Page 80 of The Defender

Thankfully, the rest of the afternoon passed without incident. After I finished working out, I joined my friends for lunch and a movie in the screening room. It was just the guys since the girls went sightseeing.

I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to see Brooklyn, but it was probably for the best. The less we interacted in front of the others, the better. Scarlett had freakishly perceptive powers, and I was convinced she’d pick up on the newfound tension between us if she saw us together for more than two minutes.

Hopefully, Asher could distract her enough during dinner and clubbing that she wouldn’t notice.

I was getting ready for my official birthday night out when my phone rang. My lips curved. I’d been waiting for her to call.

“Happy birthday!” my mum sang after I picked up. “How’s my baby boy doing? Are you having a nice time in Budapest?”

“Thanks, Mum. Yeah, it’s great. We’ve been at the villa all day, but we’re headed out to dinner soon.”

“Good, good. You work so hard. You should have fun with your friends, and IadoreBudapest. Did I tell you about the fling I had there when I was on holiday from uni? Oh, he was gorgeous. I could’ve been an exiled prince’s wife, but alas, I married your father instead.” Her deep sigh rattled with regret. “The follies of youth.”

“Mum, please.” I grimaced. “I love you, but I don’t want to hear about your love life. Ever.”

“Fine, but learn from my mistakes. Be very careful about who you attach yourself to, especially given who you are. There are all sorts of people just waiting to take advantage in the wings.”

“I know.” That was why I had such a small circle of friends. It was hard to trust people. Everyone wanted a piece of you, and sometimes, those pieces ended up as sensational headlines in the tabloids.

Fame and money corrupted, but so did proximity to fame and money.

“Speaking of love lives…” I knew what my mum was going to say before she said it. “How’s yours going? Meet anyone special yet?”

No.My default answer teetered on the tip of my tongue, but it didn’t feel quite right.

I glanced into the bedroom, where the rest of Brooklyn’s birthday gift lay neatly folded on the bed.

“Vincent?” my mother prompted.

I shifted my attention back to the mirror. “Not yet.”

The half-lie tasted metallic on my tongue.

“Oh.” Her disappointment was tangible. “Well, you still have time. I thought Scarlett would never date again after Rafael, but look at her now. She and Asher are just darling together.”

“Mmhmm.”

We chatted for a few more minutes about my birthday plans and her work. She was a nurse, and she always had wild stories about her patients.

“I won’t keep you any longer,” she said after a somewhat nauseating tale involving a patient’s rectum and spiky fruit. “I just wanted to call and wish you a happy birthday. I love you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Love you too.”

Do Not Contact.I blinked away the image as I hung up, but guilt shredded my insides anyway.

“Not today, DuBois,” I muttered. It was my fucking birthday. I wasnotgoing to spiral again.

I finished getting ready and went downstairs, determined to enjoy myself instead of feeding my neuroses. It was easier when there were people around. It gave me less time to be alone with my thoughts.

“There he is!” Adil spotted me first. “The birthday boy! Looking quite dapper, I might add.”

I adopted an easy smile as I went around the room and greeted everyone. I’d seen them all earlier, but dinner marked the official celebration. Their presents were already piled up on the coffee table next to glasses of champagne.

My mouth quirked as I remembered Brooklyn’s gift. I’d kept my promise and was wearing the boxer briefs with my face on them for our night out. They were hands down one of the best gifts I’d ever gotten—not because they were the most expensive or the most aesthetically pleasing, but because of the time and thought she’d put into them.

She didn’t explicitly say it, but I knew she’d chosen the underwear because I told her I bought one style at the arcade. Itwas the only explanation, and the fact she’d remembered such a small detail made my chest ache a little.

“Happy birthday, my man.” Samson clapped me on the back, interrupting my train of thought. “One year closer to being geriatric.”