Iris

"Is this really necessary?"

I wrinkled my nose, trying to dislodge the blindfold for the tenth time, but it refused to budge. Just like the ties around my wrists. I didn't want to know how my sister had become so adept at tying someone up, though I had my suspicions. It went to show that Ivy could excel at most things if she simply had enough motivation.

"Yes, it's necessary. Stop trying to wiggle free," Minh answered, exasperation thick in her voice.

I didn't need to see my friend or hear the direction her voice was coming from to know she was the one driving. If Ivy was behind the wheel, I would have thrown up the cereal and coffee I had for breakfast. But the small comfort I found in this knowledge was drowned out by the fact nothing good could come from my sister and best friend plotting together.

"I told you she was going to complain about being tied up. We should've gone with my idea."

Minh scoffed. "Did you actually watch Jawbreaker?"

"Yes, I have. That's why I didn't suggest using a jawbreaker, but at least if she was in the trunk, we wouldn't have to listen to her whine."

"I wouldn't whine," I interjected before Minh could speak, "if I could feel my fingertips. They went numb twenty minutes ago."

"I told you they were too tight."

The two of them bickered while I sank into the warm leather seats of the rental car and focused on taking deep breaths. Determined to be more adventurous, I hadn't protested when they surprised me at my front door, announced I was being kidnapped for my birthday, trussed me up like a Thanksgiving turkey, and tossed me into the back of the car. But as the minutes ticked by and the roads became curvier, the panic set in, making it hard to breathe.

The accident had given Ivy her own set of issues, but empathy wasn't her strong suit. She didn't understand the fear that choked me whenever I wasn't in control in a car.

Minh was another story. One word from me, and she would have pulled the car over and taken off the restraints. It was so tempting to give in and ask her to do it, but I was tired of being held captive by my fears. They had taken so much from me already.

I squirmed, thinking about the last time I'd been brave in a car. Garrett had been so upset, and I think that's the moment I really fell in love with him. He hadn't pitied me; instead, he had revealed a part of his past that still haunted him. Made himself vulnerable when he didn't have to, and I rewarded that by lying to him.

No matter how hurt I was that he had shut me out the last two months, I didn't have a right to be angry. Not after what I had done. I let my thoughts drift to the book I'd given him. Had he read it yet? Would he read it?

Either path terrified me. I needed him to read the words he wouldn't give me a chance to say. The ones that got buried beneath pain every time we were around each other. At the same time, if he read them and they didn't soften his heart at all, I didn't know how I could move on. I needed him to see that how I felt about him had never been a lie.

"I just want you to know that I expect something really big for my birthday next year."

I snorted and kicked under my sister's seat, earning a squeal for my efforts. "I don't think so."

Leather creaked, and I could feel Ivy's gaze as she peered around her seat. "And why not? It's only fair since we made today all about you."

"This is the thirty-third birthday we've had together."

Ivy and I didn't have a lot in common, and there were times in our life that our differences had pushed us apart. But one thing we always did together was our birthdays, and after our parents died, we made a promise to never spend one apart.

"I can count on one hand the number of times we did something I wanted. You even picked the theme to our sweet sixteen."

"You didn't even want a sweet sixteen party!"

"Exactly, and what did we do? We had a party."

Ivy pouted. "To be fair, you never really put your foot down."

"And god forbid you actually ask your sister what she wants."

Appreciating Minh's attempt to stand up for me, I shook my head. "Consider this year one of making up for that. Only about twenty more birthdays to go."

Ivy groaned dramatically.

"Actually, scratch that. Next year, I want to go on a cruise. That can be year one."

"Atta girl," Minh cheered as the clicking sound of the blinker filled the car.

"Um, that's not fair. This should definitely count as year one."

"Nope." I popped the p hard and grinned. Damn, it felt good standing up for myself. Why had I waited so long? What had I been afraid of? "I didn't have anything to do with this event, so it doesn't count. For all I know, this could be like the year you picked me up and told me we were going to a bed-and-breakfast."

"We did go to a bed-and-breakfast," Ivy said hastily.

"That was part of a winery."

The car slowed. "That actually sounds thoughtful," Minh said.

I wiggled my fingers to generate some blood flow. "It would've been if the winery wasn't where her ex was getting married that same weekend."

"Shit, Ivy."

"Fine! When you say it like that, it does sound bad."

"Oh, it was."

"Look, I admit I've done some really shitty stuff in the past, and I officially renounce the right to plan our birthday parties for the next two decades."

"In front of a witness. No take backs."

Ivy laughed. "No take backs. But before you decide if this counts or not, why don't you wait and see what it is? I think we might surprise you."

Gravel crunched under our tires as we rolled to a stop. Seat belt buckles clicked and doors opened and closed. Cold air washed over my face as my door opened, and Ivy's fingers, still warm from the car's heater, fumbled over the wrist ties. They hesitated on the blindfold.

"Come on," I said, buzzing with excitement. It was the first time I'd felt anything but dread and sadness for weeks now. "Take it off."

Ivy exhaled, then snatched it off. She stood in front of me, blocking the view, and there was an apology in her eyes that I didn't understand until she moved out of the way, revealing a snow covered cabin I recognized at once.

"What have you two done?"