Chapter 39. A Birthday Surprise Gone Wrong

Tomorrow was Ace’s birthday, and I was beyond excited. I had a whole plan; part of it was already in action.

After Ace left me at dance practice, I waited until I knew he was gone and then snuck away to his house. I was going to leave one of the many presents I’d got him on his bed and decorate his room.

Then, after sleeping at my place, he would go home tomorrow morning to streamers and balloons and a huge banner in his bedroom, as well as a present.

After, when he came to pick me up for school, I would make him his favorite breakfast: cinnamon French toast, fresh bacon, coffee, and homemade blueberry-lemon crumble muffins.

Plus, the cinnamon, orange cake I planned on baking him later—one of his favorites from my mom’s bakery.

I had been collecting presents for the past several months. I had exactly eighteen gifts—eighteen gifts for his eighteenth birthday—that I planned on surprising him with throughout the day.

The last gift was the one that I