Love, After Dark

Chapter 18

We ate breakfast around the kitchen island, sunlight pouring in through the wide windows like it had something to celebrate too. Mom had made pancakes- real ones, not the boxed kind- and Sia was already halfway through her second stack “So,” Mom said, sipping her coffee as she studied me over the rim of her mug. “What does the birthday girl want to do today?” I blinked, realizing I’d been staring at the marble countertop without actually seeing it.

“Hm?” I said. Her brows knit together slightly. “You okay? You seem… somewhere else.” I forced a smile. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just tired.” She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “We should explore the city,” Sia cut in, syrup still on her fork. “Go shopping. See what Redhaven actually has.” I nodded. “That sounds good.”

After breakfast, I headed upstairs to shower. The water was hot and steady, steam curling around me as I leaned my forehead against the tile and closed my eyes. The dreams crept back in anyway. The wolf. The castle. The woman with the dagger. The way her eyes had changed. None of it made sense, no matter how many times I turned it over in my head. The more I tried to understand it, the heavier my chest felt.

I shut the water off abruptly. Enough. I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my reflection, damp hair clinging to my face. “You’re not letting a stupid nightmare ruin your eighteenth birthday,” I told myself out loud. I dressed carefully, throwing on something cute and comfortable, before heading back downstairs.

Dad’s voice carried from the kitchen. “Happy birthday, babygirl,” he said through the phone. I smiled instantly. “Thank you.” “So,” he continued, “how do you like your new room?” “It’s amazing,” I said honestly. “I still can’t believe it.” He laughed. “Good. You deserve it.” There was a pause. “I already gave your mom my credit card. You’re to get whatever you want today.” “Dad-” “And,” he added, cutting me off, “I’ve got one more surprise.” My stomach flipped. “What kind of surprise?” “Look in the kitchen drawer closest to the door.”

My hands were shaking as I opened it. Inside was an envelope. I pulled it out, slid my finger under the flap, and tipped it upside down. A garage door opener fell into my palm. My breath caught. I was already running. “Siri-!” Sia yelled, chasing after me as I burst outside. Mom appeared just as Sia hit the button. The garage door lifted slowly, the lights flicking on. And there it was.

A brand-new gray 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 AWD 4MATIC, a massive red bow stretched across the hood like it was mocking me. I screamed. Sia screamed. We jumped up and down like lunatics, hugging each other, laughing and crying all at once. “Oh my God, Dad! Thank you!” I yelled into the phone, my voice cracking. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He laughed. “You’re welcome, babygirl. You deserve it. You’re such a wonderful kid-” He cleared his throat. “Young woman, I mean.”

Behind us, Mom stood frozen. Her expression shifted- shock melting into disbelief, then irritation. “Siri,” she said tightly, “may I have the phone?” I hesitated but handed it over. “Thanks again, Dad. I love you.” “I love you too.” Sia yelled, “Bye! Love you!” before Mom turned away and headed inside with the phone. From the garage, we could hear muffled voices. “I thought we agreed—”

“She’s barely able to drive—” “

The cost of that thing—”

“That’s irresponsible—”

“I know what you said, but—”

I swallowed, gripping the keys tightly. A few minutes later, Mom came back out. She looked… tired. Still annoyed, but calmer. Sia and I stared at her, holding our breath. She sighed. “Alright. Your father and I have agreed.” Hope flared. “You can keep the car,” she continued, pointing a finger at me, “but there will be rules, young lady. And I expect you to follow every single one.” Sia and I grinned. I held the keys up. “So… does that mean I can drive?” Mom scoffed and rolled her eyes. And just like that, my eighteenth birthday officially began.