After long consideration, I decided on a pair of black jeans and a simple copper brown top that looked relatively new. At least when I looked at myself in the mirror, I knew that it must have been a very long time since I had worn something so tight.

The top emphasized my rather less existing breasts, as well as my waist, and the neckline was also not exactly covering. Actually, it looked quite sexy in combination with the skintight jeans. But God, it was damn tight. 

How Larissa could always stand it in her skintight outfits?

The sign was still hanging on the side and when I took a look at it, I remembered again. Of course... Larissa. She had gifted me that top a year ago.

I sighed.

But why did I complain? I was here in our own four walls and didn’t need to hide from anyone, and if we were really leaving, I could still put on a blouse.

I cut the tag off, took one last examining look in the mirror, and then left the room.

Startled, I stopped on the last step of the stairs.

“Mr. Bardot...?” it slipped out of me barely audibly and, above all, in complete surprise.

“Happy 18th birthday, Bayla,” he said kindly, coming up to shake my hand. In the other, he held a small package wrapped in dark blue paper, which he finally pressed into my hand.

“Here, I don’t know what you like, but your mother said you are into reading.”

“Thanks, you shouldn’t have...” I stuttered in embarrassment, accepting the package slightly ashamed. 

I turned toward Mum to confront her with scathing looks, but she had disappeared. I looked around further and spotted her next to the stove, where she was lighting candles on a cake. Leaning against the kitchen counter, next to her was Julian, who seemed to be eyeing me. 

Everything in me instantly stiffened. 

What the hell was he doing here again?

I immediately regretted that I had put on this top and crossed my arms in front of my chest. Then I strode to Mum in the kitchen and showed her with my looks how excited I was.

Julian seemed to noticed and grinned at me gleefully. I looked back without sympathy. 

Couldn’t he just leave again, please?

“Do you want a coffee, Graham? Or you, Julian?” my mother asked, addressing Mr. Bardot and the annoying neighbor guy.

“No, thanks. We already had breakfast at home,” Julian’s father replied, while Julian himself was still grinning at me silently.

His gaze made me uncomfortable, not because he wasn’t watching me the way guys usually did, but because his gaze was so damn intense.

I put the package on the counter next to the pie.

It had to be blueberry pie because the delicious smell made my mouth water. I loved blueberries more than anything, and normally I would have jumped at the pie right away. But we had guests, and I didn’t want to seem as greedy in front of them as I actually was.

What Julian thought, I didn’t care so much.

“Where should we start?” 

Mr. Bardot looked questioningly at my mother, who pulled a knife out of the silverware box and placed it next to the cake.

“Wait, let me think for a minute...” she began, deciding to cut the cake. “I’d say the garden fence looks the worst, doesn’t it?”

“You’re the boss,” Mr. Bardot quipped before nodding to me and turning to slurp through the living room to the front door. Julian also finally turned away from me and followed him through the door, which closed squeakily behind them both.

“You’re the boss?” I snorted, grinning. “May I know what that was all about?”

Mum rolled her eyes with red cheeks.

“Keep your voice down. The walls here have ears.”

Questioningly, I looked at the walls as if they really did have ears before realizing how absurd her words sounded.

“No, seriously.”

Why had she invited Mr. Bardot and his cocky son?

“Graham and Julian are helping us fix up the house.”

“Couldn’t we have done it ourselves?” I asked, realizing in the same second that maybe we could really use some help.

“Definitely not. Those two are a lifesaver for me, really, and I hope the house looks livable again soon after that.”

Oh great, Julian would probably be hanging around here more often from now on. It was bad enough that we went to the same university. Now, he was also laying siege to the house.

It was possible that I overreacted a bit, and Julian just wanted to be nice. But he was definitely too pushy toward me for that. Even if it was almost only a matter of glances. I wouldn’t buy that he was doing this out of a good intention. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who helped neighbors because he was friendly. There had to be something in it for him.

“Come here, sweetheart. The wax will drip on your cake if you don’t hurry.”

“Then why did you put it on?” 

Grinning, I looked at her.

Mum indignantly slapped me with the wipe.

“Because it’s your birthday. Now, will you stop grumbling?” 

She put the cake she had just picked up on the large kitchen counter.

“I’m not grumbling at all.” 

Her gaze lingered on my top.

“Oh, you’re all dressed up today. I’ve never seen that before.”

“It’s from Larissa,” I waved it off, ignoring her teasing tone.

“From Larissa...” it came back significantly. “No wonder. She really wasn’t a good influence on you.”