Lily stood there, momentarily stunned as Lewis exclaimed, “Happy Birthday, Lily!” The words hung in the air, and it took her a moment to process what he had just said. She felt a rush of warmth wash over her, a mix of surprise and joy flooding her senses. In the whirlwind of emotions and decisions she’d been grappling with, she had completely forgotten her own birthday.
“Wow, I can’t believe I forgot!” she said, a genuine smile breaking across her face. Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lewis in a warm hug. He embraced her back, the gesture feeling comforting and familiar, momentarily lifting the weight of her earlier anxieties.
“Of course you forgot,” Lewis chuckled as they pulled apart, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ve had a lot on your mind. Bu
