#Chapter 15- Birthday

I didn’t need Kingston’s over-the-top apology gift, but Riley’s birthday was on the line. And between the toy’s designer, the five brand reps, and a flurry of assistants, I was presented with a plethora of options to choose from. Finally, after much thinking, I picked something I knew Riley would love: a newly released LEGO werewolf transformation set. The kind that hadn’t even hit stores yet. The designer said it was “experimental” and “mystical.” LEGOs were some of Riley’s favorite toys, and I knew he would appreciate it no matter how rare and cutting-edge it was. Plus, it came with glow-in-the-dark claws, so I was sold. As I was about to leave, Kingston glanced up and waved a hand toward a case near the window. “You should take a watch too,” he said, like he was offering me a paper clip. “For… the inconvenience.” “Inconvenience?” I blinked. “Your cake. And your son’s birthday. That’s not a small thing.” That—as well as the watch—caught me off guard. The watch was a