Chapter 1.

The weather is a bit too chilly, and snow has covered most of the roads, but there is no way I am going to miss this dinner, not in this lifetime.

It is my birthday, and for the first time since Sam and I started dating, he has planned something for me.

Sam has never been the type to plan dates or do most of the romantic things men do for the women they love, and that is one of the reasons Clare has never liked him. She has always complained about how little effort he puts into our relationship and would constantly tell me to leave him, but there was no way I was going to do that. Not when I had had a crush on Sam since high school and had spent years hoping that one day, he would finally become the kind of man I knew he could be.

Maybe that day has finally come.

He has never even planned anything for my birthday before, but this year, he made reservations at one of the finest restaurants in LA and told me to be ready by seven.

I still cannot believe it.

Maybe Clare has been wrong about him all along and I was right.

“Does this make my skin pop?”

Clare barely looks up from her book.

“Just wear the brown dress you got last week and stop stressing me.”

I glance down at the dress in my hands before looking back at her.

“I know brown looks good on me, but I want something different tonight.”

“You've said that about every dress you've picked up.”

“This is my birthday.”

“I know.”

“So I should look special.”

“You already look special.”

“That is sweet, but not helpful.”

She sighs and turns another page.

I hold the dress against myself and turn toward the mirror, checking how it looks against my skin.

“This is the fifth dress I'm asking you about, isn't it?”

“The seventh”

“Okay, now I understand why you're annoyed.”

“Good.”

“But I don't understand why you're not excited for me.”

That makes her close her book.

“Because I'm not excited about Sam.”

I turn around slowly.

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.”

“What has he done now?”

“Nothing, and that's exactly my problem.”

I frown.

“What does that even mean?”

She places the book beside her and looks at me properly.

“You've been with this man for more than five years, and in all that time, when has he ever planned anything for your birthday?”

I hesitate.

“Never, but people change.”

“He has never taken you on a proper date.”

“He has taken me out.”

“To buy food because neither of you wanted to cook doesn't count and remember you ended up paying with your card.”

I laugh despite myself.

“That's still taking me out.”

“You know what I mean.”

I turn back toward the mirror, pretending to be more interested in my reflection than in the conversation.

“He's trying now.”

“Why?”

“Because it's my birthday.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

I look at her through the mirror.

“What question?”

“Why now?”

I turn around.

“Because maybe he finally realized that he should make an effort.”

Clare watches me for a moment, her expression unconvinced.

“Or maybe there is something else going on.”

“Clare.”

“I'm not trying to ruin your birthday.”

“No you are, and you are doing a very good job at it.”

She rolls her eyes.

“I just don't trust this sudden change. Sam has never been interested in doing these things for you, and now, out of nowhere, he's taking you to some expensive restaurant for your birthday?”

“Yes.”

“And you're not even a little suspicious?”

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

“No,” I repeat, turning back to the wardrobe. “Because I'm choosing to be happy about it.”

She is quiet for a moment.

Then she says, “I have a bad feeling about tonight.”

I stop for a second but refuse to let her words get to me.

“You always have a bad feeling about Sam.”

“Because he gives me reasons to.”

“Well, maybe this time is different.”

She doesn't respond.

I pull another dress from the wardrobe and hold it against myself, looking at my reflection again.

“I think he has changed.”

“You've said that before.”

“And maybe this time I'm right.”

Clare sighs.

“I just don't want you getting your hopes up.”

“My hopes are already up.”

“That is what worries me.”

I smile at my reflection.

“I don't care. It's my birthday, and for once, I'm going to enjoy the fact that my boyfriend actually planned something for me instead of looking for a reason to be disappointed especially when there is absolutely no reason to.”

She stares at me for a few seconds, and I can tell she wants to argue, but instead, she picks up her book again.

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“I'm not going to argue with you.”

“Good.”

“But if something goes wrong tonight, don't ignore it just because you want everything to be perfect. Leave immediately, or better still, call me and I'll come pick you up.”

I glance at her.

“You really know how to ruin a girl's excitement.”

“I'm serious.”

“I know.”

I give her a small smile before turning back toward the mirror.

“Well, if you won't help me, at least be happy for me.”

She shakes her head, but there is the faintest smile on her lips.

“I am happy for you.”

“You don't look happy.”

“I'll look happier when you're home safe and happy.”

I laugh.

“You're impossible.”

“And you're wearing the brown dress.”

I gasp.

“Absolutely not.”

She laughs as I grab another dress from the wardrobe.

“So what do I wear now? Maybe this orange one?”

I hold the full length of the dress against myself and turn from side to side in front of the mirror, trying to decide whether the colour makes my skin look brighter.

I smooth the fabric over my waist and look at myself again.

“Maybe this is the one.”

For the first time this evening, I stop thinking about all of Clare's concerns.

Tonight is my birthday. Sam planned this, and that alone makes it special to me. I want to believe that, after five years, maybe this is finally the beginning of something different between us.