Chapter Photo credits: @ Malachy666 Depositphotos.com 

Meg Rice looked in the mirror and sighed. She looked like her mother and possibly her grandmother, Margaret Rice, her namesake. Even her parents called her Meg, instead of the long formal name meant for a senior citizen. Although Meg's mother, Shannon, was beautiful, she dressed conservative in pastel suits. Meg didn't want to look fifty when she was turning thirty.

As a kid, she thought thirty was so old. By thirty, she expected to be married to her gorgeous husband, who looked like a Ken doll, and to have three beautiful children. As an only child, three seemed like a good number. As she got older, her vision changed, especially since Ken wasn't overly masculine. She wanted to marry a man with real genitals.

She debated omitting the matching headband. Her shoulder length cut matched her mother. Anytime she asked the stylist for something different, her mother told her appearances mattered.

Appearances did matter, so after her birthday dinner with her parents, her best friends would rescue her with a dress to change into. There was so much about her life her mother didn't know. Was she naïve enough to think her daughter was happy living inside a little bubble?

Checking to make sure her pink lips were painted perfectly, Meg turned from the mirror. In the foyer of their Beacon Hill home, her father stood looking at his watch. He looked up and smiled with the same green eyes.

"Happy Birthday."

"Thank you, Daddy." She fake kissed his cheek, so she wouldn't ruin her lips. "Mom isn't ready?"

"She should be. We have a reservation and the car is waiting."

Meg smiled. "Daddy, Tyler and I are meeting the others after dinner."

He nodded. "You should celebrate with your friends."

Her mother approved of her four best friends, including Tyler. In high school, she and Ty dated for a nanosecond and her parents thought they were still dating. Tyler provided a cover so she could date. He did too, although most of his relationships ended because the women were always jealous of Meg.

After her mother appeared and complimented her appearance, they stepped outside to the waiting car.

The restaurant was pretentious, but Meg made the mistake of being impressed with it on her sixteenth birthday. They had returned every birthday since, and she didn't care enough to say anything. That summed up her life. It wasn't worth it to speak up, so she gave the illusion of conforming.

Professionally, she conformed herself into a comfortable corner. She had to be bolder if she wanted to get ahead. No one treated her special in the office. As an assistant editor for Beantown Magazine, her goal was to be a full-fledged editor and help decide which stories to feature and not just make them sound and look good.

When they walked into the restaurant, she smiled at the framed Beantown review on the wall. Tyler appeared and kissed her cheek. "Happy birthday, beautiful."

She reached up and straightened his tie. "You look handsome."

Brian Rice's deep voice interrupted them. "Tyler, son, how are you?"

"Very well, sir." The two men shook hands. "Shannon, you look lovely this evening."

Meg held onto Tyler's arm and smiled as they walked across the subdued dark restaurant to their table. Tyler pulled out her chair. Like Meg, his wealthy parents raised him to have impeccable manners. Unlike Meg, he had a successful career in finance which meant he could support himself. Meanwhile, Meg's mother still bought her clothes, and she lived at home.

Shannon looked around. "Isn't this nice?"

Meg scanned and saw a roomful of pretentious people, the average age of seventy, but only because she and Tyler skewed the results.

The server appeared. "Would anyone like a drink?"

Meg said, "Please."

But her mother cut her off. "We'll share a bottle of wine with dinner." Then she turned to Tyler. "I keep hoping for a reason to order champagne."

Tyler laughed and said, "She's too good for me."

Maybe they should have one of those pacts if neither falls in love by thirty-five, but she had a feeling Tyler might already be in love. Their other best friend, Lucy, had been hanging around Tyler a lot. Meg knew she would eventually have to disappoint her mother. 'Tyler and I don't love each other.' She had practiced the line. 'He loves Lucy' might be harder to get out. Sure, she should be happy for them, but her deception would blow up like a grenade.

Meg zoned out as Tyler, and her father talked about the economy. Across the room, she tried to figure out if a couple was father and daughter or in a relationship. He better have deep pockets and lots of Viagra to keep her happy.

"Meg. Meg."

Tyler patted her thigh. "What? Sorry."

Shannon sighed. "I asked what your plans are."

"Dancing and we'll crash at Tyler's."

"All of you?"

Tyler nodded. "Probably. They like my pancakes."

It was true. Although he could hardly cook, he made great pancakes. The conversation turned to mundane things. When the couple who had caught her attention kissed. Tyler whispered, "Gross."

She giggled and smiled at him. They were best friends and could finish each other's sentences, but the thought of jumping in bed with him was gross too, because he felt like the brother she never had.

After their entrees, Meg waited for the surprise cake. No one sang, but the sparkler in the cake drew attention. She preferred not to have people staring at her. Meg threw up whenever she had to give an oral presentation in college and she gave a lot.

Tyler leaned over. "Smile. Here it comes."

She should love him since he understood her so well. Instead, her dinner churned as the entire dining room stared, including the woman dating the man forty-odd years older.

After a few bites of cake, she pushed her plate back. "Daddy, thank you. It was very good. Mom, maybe next year we can try a new restaurant. The magazine has so many wonderful reviews."

Shannon didn't miss a beat. "Maybe next year, you'll be engaged."

She stood causing her father and Tyler to stand. "Excuse me. I'll be right back."

The ladies' room in the restaurant had a line, so she walked into the hotel lobby. As she looked for the restrooms, she walked into someone. His hand reached out to steady her. When she looked up to apologize, she saw striking blue eyes. They were like aquamarines, her birthstone.

As she tried to apologize, her mouth went dry. "S-s-ry."

She felt his deep laugh in her chest. "Are you lost?"

"Restroom."

He smiled with perfect white teeth. "Just past the elevator banks."

"Thank you."

He winked. "Have a nice night."

As he walked away, she followed him with her eyes. The way his jeans hugged his backside was a work of art. When she entered the ladies and glanced in the mirror, her cheeks were pink. An unexpected thought came to her. Too bad he wasn't her birthday present.

Tyler lifted his eyebrows when she returned. Once she sat again, he whispered, "I thought you got lost."

She almost said she had, but shook her head still not trusting her voice. Instead, she drank some water. Her parents were enjoying their coffee. "Do you mind if we take off?"

Shannon frowned, but Brian waved his hand. "Go. Have fun!"

Meg wanted to run out the door, but decorum was imperative. Once on the street, it only took a moment for the car to pull up. She sank in the seat and said, "I hate my birthday."

Tyler laughed. "No, you don't. I'm proud of you for speaking up. I think that restaurant made me age. Do I have gray hair?"

Meg laughed. "No, but you saw that couple."

"I need to invest in Pfizer."

Meg shook her head. "Why?"

"That guy must buy tons of Viagra."

She let out a loud laugh. "I thought that too, but not the stock part."

"I know stocks and finances scare you."

"Numbers scare me." She laughed. She wanted to mention Lucy, but her mouth went dry again.

When the car stopped at his apartment, she was glad to step into the evening air. Two days before, it was unseasonably warm, but it felt cold for the last of March. After Tyler opened the door to his renovated warehouse apartment, their friends rushed her.

"Happy birthday!"

First she hugged Lucy, her friend since fifth grade. Then Mick, Tyler's friend since kindergarten. Last was Emily, who joined the group in highschool when she dated Mick briefly. In the years since, Emily had discovered she was bisexual. Meg was the first one she told. For years, Meg felt like everyone but Mick was closest to her.

When Tyler came out of his bedroom wearing jeans, he walked over to Lucy and whispered in her ear. Meg pretended not to notice as she petted Blue, Ty's golden retriever.

Mick hollered. "Go change, Stepford."

Meg rolled her eyes at his nickname, he had a repertoire. Frowning, she had forgotten she was dressed like her mother when she bumped into blue-eyes.

A/N The name Mick is a complete coincidence. By the time I realized what I did, it was to late to change. This Mick is one of the good guys. Thanks for voting ⭐️