The hoodie stranger

Avery's POV

I stared again at the message displayed on my phone screen.

[Hello Red, I am sorry for not making it to your sons birthday, and I would like to apologize for how our friendship has turned. I really want to make it up to you. Let's meet at your favorite eatery by four.The treat is on me.]

I scoffed. “How unbelievable! Did he think just sending me a text would resolve everything?” I muttered and resolved not to meet him.

The birthday party had been the talk of the estate for a week, or at least what Lawrenta and Anita had told me since I didn't care about keeping up with the gossip and whatnot. I had a great time, and later that night, when we had gone to put Carlos and Lucas to bed,I had given them my own birthday gift—handmade stuffed teddy bears—while Ethan presented a painting of the twins as their birthday gifts. They had both been more than excited about the gifts, and it was almost impossible to put them to sleep that night. My heart warmed with happiness each time I