Everything— from the hum of conversations to the soft music playing— faded into the background as I stared at Harley talking to Stacy. I couldn't help but take notice of how good they looked together.
"Hey, Sophie," Amy's voice broke through my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
I forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
Amy didn't look convinced. Instead of pushing, she looked in the same direction with her arms crossed.
"I hate to admit it," Amy said softly, "but she looks… good. America did wonders for her."
My heart sank.
"Come on," Daisy said, looping her arm through mine. "Let's go take more photos."
I let her pull me away. It was easier than standing there, looking at them as unpleasant thoughts filled my mind.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw her touching Harley's shoulder while laughing at something he said.
It made me sick to my stomach, how fake she could be around Harley.
We took a couple more photos in between laughing and chatting. Just when my thoughts started to shift, Stacy made her way toward us.
"Hello Sophie, Amy," she greeted in a falsely pleasant voice.
Amy placed her hands on her hips. "How did you get in here? I didn't send you an invitation."
Stacy gritted her teeth.
"I don't need an invitation to see Harley," she replied in a snarky tone. Then she turned and looked at me. "Still the centre of attention I see."
"Still jealous as always I see."
Stacy rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms and added, "I came back for Harley, and this time I am not letting him go."
I was about to speak when Daisy placed her hand on my shoulder. She took a couple of steps forward and looked up at Stacy. "Harley is already spoken for, but if you want to embarrass yourself, then be our guest."
"And you are?"
Daisy removed her hand from my shoulder and crossed her arms. Her eyes locked onto Stacy. "Someone you don't want to mess with."
Stacy brushed her long black, wavy hair over her shoulder before turning on her heels to leave. She glanced over her shoulder and gave us a dirty glare.
"Sophie, be careful," Daisy said, looking at Stacy's retreating figure. "She won't take no for an answer."
"Harley is not interested in her."
She turned around and looked at me. "Didn't they date in high school?"
I nodded.
"What?" Amy interjected. "When did this happen? How am I now hearing about it?"
I smiled at Amy weakly. "It was during spring break, our last year in high school."
Daisy smacked her fist into her palm, eyes widening. "Oh right, I was travelling then."
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Harley excusing himself and walking over toward us, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Come with me," he said.
"Why?"
He grabbed my wrist and led me away from the group. Everyone was too caught up in their own conversation to notice Harley cornering me. Everyone except for Stacy.
"You've been avoiding me ever since Stacy showed up. Why?"
I looked away and mumbled, "Why did you just stand there and let her kiss you like that?"
Harley's lips curved upwards. He grabbed my chin and turned my head, forcing me to look into his eyes. "Sophie, she's not worth your jealousy."
I smacked his hands away. "I am not jealous. You're free to date whoever you please."
Harley leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "You're so cute when you get jealous."
My face went hot instantly.
I pushed him off of me and made my way toward the table filled with champagne glasses. I picked up a glass and downed it in one go. Then another and another.
"I don't feel so good."
Amy walked up to me and took the half-full champagne glass away. "What do you expect to happen from drinking all that wine at once?"
I squinted my eyes while looking at Amy. "Ammmy… gimme back… my… wine," I said in a slurred tone, reaching for the champagne glass.
"No," Amy replied in a serious tone.
Before Amy could react, I grabbed another champagne glass from the table, and before I had the chance to drink it, it was yanked out of my hand.
I turned around and saw Harley standing before me. Annoyance flashed in his eyes.
My stomach twisted suddenly. I pressed a hand to my mouth, swallowing hard as a wave of nausea hit me.
"Sophie?"
I didn't answer. I turned quickly and rushed toward the nearest garbage bin, kneeling down before it. My hands gripped the rim of the bin as my body heaved, and then everything came out.
"Hey…" Harley's voice softened behind me. He kneeled down beside me and rubbed my back gently.
I squeezed my eyes shut as another wave of nausea hit me. I gripped the rim tighter and threw up repeatedly.
"I'm fine," I said before throwing up again.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand before standing up. "Ugh… never again. That was brutal."
"I will hold you to that," Harley said before handing me a glass of water.
I took a sip of the water.
Stacy walked over and stood beside Harley with a fake concern on her face. "Aw, Sophie, are you okay?"
I shot her a dirty look, and as if to antagonize me more, she latched onto Harley's arm. "Why are you so mean to me, Sophie?"
"Cut the crap, Stacy," I said. "First of all, you crashed my birthday party, and secondly, stop clinging to Harley like that. You broke up, remember."
Stacy's mouth dropped open in shock, while Harley looked away, trying to stifle his laugh. She let go of his arm and walked past me, bumping into my shoulder.
"This is not over," she whispered before exiting the rooftop.
I exhaled softly before turning my attention back to Harley, amusement etched on his face. I rolled my eyes before walking past him.
"Sophie!" Daisy called out. "You're not escaping that easily. We still have gifts."
I paused mid-step and turned around.
"Now?" I asked.
"Yes, now," Amy said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back toward the centre of the rooftop.
A small table had been set up, stacked with neatly wrapped boxes in different sizes.
"Sit," Daisy ordered, pointing to the chair.
I laughed softly and sat down, shaking my head. "You guys are doing too much."
"Open them," Amy said, excitedly.
I picked up the first gift and carefully unwrapped it. My face lit up. I looked at Amy and said, "You remembered."
"Of course I did," she replied proudly.
One by one, I opened each gift: jewellery, perfume, and a designer purse from Daisy. Each one more thoughtful than the last.
"Okay, okay," Dylan said, stepping forward. "Now for the main event."
My brows furrowed. "Main event?"
Dylan moved to the side, and Harley stepped forward. My heart skipped a beat. He wasn't smiling this time. He looked… serious.
"Sophie," he said, holding out a small envelope. "Happy birthday."
I hesitated for a second before taking it from him. "What is this?"
"Open it."
I slowly slid my finger under the flap and pulled out what was inside. My eyes scanned the paper— once, twice. Then my breath caught.
"Harley…" I whispered. In my hand was a one-week getaway to Paris, all inclusive.
"You said you wanted to go back," he said quietly. "So… we're going."
I looked up at him, completely stunned. "We?"
His gaze held mine. "If you want to."
For a moment, I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. Everything from tonight— the emotions, the chaos, Stacy— it all faded.
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
A slow smile spread across his face. "Good. We leave in two weeks."
As the night slowly came to an end and the rooftop emptied, I found myself standing there with the tickets still in my hand.
The city lights shimmered in the distance, but my thoughts were elsewhere. So much had happened in a single night—more than I was ready to process.
I closed my eyes briefly, taking in a quiet breath. Somewhere between the laughter, the chaos, and the unexpected, something had shifted… and I wasn't sure what it meant yet.