#essentialis08.

For Sadie’s birthday, Juno has gotten... well, first of all, a goddamn haircut. He hopes it isn’t too jarring when he greets her at their favorite joint in Seattle, short-and-curly-haired, but he can’t lie to himself and say that he’s not hoping for something. ( A sigh of relief, maybe. )

He says hello with a clean-shaven kiss and leads her right to the table he’s reserved.

         “Happy birthday,” he says, a big smile trying desperately to break through. Poor sucker has to kiss her ( not that kissing her is, by any means, a chore ) to keep it under wraps. “Dinner or gift first? It’s your big day. You call the shots.”