Page 1 of Always Been You

Today’s the day.Today I turn twenty-five. I’ve always adored my birthday. Growing up, my family always made it special. My mom prepared a special breakfast, and we would do different family activities followed by dinner at my favourite restaurant, and then movies and popcorn on the couch at home. Even after I started university, my family always made time on the Saturday right after my birthday to do something. Going to school in the same city I grew up in made it easier to maintain the tradition.

This year, my parents are out of town for work and my younger sister, Gianna, is away at school, so my older brother Matt and I are meeting for lunch and then my best friends have an evening planned for us.

Looking at myself in the mirror of my washroom, I take in my excited brown eyes as I brush my freshly washed and dried hair before putting it up in a ponytail. Making my way into my bedroom, I dress in a pair of leggings and a T-shirt. Before heading out the door, I put on a blackcardigan, and grab my purse and keys. Once I lock up, I shoot Matt a text.

Liv:Hey! Just leaving my place now. Heading to the SkyTrain, be there in about 20 mins.

Matty:Sounds good??

I pop in my headphones, pull up my favourite playlist, and head to the restaurant. The walk and SkyTrain ride are full of people bustling around. The station and trains are full of people as usual. I find a spot near the door and hold on to one of the yellow poles as the train makes its way to the various stations. Getting off the train, I make my way to street level. I enjoy the sun on my face as I make my way down the city blocks. As I round the last corner to the restaurant, I walk straight into a wall–or rather a hard, muscular chest.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I quickly say, as firm hands reach out gripping my waist, steadying me.

My gaze slowly moves up, taking in the sight in front of me. Starting with a strong muscular stomach wrapped in a perfect-fitting navy dress shirt pulling across a broad chest, up to robust shoulders, a square jaw, a crooked nose, and into piercing green eyes. Green eyes I recognize.

My breath catches in my lungs as I realize I’m staring at Josh Lincoln, my brother’s best friend. I inhale deeply, inadvertently getting a big lung full of his scent. God, he is sexy. I take in his perfectly tamed brown hair, his piercing eyes, the raised eyebrow, and the smirk playing on his face. He clearly caught me checking him out. I can’t help myself though. Growing up, I had the biggest crush on him and he has only gotten better with age. Taking a step back, andensuring I’m out of arm’s reach, I run my hands down my clothes, straightening them out. He drops his hands down to his sides.

“Hey Josh,” I say, my voice coming out breathier than I intended.

“Hey Olivia, happy birthday,” he replies.

A blush warms my cheeks; I can’t believe that he remembers. Maybe Matt said something to him? Josh has always been close to my family; he and Matt met in second grade and ever since, they have been inseparable. Playing the same sports, and going to concerts together, they took it as far as going to the same university. Even though Josh and I were friends growing up, I always thought that Josh saw me as Matt’s annoying younger sister who liked to tag along with them. Although growing up, he never did complain about me tagging along. When Matt and Josh became best friends, Josh’s sister Emily joined us too. She’s our sister Gi’s age, so they grew closer than the rest of us.

Putting one arm across my chest and gripping the opposite arm, I smile, “Thanks, Josh. What are you up to?”

“Oh, not much, just looking for something for lunch. What about you? Any special plans for your birthday?”

“I’m actually on my way to meet Matt for a birthday lunch at the Blue Spoon…” I admit, looking up at him through my lashes. “You maybe wanna join us?”

He seems to hesitate for a few seconds before responding.

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to invade your special lunch with your brother. I know those are important to the two of you.”

I can’t remember the last time Josh and I spent time together. At the prospect, a nervous energy spreads through my body. “Yeah, it will be great. You and I can catch up andI know that you and Matt have a spectacular bromance; he will be happy to see you too,” I say with a wide smile on my face. Sometimes I find Matt and Josh’s relationship a little odd, but I’ve gotten used to it.

He chuckles. “Well, Matt truly is my soulmate. Never had one like him and never want another to replace him.” We both laugh.

“Well, that settles it, you’re joining us,” I smile up at him.

He nods, stepping aside and gesturing for me to go first. He falls into step beside me. I can feel the heat radiating off his body, that in conjunction with the warmth of the spring sun has me beginning to sweat. I pull the neck of my shirt away from my skin a bit, hoping that a little airflow will help cool me down.

“It’s just down the block,” I say.

He shoves his hands into his pockets and nods his head. I try to take him in more as we walk. He looks very much like he did the last time I saw him, but there is something different about him that I can’t put my finger on.

“Sounds good. So, what’s new with you, Olivia?”

“Oh, you know, not much. I still spend my days trying to tame a bunch of sixth graders and deal with their sometimes even worse parents. We have parent-teacher conferences coming up soon, so I’ve been busy prepping for those.”

“Sounds like a lot.”

I smile fondly, thinking about my students, “It is, but I love it,” I say.

When we get to the restaurant, Josh opens the door for me and we enter together. The restaurant is bustling with people as servers run around checking on their tables. Music plays softly in the background, so softly that if you weren’t paying attention, you likely wouldn’t notice. The hum ofactive conversation wraps around us as I step up to the host stand. I see Matt at a table in the back corner. I look at the hostess and point to my brother with a smile and she nods her understanding at me and we make our way to his table.

His large 6'2" frame is hunched over the table while his brown wavy hair has tendrils resting on his forehead.

He looks up from his phone in his hand and notices me and Josh and something new flashes in his brown eyes before he smiles. He stands up and pulls me into a hug. I smile into his chest. The same sense of safety I’ve always gotten from him envelopes me. Matt is the best big brother a girl could ask for. Standing beside him, I feel so small, but it’s also easy for me to see all our similarities, our matching eyes that we got from our dad, the colour of our hair, and the shape of our noses.

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