CHAPTER NINE - BIRTHDAY BOY

James

After the party, I had to help Amelia to William's car because I had too much to drink.

While I had my back turned, she must have downed a whole glass of wine and poured herself more, because I didn't even notice that I was drinking that much. Only when she started laughing at what Alex was saying and leaning her head on the counter laughing so hard. Which, by the way, was an incredibly loud and infectious laugh. Until then I was enjoying it, but when she leaned her head on the counter and stayed there, I realized that she was already too tall.

William, Alex, and the rest ended up trapping me in there with her for some reason I didn't know. Stanley and Sarah were long gone and I just wanted to fall into bed and pass out. I still had work to do tomorrow, and by the time we got home, it was late at night.

I draped her arm over my shoulder and led her into Sarah's room. Which apparently was hers now. Amelia was all limp and squishy in my arms, completely different from the distant