“Argh, you’re such a buzzkill, you know that?” I stomp my foot and storm away from my brothers.
“Hey, princess, what’s wrong?” My dad stops me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. His lips press against my temple, and I lean into him.
“Your sons are assholes.” I groan.
My dad chuckles. “Why? What’d they do now?”
“They’re hovering and it’s making it impossible for me to sneak a glass of champagne,” I tell him, batting my eyes and hoping he takes pity on me.
“Good. That’s what they’re supposed to be doing, princess. You don’t need alcohol,” Dad says.
I eye the crystal glass of amber liquid in his hand. “Really, then why do you have it so much?”
“Because I’m not eighteen, baby girl.” He smiles and kisses my head again. “Are you having fun? Your mother went to a lot of effort planning this party for you.”
“It’s amazing.” I smile, because I’m not an ungrateful brat. I know how hard my mother worked on this party.
All of my friends from school are here, and all of our extended family. It really is a great party. It’s being held in the ballroom of one of my dad’s casinos. No expense spared.
“There she is, my little princesa.” Tío E’s voice booms over the music as he makes his way towards me with his arms wide open.
“Fucking hell, I was hoping his invite got lost in the mail,” my dad grumbles under his breath.
I laugh. “No you weren’t,” I tell him right before I throw myself at my uncle. “Tío E, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“As if anything could keep me from celebrating you becoming an adult,” he says.
“Thank you.”
“Happy birthday, sweetheart. You look so grown up.” My Aunt Evie wipes at the corner of her eye.
“Thank you.” I stand a little taller at my aunt’s praise. “Now, if you could let my brothers know that I’m grown and they don’t need to hover over me like hawks, that would be great.”
“Yeah, they’re never going to stop doing that. Sorry.” My aunt pulls me into her arms.
“This is for you. Happy birthday.” Tío E hands me an envelope.
“I really fucking hope that’s an appropriate gift for an eighteen-year-old, E,” my dad grunts.
“When have I ever given her anything that’s not appropriate?” Tío E raises a brow.
My uncle is known for his over-the-top gifts. For my tenth birthday, he gifted me an entire ranch in Texas, because I was obsessed with horses. I still own that ranch, but my dad made arrangements for the place to be managed. We’ve been there on vacation.
“You didn’t need to get me anything. Thank you.” I look at my uncle and aunt as I tear into the envelope and pull out the papers.
“It’s the deed to an apartment just off campus. I heard you were planning to live in the dorms. Now you don’t have to,” Tío E says. “The building is secure.”
I blink at him, forcing myself to smile. I really wanted to live on campus. “Thank you. This is… a lot.”
“You’re welcome, princesa,” Tío E says before he drags my dad away to the bar. “Louie, I need a drink.”
“I’m going to hunt down your mom. You okay?” Aunt Evie asks me.
“Mhmm, I’m good,” I tell her.
Once I’m alone, I find a spot in the corner of the ballroom and look around. This is a really good party. My mom doesn’t do anything by halves. When no one is watching, I swipe a glass of champagne from the passing waiter and down it as fast as I can.
Well, that was easy.I do this another four times before I start feeling dizzy. I probably should have eaten something.