I suffered through a long and slightly awkward breakfast with my parents. Not because of my stepmom, of course. She was just thrilled about my big day, like she was every single year of my life.
My dad was another story. He didn't say anything, but I could see his uncomfortable stares, the way he kept looking at me in a way that bordered on suspicious. I was an only child. His baby girl. From what I understood, my dad was a bit of a ladies' man back in the day. That means he knew how every other guy in the world saw me now. I was eighteen. I was
legal.
I smiled to myself. If only my poor daddy could have known that I wasn't alone in the world, a prey to be feasted on by big, hulking predators.
I was the one on the hunt. And I was going to get my fill, starting today.
With a final good-bye, I left them behind in the kitchen to pursue my destiny. I had a couple of stops to make before my ultimate destination, and I had to be quick. This day had been long in the preparation, but if I didn't execute it properly, there was half a chance I'd fail miserably and have to find some other, random prize to satisfy myself before my birthday day ran out.
I wasn't going to let that happen.
I hooked my phone up to the car's bluetooth as soon as I was inside and called Scott. Scott was fifty percent of the plan today, and the first one I'd have to set in motion. I loved him to death, but he was a little bit lazy, and it would take him longer to get around to actually doing what I needed him to do.
"Hey, Angie," he said, his voice tired.
"Hey, stud," I said happily. "Did I wake you?"
"Of course you did, Angie," he groaned. "It's nine on a Saturday morning. You will always wake me when you call me at this time on this day. Every time. You know this."
"Yeah, well, suck it up, buster," I replied. "I've got something I need you to do."
"What? Why?"
"Because I'm asking, because you're my friend, and because it's my biiirthday," I said, drawing the last word out into a singsong that lasted for a few seconds longer than it should have.
"Oh, holy shit!" he said. "That's right! The big one eight. Holy shit."
"That's two holy shits at once," I quipped. "That's an awful lot of sacred fecal matter."
"Har har. What are you getting up to today? Anything special? Or should I say, any
one
special?"
I dropped my voice low, making it husky. "You're just going to have to wait to find out, mister."
There was a long, significant pause at the other end of the line. "Um...okay. I'm definitely up."
"As in, out of bed?" I asked, a smile in my words.
"Sure, that too. All right, what do you need me to do?"
"First of all, I need you to get dressed. And not in something schlocky. No Star Wars t-shirts today. I want a button-up. And don't skip a shower this morning."
"When have I
ever
skipped a shower?" he said in protest.
"Like, all the time, when you're rushed or when you just don't feel like it. Not today. We're going somewhere presentable for dinner."
"And the person paying for this would be..."
"You and Missy, of course," I said with a grin. "Because it's my biiirthday."
"Oy vey," he sighed. "All right, fine. But it's nine in the morning. Why do you need me to get ready now?"
"Because we're going shopping first. This afternoon. All three of us. Don't worry, though. I won't make you pay for my birthday presents."
"Hallelujah for small favors."
"Meet me at the mall when you're ready. I'll be there, making some selections beforehand."
