Kelsey raised her wineglass in the air. “Cheers to that!” After practically chugging its contents, she started to untie the ribbons.
Em chuckled. “I have to admit, I’m happy to see you so upbeat today. I know you’ve been trying your best to ignore this birthday.”
“I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but it is what it is.” Kelsey stopped unwrapping the gift to look at Emma before swigging more wine. “Might as well embrace it.”
“Love the attitude.” Avery raised her glass. “So what’s your birthday wish this year?”
“My old standby—falling desperately in love with the guy who will love me back just as much.”
“I’ve always teased you about that, but now I have to confess, it is a worthy goal.” Avery’s cheeks flushed. A notorious unromantic, that admission had to have killed her. Never mind the bitter irony of Avery finding love before Kelsey, despite the fact Kelsey had been the one actively pursuing it for the past decade. Kelsey wasn’t proud that a pinch of envy clouded her happiness for her friend, but she wouldn’t lie to herself either.
“If you’d have asked me five years ago where I’d be at thirty-one, I’ve have said married with kids.” Kelsey grimaced, rolling her eyes in a self-deprecating manner. “Epic fail. Not only am I not married or pregnant, I’m not even dating. Haven’t even had sex in . . . well, no need to get totally depressed. Too long, that’s the only important point.”
“Not as long as me.” Emma wrinkled her nose. She and Kelsey giggled while Avery’s cheeks darkened from pink to red.
“At least my career is going great.” Kelsey sipped more pinot grigio, hoping the wine would help her better accept her loveless status. “In fact, I just got my commission from Wade’s hotel deal, which brings me to another wish. I want to plan that girls’ weekend I mentioned at the jazz festival.”
“I’m in. Just need to check my schedule.” Avery took out her phone. “When and where were you thinking?”
“You’d mentioned Santa Fe.” Emma leaned forward. “Is that still the plan?”
Kelsey shook her head. “No. I’m thinking bigger . . . better. How about Cabo in mid-September?”
Emma and Avery’s shocked expressions drew the first hearty laugh of Kelsey’s day.
“Sounds fabulous, Kels, but I don’t have that kind of money.” Emma sat back.
Kelsey patted her hand. “I told you, this is my treat. I’ll buy plane tickets and rent us a nice suite. You just need spending money.”
“That’s so extravagant.” Avery swung her silky, chocolate-brown hair behind her shoulder. “Are you sure?”
“Yes! Please let me share my good fortune with the people I love most. We’ll have a blast.” When her friends looked skeptical, Kelsey added, “You have to say yes. It’s my backup birthday wish.”
Avery smiled. “If you’re really sure.”
“I am.” Kelsey squeezed Emma’s hand.
“Okay, then,” Emma replied. “Who am I to say no to a fairy godmother?”
“Oh, please. No fairy tale jokes. I’m still living down the whole princess birthday thing I did with Fee the other week.” Kelsey relaxed into her chair. “Turns out one of my clients saw me from a distance and was a bit perplexed.”
Avery’s lips twitched. “Grey mentioned something Trip had said, too.” Then her eyes widened. “Well, speak of the devil.”
Trip had been headed toward the bar until he noticed them and changed course. He tipped his hat just before he pulled a free chair from a nearby table, turned it backward and set it between Kelsey and Emma, then plopped his cute butt down. He surveyed the wineglasses and partially unwrapped gift. “Ladies, looks like quite a celebration.”
“It’s Kelsey’s birthday lunch,” Emma said, her voice cracking. Trip’s over-the-top flirtations had a way of making shy women like Emma nervous. Kelsey, on the other hand, took them as a challenge.
“Happy birthday, princess.” He grinned, leaned closer to Kelsey, and practically purred in her ear. “Does the birthday girl want a kiss?”
Yes. Her insides sprang to life like Mexican jumping beans, but she remained outwardly calm. “No, thanks. No telling where those lips have been in the past twenty-four hours.”
She smiled sweetly even as Emma and Avery choked on wine.
“Don’t be jealous.” He winked and glanced at the table again. “No cake. No candles. Too bad. I would’ve liked to have seen you pucker up and blow.”