188 New Information

On the morning of Keeley's twenty-fifth birthday, she had a bit of headache. Aaron texted her to wish her happy birthday and good luck on her finals and she sent a simple thank you back.

She was surprised that he didn't try to prolong the conversation. He must have been busy.

She couldn't help but compare today to her last twenty-fifth birthday. Her father took her to dinner and bought her a cake because Aaron wouldn't. She used the excuse that he was away on business and would treat her when he got back.

It was a lie, of course. He hadn't gone anywhere; he just didn't care about her birthday.

To keep up appearances, he gave her an expensive piece of jewelry that the other socialites could gawk over but that was it aside from a very cold "happy birthday" when they passed each other in the hall.