Page 64 of Every Hidden Truth

At first, he didn’t respond to the unexpected embrace, but I didn’t let him go. I wanted him to hold me like he used to when I was a kid, and I sighed in contentment when he finally did.

He brought his arms around my shoulders and placed a fleeting kiss to the top of my head. “Happy Birthday, Silas.”

As I fought the instinct to bawl like a baby, I hid my face in his chest and inhaled his Old Spice deodorant. “Thanks, Dad. I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me too.”

We hugged for another minute before I pulled away, rubbing at my eyes with a manly grunt. “Something in my eye.”

Dad nodded, staring at the melting ice cream cake as he blinked rapidly. “Yes, well…” He clapped my shoulder, harrumphing. “Let me help you with this.” Taking the watch gently from its holder, he strapped it to my wrist and secured it snugly.

“I really like it, Dad. Thanks.” I smiled shyly, spinning my wrist as the light overhead gleamed off the shiny face.

“It suits you.”

I admired the watch as Dad packed up the remaining cake and finagled it into the freezer.

“Well, I’m probably gonna head to bed,” I said.

He nodded. “Okay, sleep well.”

“Thanks.” I paused in the doorway and gathered my courage for one last mushy display. “Hey, Dad?” He glanced over his shoulder, and I forced my fidgeting fingers away from my piercing. “I, uh, I love you.”

His cheeks flushed red under his stubble, but he returned the sentiment readily. “I love you too, Silas.”

Nodding, I wiggled my fingers in a wave. “Okay, erm, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

By the time I’d showered and crawled into bed, I had three unread text messages. The first was from Will, wishing me a happy birthday, and I replied with a thanks and a picture of my watch. The second was from Ben.

Ben: I’m heading to bed. Hope you survived. Talk to you tomorrow.

Silas: I’m alive, thanks for your concern. P.S. Dad wants you to come over for my birthday, so just stop in whenever, I guess.

I waited for a response, but he must have been asleep already.

Opening the third and final text, my cloud-nine high sobered to irritation as Unknown sat in my inbox. Seriously? When was the phone company going to stop these random alerts?

Unknown: Happy Birthday.

Hmm, that was weird. Unknown had never actually spoken to me before. I’d assumed it was a strange phone test system gone wonky, but now…

Silas: Who is this?

Again, I waited for a reply that never came.

Annoyed, I plugged in my phone and snuggled into my blankets. Maybe one of my friends had a new number and forgot to tell me. Or it was a prank. It wouldn’t be the first time my phone number was found and distributed through the school grapevine. Since freshman year, I’d changed my number twice to escape the annoying, sometimes insulting messages.

Whatever. I was over it. Whoever it was could suck a tailpipe.

With that pleasant thought, I buried myself in my bedding and grinned when the stubborn moonlight fighting through my closed blinds glinted off my watch. I caressed the smooth glass, giddy joy bubbling in my stomach as I drifted off to sleep.

18

Mackenzie

Like every other birthday,my eighteenth started lazy. Dad made waffles and sausages for brunch, and I playedSplatoonin my pajamas. Dad and I watchedGladiatorwhile I waited for Ben to come over.

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