Page 5 of Words We Didn't Say

“Even Cinderella wasn’t this late to the party,” she muttered.

“He’ll be here,” I said.

My delivery was as unconvincing as the last time I’d said it. The certainty in my voice had started wavering about ten songs ago when I’d shifted from hopeful to defensive.

I had every reason to be worried.

This wasn’t the first time Zach had let me down.

Yvette’s attention flicked to the doors, too. An eternal optimist, complete with a halo of bleached blonde curls, she preferred to see the champagne glass half full even when only a sip was left. But blue eyes narrowed. Full lips thinned. Even she had her doubts.

“You reminded him, right?” Yvette asked.

A note stuck on the fridge. The text message of heart eyes and cake emojis I’d sent him when I’d gulped down a smoothie so the rest of my staff could take a proper lunch break. Wasn’t that enough? I’d talked about my party for weeks. At least three influencers had featured it astheplace to be. That was more rope than I’d tossed off the cliff for any other man to rescue himself.

Andie frowned even more than usual. “Why does Ed have to remind him? It’s her damn birthday.”

“We all know Zach’s a little, well,you know,”Yvette said.

Socially awkward? Distracted? A workaholic? The ugly voice in the back of my mind whispered the word ‘selfish.’ But whenZach’s attention was on me, his arms snug around my middle and his nose nuzzled in my hair, the only word I heard was ‘perfect.’ The problem was that his attention was rarely on me anymore.

“What a fucking cop-out,” Andie snapped. “The three of us work our arses off for twelve hours a day at Voom, and we still found time to plan a classy do for a hundred people. Zach had two jobs tonight. One”—Andie held up her index finger—“bring the cake. Two”—her middle finger went up next—“get here on time.”

The flutter of Yvette’s false lashes was a declaration of war. “Sweetie, I hope you’re planning to stick those fingers somewhere useful.”

Andie stammered out a few curse words, tugging on the cuffs of her jacket, her cheeks red hot. She had no real comeback. Yvette grinned. She’d won this round.

I sighed. This wasn’t how I imagined my birthday. My two best friends bickering. No man on my arm. WherewasZach? I’d blow out the candles flickering on top of my birthday cake and wish this disastrous night was over…if there were candles…or…a cake. I couldn’t keep standing around, hoping he’d make time to prioritise me. I looked like a fool.

“I’m going to call him,” I said.

“Don’t.” Andie’s eyes pleaded with me to change my mind.

“I won’t go easy on him,” I reassured her. “A girl’s allowed to make a scene on her birthday.”

“I approve,” Yvette said. “You give that man hell.”

I planned to—if he ever picked up his phone or answered my messages. History told me neither was a certainty.

Chin held high, I squared my shoulders, and my taffeta gown swished with the confident swing of my hips as I weaved through the crowd. A dazzling smile masked my disappointment. Air kisses on my guests’ cheeks and my sincere thanks forcoming concealed any vulnerability. I laughed away awkward conversations asking me about the mystery man who’d finally convinced me to settle down.

“You’ll meet him soon,” I always said, as if it were part of the plan to keep them on the edge of their seats.

But when the corridor narrowed into shadows, old memories creeping up the walls, I escaped into the bathroom where no one could see my facade unravel. I slumped against white tiles. My gloved palm clutched over my mouth to block a scream—or even more humiliating, a sob.

Zach forgot.

He forgot my birthday.

He forgot…me.

Again.

My shoulders trembled as a breath squeezed into my lungs. I’d forgiven Zach for all the date nights he’d missed. I’d even shrugged off him missing my salon’s picnic. Three years in our new location, number one in all the reviews, and another nomination—but still no win—for me as Hairstylist of the Year were things to be celebrated. And they had been—by everyone except him. But I’d already set the bar too low. An uninspired apology was all it had taken to earn back my smile and a mumbled agreement he deserved another chance. I’d broken all my rules for Zach.

Where had we gone so wrong?

Our relationship had shot off like a crazy, sexy rollercoaster. That man had swept me off my feet and spoiled me with fun dates, staying up all night talking, and eventually, weekends rolling around in bed. He’d made me wait and wait.

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