It’s what my brother would have wanted.

** ** **

THE APARTMENT WAS quiet when I walked in. I dumped my messenger bag by the door, and stopped short when I saw an elaborate bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter.

I took the card out, and immediately grimaced.

Happy Birthday, Kennedy.

Love,

Dad & Shelly

Admittedly I was a little surprised. Getting flowers from my father was more than I expected, and I was certain that it was either Lucy or my father’s personal assistant who had sent them. I knew my father remembered my birthday, but it certainly wasn’t in a celebratory way. He remembered it as the day my mother died. Or in his words ‘the day I killed my mother’. He’d made a point of avoiding me from the time the nurses wrapped me in a tiny pink blanket to now, and had managed to make me feel more like an onus than a blessing. For the most part I never felt unloved, thanks to Lucy, and my older brother, Charlie. But I’d hidden the small part of me that had always wanted my father to not only love me, but want me too. After a while I’d stopped hoping, and when he remarried I became invisible to him.

The front door opened, and my sullen mood lifted when Jade and Ashley walked in.

“Hey birthday girl,” Jade greeted. “How has your day been?”

“Pretty good, actually.”

It was the truth. Despite being worried that the day would suck, it turned out to be the opposite. I’d spoken to my grandparents, and filled them in on college life while trying not to cry because I missed them so much. Then I’d spoken to Lucy, promising to pay her a visit soon.

“These are gorgeous,” said Ashley. She closed her eyes and took a whiff of the flowers. “Who are they from?”

“My father,” I replied.

Jade’s eyes bugged out of her head. “Are you fucking kidding me? After nineteen years, he decides to acknowledge you now?”

Her tone was suddenly angry, but I couldn’t bring myself to share her feelings. I was used to being nonexistent to my father, and I had no room in my heart for anger when it wouldn’t change anything. I had one man in my life that had raised me, and he turned out to be enough. I’d done just fine without my father, and that wasn’t about to change.

“Oh, and Shelly,” I added. My stepmother was half my father’s age, and the very definition of a trophy wife, fake boobs included. Our interactions had been minimal while I was growing up, and I’d aimed to keep it that way.

“Seriously? I bet your dad’s assistant sent them,” said Jade, voicing my initial thought on the subject.

“Am I missing something?” Asked Ashley. Her question was innocent, but I knew it would only set Jade off. She had no problem airing her disdain for my father and his bimbo of a wife.

“Uh, yeah. Kennedy’s father puts the ‘A’ in ‘asshole’ and his wife puts the ‘G’ in ‘Golddiggingwhorewithnobrains’,” replied Jade, just like I thought she would. Once she got started, there was little to be done about stopping her.

“That sucks,” remarked Ashley.

“You have no idea,” said Jade. “They’re the worst people ever, made from the rotting flesh of Lucifer himself.”

My brows lifted. Jade had never used that one before. Oddly enough, I myself couldn’t have come up with a euphemism more fitting than that.

“Anyway,” Jade flicked her hair over her shoulder, “we’re wasting precious oxygen talking about those…parasites…and getting ready for the party tonight would be a much better use of our time.”

“Amen to that,” I said, glad for the swift change of subject.

Ashley’s face broke out into a grin, and she turned her gaze to Jade. “Can we give Kennedy your gift now?”

Jade returned Ashley’s grin, and took my hand before leading me to her room with Ashley behind me. She left me in the center of her room, and disappeared quickly. She returned with one of her mannequin dress forms, and pushed it in front of me. The cloth covering it hid what was beneath, but when Jade pulled it off, a gasp escaped my lips, and my eyes widened.

Draped across the mannequin was a one-shoulder royal blue sheath mini dress. The sleeve was made of chiffon, and embellished with crystals, while the remainder of the dress was made of matte satin. It was breathtaking.

“What do you think?” Asked Jade. She bit her lip, and for the first time since I’d known Jade, she looked nervous.

“It’s incredible,” I said. “What’s it for?”

“It’s your last birthday present, for when we go out tonight,” she replied.

“Did you make it?” I asked.

Jade nodded. “I’ve been working on it for the last month. Do you like it?”

“Like it? I freakin’ love it, Jade. This has to be the most beautiful item you’ve ever made.”

“I bet it will look even better once you have it on,” said Ashley. “You have no idea how hard it’s been to keep quiet about it. I was sworn to secrecy.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I half-whispered. I was in awe of it, really. Jade had an incredible talent when it came to designing, and constructing clothes, leaving me in wonderment of her too.

A lump formed in my throat, and my eyes grew wet.

“Thank you,” I lifted my eyes back to Jade. “I really do love it.”

Jade hugged me, and I heard her suppress a sniffle. “I’m so glad, because it was a bitch getting all those fucking crystals sewn onto the sleeve. I would have cut you of you didn’t like it.”

We all laughed, and stared at the garment in question a little longer. It was just too stunning not to admire.

“Okay bitches, let’s get ready,” said Jade. “It’s going to be a fan-fucking-tastic night.”

KOLONY WAS SITUATED in the main road that separated the university campus from the sports fields. It was also the hot spot for most of Brighton’s students on a Friday night, provided there wasn’t a football game.

The line outside was all the way round the block, and on any other night we might’ve joined it, but Jade hooked her arms through mine and Ashley’s and led us straight to the door. When the bouncer saw us, or more specifically Jade, he smiled. He was huge, with muscles that bulged everywhere and hair shaved in a military cut. His black suit hugged him a little too lightly, but judging by the indent of the firearm at his side I guessed it was intentional.

“Hey, Bobby.” Jade spoke his name with familiarity, and returned the burly guy’s smile, causing his cheeks to redden. She had that affect on many a man, proving that no one was immune to her charm.

“Nice to see you again, Jade,” replied Bobby. “You enjoy your break?”

“It was great, but I missed this place.” She winked, and I thought Bobby was going to pass out.

“We missed you too,” he replied. “You girls celebrating something tonight? You look smokin’.”

“Actually,” Jade pulled me closer. “We are celebrating my friend’s birthday. Bobby, this is Kennedy. Kennedy, this is Bobby.”

I gave him an awkward wave, and smiled politely.

“Happy Birthday.” He said.

“Thank you.”

“You girls have fun, and be safe.”

We all nodded as he lifted the velvet rope, yelling at someone just inside the door to wave our cover charge. Jade kissed Bobby’s cheek as thanks, and led us inside.

The dark entrance gave way to a large room filled with students. The strobe lights flashed wildly, coating the room in luminescence. It reminded me of lightning during a summer storm.

There was a bar along the west and north walls, with a sizable dance floor in the center of it all. The DJ was situated to our right, overlooking the dance floor, while the impressive VIP section sat to our left.

Jade surveyed the room with confidence, and then walked towards the VIP section where she greeted another bouncer manning a rope.

“Well what do we have here,” the tall, lanky guy said. He wasn’t as big as Bobby, but through his suit it was clear he was still well built. He had sandy blond hair, and could’ve easily passed for a surfer. His mouth tipped into a leer, admiring Jade’s outfit. Her silver dress had a plunging neckline, and reached mid-thigh. Her blue Steve Madden heels made her legs seem longer, but not as tall as the guy currently hugging her to his body.