That's Not a NO

Chapter 11: Can I try to Keep you Close?

Chapter 11: Can I try to keep You close?

The argument started at 8:03 a.m. on a Thursday, in the HR break room where schemes usually bloomed.

"She's going to kill us," Josh said, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Crystal and Kelly huddle over a notepad.

"Correction," Crystal replied, scribbling something furiously. "She's going to pretend she doesn't care, roll her eyes, and then probably cry in a bathroom five hours later when no one's looking."

Kelly nodded. "Which means it's our duty—as the semi-functioning adults in her life—to make her birthday not suck."

Josh sighed. "She hates her birthday. Besides, she literally vanishes to only god knows where during Saturdays."

"Yes, that's exactly why this year we're beating her at her game."

"I still say this is a bad idea."

"And I still say you're a coward," Crystal retorted sweetly.

The door opened just as Josh muttered something about HR violations.

Ash walked in, looking far too put-together for someone who hadn't had coffee yet. "Whose birthday are we talking about?"

Kelly turned with a grin. "Elise. It's this Saturday."

Ash paused. Then: "She ghosts everybody on Saturdays."

"That's exactly what I said," Josh mumbled.

Crystal, undeterred, pointed her pen at Ash. "Got any brilliant ideas, Mr. Santiago?"

Ash leaned against the counter and considered it. "Where does she go?"

Josh and Kelly shared a glance.

"No idea."

But Ash knew. Of course he did.

Saturday morning arrived without fanfare. Elise threw on her most battered sneakers, shoved her hair into a bun, and grabbed her canvas tote bag. It was still early, the city streets quiet as she boarded the train toward Riverside.

She liked this part of her week. It was predictable. Uncomplicated. Just her and the kids at the orphanage who didn't care if she dressed like a tired grad student or that she never stayed long enough for lunch. They called her Miss Brave. They fought to hold her hand. They gave her something to feel needed for.

When she reached the familiar red brick building, she expected the usual chaos.

But something was off.

The hallway was too quiet.

She stepped in cautiously. No kids charging toward her. No Mrs. Tilda shouting from the office.

"Hello?" Elise called out.

And then—

The doors to the playroom swung open.

"SURPRISE!"

Elise froze.

The room exploded in color. Balloons, streamers, glitter banners that spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS BRAVE! The kids were wearing paper crowns. There was music—off-key and blaring—and a massive chocolate cake decorated with gummy bears.

Standing in the middle of it all: Kelly in a tiara, Josh holding two bags of confetti he looked like he deeply regretted agreeing to, Crystal filming the whole thing, and Ash.

Ash, who was wearing a party hat like it belonged on a runway.

Elise blinked. "What the—"

A blur of movement rushed her. The kids tackled her in a hug pile.