JUNE 15

I knocked on the door as I opened it. The first thing I saw when I entered the apartment was my baby brother. He smiled, and cried out, "Stykuh!" which was about all that he could manage of my name. It was better than what Kenny could say. She could only say Sty.

I grinned. "Hey, Roman." I was careful to keep my hand – with the present I'd brought – hidden behind my back as he took super wobbly steps toward me. He fell on his butt about halfway.

Charlie grinned, helping him stand back up. "Hey, Stryker." She glanced behind me, frowning when she didn't see anybody else. "Where's your girlfriend? You were supposed to bring her so I could finally meet her. You've been dating her for three months now and I still haven't met her."

I shook my head. "I told you she wouldn't be here. She and her parents are visiting her aunt in Tennessee. Besides, it's Roman's first birthday. Shouldn't the focus be on him, and not my girlfriend?" And even though we'd been dating for three months, we weren't all that serious. I mean, I really liked her. But I didn't like her as much as I had liked Mal when Mal and I had been dating for three months.

Maybe that was part of the problem. I kept comparing this relationship to the one I had had with Mallory. I knew that I shouldn't - every relationship is different.

And I wasn't planning on breaking up with Brit anytime soon. Despite what Willow thought, we worked together. Things were just going slower than they had with Mal. Probably because we really didn't spend all that much time together. Brittany always had something going on. And sure, Brittany and I sometimes got irritated with each other because we had so many varied interests and opinions, but we always made up. And we never had any real fights.

She jutted out her lower lip. "But I want to meet Brittany. Jon's met her. It's not fair."

"I'll bring her by when she gets back, in the first week of July. You'll get to meet her, don't worry."

"I better. What's hidden behind your back?"

"A present. Where's Jon?"

"He ran to the store to pick up the cake."

"Are more people coming?" I asked. "I thought you guys didn't want to do a big party for him."

She shook her head. "We're not. He won't remember it, anyway. We want to focus on the later years for the big parties. But we are sticking to tradition a bit, and getting him a cake that he can utterly destroy with his cute little hands."

I chuckled. "That is a pretty important tradition. So, should I give him the present now, or wait until after the cake?"

"We'll definitely do presents before cake, but let's wait until Jon gets back. Here, I'll trade you. Baby for present."

So I handed her the wrapped present. She let go of Roman's hand, and he wobbled his way toward me. I scooped him up into my arms. "Happy birthday, Ro," I said, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Stykuh." He reached out and grabbed my cheeks, pulling on them. I swear, that was his favorite thing to do. He did it at least once every time I visited.

I tried to pull away, unsuccessfully. He had a really good grip on my face. "Why do you do that every time I hold you?" I muttered. My words were a little muffled.

Charlie just laughed.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Real helpful."

Roman giggled and released my face. I tweaked his nose. "You little stinker."

He just giggled again.

Behind me, I heard the door open. I turned, still holding Roman, to see Jon walk in carrying a cake box.

"Daddy!" the baby yelled.

Jonathan smiled. "Hey, birthday boy. Hey, Stryker. When did you get here?"

I shrugged. "Just a few minutes ago."

"How is everything? It's been a couple weeks since we've chatted. How's the diabetes?"

I was getting used to being asked that question by everybody in my family. It got annoying sometimes, but that didn't stop them from asking about it. Every. Single. Time. "Good. I've almost got it under control. I've done pretty well since February. I still have to see the doctor every three months, but my A1C in April was pretty good. Not quite where we wanted it, but closer."

"Okay, explain to me what an A1C is, please. I've heard you mention it before, but I don't understand it."

I sighed, putting Roman on my shoulders. He started using my head as a drum, which I had kind of expected. "It's a blood test that measures the average bloodsugar levels for the past two to three months. My doctor wants me at about a seven-point-five, which is an average bloodsugar of one-hundred and sixty-nine. I'm pretty close. I was at an eight-point-one in April. While I'm a minor, he wants to see me every three months, whether I'm at the target A1C or not. But once I turn eighteen, if I'm at that target of seven-point-five, I'll only have to go in every six months."

Jon nodded. "Well, I'm glad you're close to your goal."

"Me, too. The less often I have to see the doctor, the better." I tickled the bottoms of Roman's feet, getting a giggle out of him. "Let's celebrate this boy's birth."

We started with the presents, and I thought that I did a pretty good job with what I'd brought. I'd found a plush guitar that had buttons he could press. Each button played a different, short song. Roman sure seemed to enjoy it.

We were just getting ready to give Roman the cake when my phone rang. I checked the ID. "Go on without me," I said. "Just make sure to get some pictures, please."

Charlie grinned, holding up a video camera. "I'll do you one better. I'll record it."

I walked away a bit and answered my phone. "Hey, Willow. What's –"

"Stryker," she interrupted, and I could hear the tears in her voice. "She's gone. My grandma died."

"Oh, Willow. I'm so sorry. I'll be right there."

I explained the situation to Jon and Charlie, kissed Roman's head, and left to comfort my friend.