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It was my sweet sixteen, and all my friends were there. It was a balmy August night, and everyone was crowded into the backyard. “Something Just Like This” by the Chainsmokers was playing.

My friends and family had just sung me happy birthday andcut the cake. I’d gone to get more forks when Jake walked in the door.

He’d been working that night, which was why he was late. Not that Jake and I typically hung out. He was always around but separate in the way that older siblings’ friends always were. He and Raf were too old to be interested in whatever my friends and I were up to, but tonight was special. It was my birthday. I’d been so excited for my party, and Jake had told me he’d swing by.

I’d been waiting all night for him to arrive, though I never would have admitted it. The party was fine, but I had this feeling that the night wouldn’t be perfect until Jake got there.

“Hey, birthday girl,” he said, beaming at me the way he always did, even though I was Raf’s annoying little sister.

“Hey.” My voice came out thin and breathless. My cheeks were flushed from the heat, and I could feel my hair sticking to the back of my neck. But I was wearing my new pink dress — the one that my mom almost didn’t buy me because it was a little short in the back.

“Good party?” he asked, his voice distant as he took me in with one quick glance. His gaze didn’t linger, but his throat bobbed as his eyes skimmed down my legs.

“Uh-huh.” I licked my lips and shifted my weight in my straw wedge sandals. With the three-inch lift, I was tall enough that if I stood on tiptoe and lifted my chin . . .

Jake cleared his throat. “Got you something.”

“What?” My belly did a little flip. “You didn’t have to get me anything!”

“It’s your birthday, Lena,” he said with an eye roll. “OfcourseI got you something.”

The butterflies in my stomach intensified. Jake was the only one who called me that.

Reaching into his back pocket, he produced a tiny box — atinywrappedbox. My heart squeezed at the image of Jake’s big fingers wrangling Scotch tape and tying the little pink ribbon.

Unable to hold back my smile, I undid the ribbon and tore the paper off to reveal a soft blue velvet box. My hands trembled as I opened it up, and my breath caught in my chest.

Inside was a delicate gold bracelet with a tiny charm in the shape of a sun.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, staring down at the bracelet in amazement. No one hadevergiven me jewelry, unless one counted the hoop earrings I’d begged my mom to get me for Christmas.

This was different. This was jewelry from a guy. It had to mean something, right?

“It’s for your name,” he said, his voice coming out slightly strangled. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought that Jake was nervous. But that couldn’t be right.

He cleared his throat. “Lena means ‘ray of light.’”

“It’s . . .” I shook my head and fumbled with the box to get the bracelet out. It was so pretty and delicate, and it was fromJake. I wanted to wear it immediately.

“Here,” he said, his warm fingers closing around my wrist.

That’s when my heart stopped beating.

I tried to breathe as Jake worked the clasp, but my lungs wouldn’t expand. The gold chain felt cool against my overheated skin, and when he was finished, Jake’s fingertips lingered on the inside of my wrist.

“Thank you,” I whispered. The bracelet was real gold. I could only imagine how many shifts he’d had to work to afford it.

“Don’t mention it.” It should have been a throwaway line, but I knew it wasn’t. The way he’d said it — the way he’d whispered it — made everything around us fall away.

I was feeling bolder than normal. Carmen had gotten herolder sister to buy us some Rum Chata for my birthday, and I’d had a couple of shots.

I didn’t overthink it. I just reached up on tiptoe, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips against his.

I heard Jake’s sharp intake of breath. His lips were warm yet unyielding.

Then I felt his hands on my shoulders, and he pushed me away.

I broke the kiss with a gasp, heat searing my cheeks.