Page 2 of Too Sweet
“Nicky.”
Head snapping up, I meet my best friend’s gaze. I don’t bother trying to hide the apprehension coursing through me. Kylian may not be great at reading social cues most of the time, but he knows my deepest worries and darkest secrets. I can’t hide shit from him.
“Statistically speaking, Jo’s going to thoroughly enjoy the cock ring. But your other gift? She’s going to absolutely love it. It’s top tier.”
I release a breath I was very aware I was holding, thanks to the ache in my ribs and the burning sensation behind my sternum. “Right. Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, man.” I run one hand through my hair, then take another steadying breath. “What time do we leave again?”
He waves me over. “Here.” He hands me one of the iPads from the table, then reaches for another for himself. I watch the screen as he mirrors the devices and taps on the itinerary he created.
But before his schedule loads, the master calendar app catches my eye.
I home in on the calendar listing for Saturday, February fourteenth. There’s a line indicating we’ll be at the cabin. Another line that lists Valentine’s Day. Then below that, there’sa third line. Two words. Eleven letters. I count them as I read it, over and over again.
Jo’s Birthday
My pulse pounds in my head as the screen changes. The itinerary appears, but those two little words dance across my vision, taunting me and making my brain glitch so badly I can barely make sense of what I just saw.
“Go back,” I grit out. Tension has coiled in all my muscles. Anxiety is percolating in my gut.
Kylian looks up, bewildered. “I didn’t even go forward yet.”
“No. Kyl. To the calendar. Go back to the calendar.”
I’m gripping the sides of the iPad so tightly I’m afraid it’ll crack in my hands. This can’t be happening. This can’t be right.
But then again…
I have no fucking idea when Jo’s birthday actually is.
The calendar reappears.
“There.” I stab at the words. “It says Jo’s birthday right there. Is that for real?”
Kylian scowls. “Of course it’s for real. Why would I add something not real to my master calendar?
The fuck? I glare at him, breaths sawing in and out of my lungs.
“How long have you known?” I make an effort to unclench my fists. The last thing I need is to cause myself even more pain ahead of this weekend.
“Known what?” Kylian asks.
He’s not being obtuse, and he’s not fucking with me. He needs me to spell it out for him—to make it black and white. It takes every ounce of my patience to keep it together.
With a cleansing breath, I try again.
“How long have you known that February fourteenth is not only Valentine’s Day, butJoey’s birthday?”
Kylian squints one eye, considering. “Since September third.”
“Motherfucker.” I rake both hands through my hair. February fourteenth is this weekend. That means Joey’s birthday is literally two days away.
Another realization slams into me.
“Do Cap and Kendrick know?”
With a huff, Kylian glares up through his glasses. “I assume they do not. To my knowledge, Jo has never shared her birthday with any of us.”
“God dammit.” I drop the device on the table and whip out my phone. “We’ve got to get them down here. Emergency meeting. Right here, right now.”