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“Because Ashley hit him so hard in the crotch with a boogie board that he ended up puking in the wave pool and got a lifetime ban.”

Every man in the room winced at Ashley. She smirked and inspected her nails. If anyone could effortlessly make a room full of monsters quiver in fear, it was Ashley. Miri had a feeling they were all going to be giving her a wide berth tonight.

“As much as I enjoyed watching security drag that vomit-covered douchebag out of the pool, it’s still only top three.” Miri beamed at her friends. “This is definitely number one.”

A knock rattled the flimsy front door and interrupted the happy glow filling the room. Miri looked around with a frown. Ashley, Marta, Nicole and her boys, and all her demons. That was everybody she would have expected to show up for a surprise birthday party.

“Are we missing somebody?”

Ashley was already crossing the room to answer the door. They listened as the door creaked open.

“Uh, Miri?” she called.

Uncurling her legs, Miri forfeited her seat on the couch and hurried to the door. She stopped in her tracks as she rounded the corner and caught sight of the unexpected guest.

“Mom?”

Ashley quickly backed away and retreated to the living room. All conversation had fallen silent— no doubt so that they could all listen intently to what was sure to be the world’s most awkward “happy birthday.”

Her mother twisted her hands in front of her. “I, um, resigned.”

“What?”

Elaine sighed. “From the Board of Directors. I resigned.”

Miri stared at her. Her mother loved being on the board. Lording power over others and judging them with every critical bone in her body was, like, her favorite hobby.

Miri looked her up and down. For once in her life, her mother actually looked—dare she say it—disheveled. Her neat silvery blond hair wasn’t as sleek as usual, her attired bordered on outright casual, and her stick straight posture was slouching every so slightly.

Maybe she really was dying.

“You didn’t have to do that, Mom.”

“Yes, I did.” Her mom sighed. “I know you don’t think much of me as a mother, Miri?—”

A faint cough echoed from the living room. If Miri was a betting woman, she would guess Ashley had just tried to turn a cackle into a cough.

“I was never good at the maternal bit, especially not after your dad died,” Elaine continued. “But I do love you. Even if I wasn’t the best at showing it, I only ever wanted the best for you.”

Miri raised an eyebrow. “Even though we don’t agree on what that is?”

Her mom gave a watery chuckle and offered her a gleaming gift bag Miri had somehow failed to notice.

“Even then. Happy birthday, sweetie.”

Miri took the bag. The world seemed to be spinning as she had, what was quite possibly, the first heartfelt conversation she had ever shared with her mother. She poked at the tissues paper for a peek… or maybe she just needed a little distraction to get her mind in order.

“Open it later. Go enjoy your party.”

Miri studied her mom’s sad smile. “Do you want to come in? There’s cake.”

“No, thank you. Not this time.” Elaine peered past her into the hall. She couldn’t quite hide her wince at the pile of men’s tennis shoes sitting beside the door. “I still need some time to adjust to… all of that.”

Nodding, Miri watched mom wave and turn away to head back down the driveway to her waiting town car. Well, baby steps were better than nothing.

She closed the door as the car pulled away. Prying open the bag, she eyed the deep blue silk folded neatly at the bottom of the bag. It was the dress, the one that had been yet another disappointing stab in the heart.

Miri raised the collar of the dress and read the tag. It was her size. A small smile curved her lips. Baby steps. She could handle baby steps.

A dark head peeked around the corned. Nicole glanced at the closed door and grabbed Miri’s hand. She dragged her back into crowded living room, her fingers giving her arm a comforting squeeze. She smiled at Miri, and thankfully didn’t say a word.

Miri patted her hand. She was going to be a really good mom… provided she stopped trying to grow her monster baby while subsisting only on soda crackers.

“Alright, the party is back on track.” Ace clapped his hands and reached over to drag her toward the coffee table. “Let’s light this chocolatey bitch!”

Nico rolled his eyes and picked up the lighter. “Chocolatey bitch? You know, not every thought that rolls through your pigeon brain needs to come out of your mouth.”

Miri folded her legs beneath her as the tattooed demon finished lighting the candles on the cake. Friends and monsters singing happy birthday, she thought long and hard about her wish.

As the final note dragged on, she pushed her curls out of the way and blew out the flames.

Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Kaz’s spicy scent filled her nose as he pulled her back against his chest.

"What did you wish for?" he asked.

Ace scoffed at his audacity. “She can't say, that's against the rules."

"Oh, my deepest apologies, wish police. I had no idea."

"Nothing,” Miri interrupted before their argument could disturb the sticky cake waiting for her.

"What?" They both blinked at her, frowns wrinkling their golden faces.

Why were they looking at her like she was crazy? It was her birthday and she could wish for whatever she wanted. And this year, Miri wished for what she needed—nothing.

"I didn't wish for anything."

Nico paused, the cake knife poised for the first slice. “Do you not know how birthday candles work? You see first we sing, and then--"

"I'm thirty-one, I know what to do with a birthday cake,” she laughed.

"Clearly, you don't."

Miri leaned over and swiped a finger through the chocolate ganache on the first piece of cake. Birthday dibs. She popped her finger into her mouth and licked the rich chocolate from her fingertip.

"I didn't wish for anything, because I already have everything I want."

Her eyes slid from one demon to the next.

From Nico’s wrinkled brow as he carefully cut the cake, to Ace’s tail shoving crinkled up wrapping paper into a garbage bag.

And finally to Kaz and Duke, both shaking their heads as they squeezed themselves onto the couch and avoided taking a wing to the face.

Miri’s heart fluttered. What else could she possibly need?

"I mean... you could've wished to win the lottery,“ Ashley interrupted.

"Ashley!" Marta smacked her on the shoulder. "Way to ruin the moment."

“I’m just saying?—“

Miri rolled her eyes and ignored the loud home invaders. Between the monsters and the humans, they were all dissolving into arguments about the validity of her wish. Grabbing a fork, Miri took a bite of cake and sighed happily.

Too bad no one had gotten her noise cancelling headphones.