Page 111 of Moonstruck Kiss

“What are you talking about?” Colton asks, still pointing the camera at Emory. “You sounded like you just accepted an Academy Award.”

“So it was terrible! Let’s do it again, please.”

“Okay, keep going. I’ll just edit it out.”

Emory shakes her shoulders, and then smiles—which looks more like a grimace.

“Relax,” Colt says. “You look like you’re about to get a tooth drilled—without anaesthetic.”

Emory laughs out loud. “I’m not good at acting for the camera. Just forget it.”

“No, no. See, you’re being natural right now. Say something about making the cake again.”

Emory takes a deep breath, then giggles again.

I glance at Joey and find her biting her lip.

“Should we interrupt them?” I whisper.

“I think Emory likes your brother. Does he have a girlfriend?”

I wince. “I think so.”

“Too bad,” Joey says with a sigh. “Hey, guys,” she calls out to the two. “We need to get the cake out.”

“Oh, of course,” Emory says, blushing and getting out of the way.

I carry the heavy cake. “Ollie will go crazy when he sees this,” I say to Emory.

She grins. “Can’t wait to see his face.”

As we near the door leading back to the garden, Joey lights up the candles. Then she opens the door and motions to the guests.

Everyone starts singing Happy Birthday.

I look at Ollie as I walk his cake to the table where he’s standing, surrounded by his friends. His eyes are as big as saucers, his smile splitting his face.

The singing finishes just as I place it in front of Ollie. “Now you have to make a wish while you blow out your candles.”

“Can I make any wish?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Will it come true?”

I smile. “If you really believe in it, and you really want it, it can come true.”

He closes his eyes briefly before blowing out his candles.

All his guests clap hard.

“What did you wish for Ollie?” asks one of the older children.

“I wish I can call her my mama.” He points to Joey.

Joey’s mouth falls open and her eyes instantly water. She kneels in front of Ollie and hugs him tight.

I try to swallow the lump in my throat. Joey hasn’t said anything, but I think I know why. Even though I’m one million percent sure she loves Ollie with all her heart, she doesn’t want to give him what he wants without my permission. After all, she’s still only my girlfriend.

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