Walking into the Korean restaurant, Aaron was assaulted by shouts of "Surprise!" from a table to his left, making him jump. He hadn't expected it.

Aiden, Cameron, and Jennica waved before yelling, "Happy Birthday, Aaron!" in perfect unison. Aiden had remembered his birthday after all.

"You planned this?" he asked flatly. His friends had never celebrated his birthday before.

"Nah, I didn't even know when your birthday was. Keeley told me; she had to work. I believe her exact words were, 'Nobody should eat alone on their birthday,'" Aiden said, winking.

That was even more surprising than Aiden having planned it. Aaron's heart warmed. Keeley was still looking out for him, even though she couldn't be there.

"No need to be sappy," Jennica teased, noticing his expression. "Sit down!"

"You're the last person to accuse someone else of being sappy," Aiden pointed out.

He had a point. Jennica was holding Cameron's hand on the table, constantly needing physical contact. She rolled her eyes.

Aaron had considered Jennica level-headed, but her behavior during a recent wedding had changed his mind. Tonight confirmed it—her dumb, expectant look mirrored Aiden and Cameron's. She was one of them.

"So…" Cameron drawled. "Things with Keeley must be going well if she worried about you being alone on your birthday."

He stared blankly. "Your point?"

Jennica's eyes flashed. "She totally likes you! She wouldn't care otherwise. Valentina complained that Keeley didn't bother to go to Ryan's birthday party because she didn't know anyone there."

He almost believed it, but deep down, Aaron knew the truth. Keeley would never see him romantically again. He'd messed up too badly in their past life. She was just being kind.

They were in a strange limbo. Close, yet distant, because he knew it wouldn't go further. Their freshman year of college had brought a similar closeness, leading to a relationship. This wouldn't. She'd made that clear.

"I think she's just being Keeley," Aaron said softly.

The others weren't convinced, but the waiter arrived to take their orders, shifting the conversation to random nonsense Aaron didn't fully understand. He didn't mind; even if it was Keeley's idea, his friends were there because they didn't want him alone. It was one of the few times in either of his lives he was glad it was his birthday.

Dinner lasted longer than expected due to his friends' chatter and subsequent traffic. Aaron didn't get home until nearly 8:30. Keeley should be back around now. He needed to thank her.

The apartment was dark; he assumed he was first. He almost went upstairs to change when he saw a flickering light in the kitchen—candlelight.

Keeley's face was illuminated by at least twenty-five candles on a cake. Noticing him, she turned on the light. The blue cake had green letters: "Happy Birthday Aaron."

His heart nearly stopped. The last time she'd made him a birthday cake was his twenty-first, a long time ago.

"Get over here before too much wax gets on the cake," she said, waving.

He hurried over as she sang "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Aaron, happy birthday to you!" The "dear Aaron" got to him. He had a lump in his throat as he blew out the candles and made his wish—the same wish from his eighteenth birthday: that she would be with him for all future birthdays. He knew it wouldn't happen, but he wished it anyway.

He hugged her tightly. "Thank you. And thank you for contacting my friends. I really didn't want to eat alone."

Her hands trembled after his last sentence, but she held him tighter.

They held each other for several minutes. It was the best birthday present. He never wanted to let her go. It felt right having her back in his arms.

When she finally pulled away, she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I have a present for you."

He didn't need anything; the cake and her presence were enough. But he eagerly accepted the box. Anything from her was a treasure.

He opened the box and stared uncomprehendingly. It was a striped newborn onesie.