a decision it was, and she never made rash decisions. There was just something about Hayley.

“It was love at first sight,” Rose said. “Isn’t that right, Anna?”

Anna rolled her eyes. She wasn’t getting drawn into this again. “It all worked out for the best, didn’t it?” They had all made friends with Hayley and were their own little group on top of being flatmates, and it was awesome. Anna and Hayley had become particularly close, and it had happened very fast. She already considered Hayley as one of her closest friends. If not her best friend. It was crazy.

“It absolutely fucking did! I love you guys!” Hayley said, handing a slice of cake to Rose.

“And we love you,” Lauren said. “Now give me a bit of that cake already.”

Anna was glad for the change of subject. They sat on cushions on Hayley’s bedroom floor and devoured the cake and the prosecco.

“This is so delicious,” Hayley said. “Anna, you are killing me. I can’t stop eating it.”

“Then don’t stop. It’s your birthday, you can do whatever you want.”

“You’re right. See. This is why I love you. You are one hundred percent on my wavelength.”

“You do seem to love each other.” Rose giggled. “I’m glad you’re finally admitting it.”

Anna shot Rose a look. Would she ever let up with that stuff?

Hayley tilted her head at Rose, with a funny look on her face. Was she annoyed or was she thinking about it? What was she thinking about?