Ringing in the New Year

Chapter 3

Cami

Seventh grade…

I open my eyes when a shadow blocks out the sun. I look up to see Reed standing over me with a cupcake in hand and a single lit candle in it.

“Happy birthday, Dimples,” he says, and I smile at him as I sit up.

It’s summer break and Reed and I have been lying next to the pool. When we’re not with the horses we are usually spending our time out here. Too bad summer is almost over and it’s back to middle school for the two of us. The same fear I always have is tickling the back of my mind.

“You remembered?” I ask in surprise as he gets on his knees next to me.

“You think I’d forget your birthday?”

I shake my head. “Of course not. You never forget anything,” I laugh, but he doesn't. Not only is Reed handsome, popular, and sweet, he’s really smart, too. His family is exactly the same and it’s almost too perfect to be real.

“Not when it comes to you,” he says, and it makes my stomach flutter. “Now make a wish.”

He holds up the cupcake for me and I close my eyes. I think for only a quick second before I blow out the candle.

“That was fast.” He takes the candle out and hands it over to me. I lick the icing off before he puts it down on the ground next to us.

“I already know what I want.” It’s the only thing I ever wish for and that’s to stay here forever.

Reed peels off the paper from the cupcake and hands it to me. “You’re not going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

I take a giant bite of the cupcake then hold it out for him. He smiles before taking a bite and we polish it off in no time.

“Did he forget?” Reed asks.

“It’s no big deal,” I rush to say, but I don’t know why I always defend my dad.

I’m embarrassed he could so easily forget about my birthday, but when it comes to people he isn't the best. When it comes to animals there’s no one else better than him.

“It’s a big fucking deal.”

“Reed,” I scold, looking around to see if anyone hear him curse.

“It’s bullshit. It’s your birthday.” He stands up and I have to fight a smile at how mad he looks.

It makes me happy how much he cares. If it wasn't for the Sanders family I wouldn't have anyone that really cares. I’m not sure my dad has the capacity to do more than just keep me alive. He’s not mean, he just doesn't really have any emotion. He can go days without speaking and not even notice he did it.

“Why are you smiling?” He looks down at me with a stern face.

I guess fighting my smile isn't working. I watch as one side of his mouth starts to pull up and I know now he’s fighting a smile, too. He always looks handsome when he laughs, which is something I’ve noticed a lot lately; I’m also not the only girl noticing either. Thankfully he’s not aware of it. At least not yet.

We laugh, and then he comes back over to sit down beside me. “I haven't given you your gift yet.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring that I’m all too familiar with.

“Reed!” I shout when I see him holding it. “Your mama is going to tan your hide.”

He hasn't given me the ring since we were in fourth grade. There was a time when we were little where he was giving it to me at every holiday. He even gave it to me on Thanksgiving one time because he said he was thankful for me. My dad would either return it or Reed’s mom and dad would come over and ask for it, but then he just stopped. I figured he must have really gotten in trouble the last time he did it.

“Dad told me to stop giving it to you until we got older. We’re teenagers now.”

He slides it onto my finger and I know I’m not going to be able to keep it, but I want to wear it for at least a little while. I stare down at the diamond and wonder what it would be like to really be married to Reed. I bet when he does get married one day he’ll be as good to his wife as his dad is to his mom. It’s always sweet watching the way he dotes on her. They have the life people dream of and it’s one I’m not so sure I’ll ever get. While Reed and I go to school together we’re worlds apart in other ways.

I’m only lucky enough to go to this school because I live on the Sanders’ property. It’s the nicest school district in the state and I’m literally the only kid there that doesn't come from money. The other kids have started to figure that out and now some of them are treating me differently. Not Reed though, he’s always kind.

“Are you asking me to marry you?” I tease him.

“No, you said yes when we were in second grade,” he teases me back, but he’s not smiling, and it makes me think he might not be joking.

I look down at the ring and then back to him. “You really want to marry me, Reed Sanders?”

“Yeah, I do,” he responds instantly, and I freeze as he leans in towards me.

His mouth gets closer to mine and my heart begins to pound. Oh god, is he going to kiss me? I’m nervous all over and I don’t know what to do with my hands. I think back to all the movies I’ve watched where I’ve seen people kiss and I know I’m supposed to close my eyes. I shut them tight and try not to mess it up as I feel his warm breath against my lips.