Greer Smith had made it yet another, something she could celebrate, unlike last week’s gala, which was in celebration of her father's company doing an outreach program that used outside volunteers. Greer Smith had made it to see another year, something her teenage self probably doubted would ever happen. When you are an angsty teenager who thinks the world is out to get you, destined to work at your father’s multi-billion dollar company so you can keep your lifestyle. It makes sense all the sense the relief that you made it another year, somewhat sane at that. 

There weren’t many people who remembered this day. That number of people could fit in her king-size bed, and two of them had help from one of them. Cecelia, her closest friend, had yet to forget a birthday of Greer’s. Even when she was eight months pregnant, Cecelia had driven to her house with a cookie cake and sang her happy birthday. Cecelia made sure her fiancê Benny, remembered Greer’s birthday, and that influence went onto their son and Greer’s godson William. Since he was two years old, he had given his godmother a drawing of them and their best friend, Dougie. Dougie was the final person who always remembered her birthday. He could be halfway across the world about to go on stage to perform in front of thousands of people with his band McFly, but he would call her and sing her a happy birthday. 

It was no surprise when Greer first woke to her friend Cecelia sitting cross-legged at the end of her bed, black-out curtains half drawn up, letting in the sun. On top of Cecelia’s head was a party hat stolen from one of Tom’s kid birthday parties, and her cell phone in hand. Greer’s laugh got her friend’s attention making Cecelia drop her phone as she leaned forward to pull the artist in for a hug, which Greer eagerly returned. 

“Happy Birthday, Greer, another year here, another year smarter, another year grander, another year more beautiful, and another year with us.” Cecelia dramatically kissed Greer on the cheek as she got up from the bed to open the bedroom door where William stood holding Salem, Greer’s black kitten, a gift from Dougie. The kitten jumped from the toddler’s arms, reaching for its owners. Reaching out, Greer grabbed Salem, giving him kisses and pets, taking all the love she could get as William climbed into her lap. To Greer, this was the perfect start to her birthday. 

A knock on the bedroom door pulled Greer from her thoughts. He is standing in the doorway of her room, Benny Miller, her godson’s father, alongside her best friend, Dougie. Dougie was holding a tray of cupcakes with lit candles atop them. Greer covered her face in William’s hair out of embarrassment as the group started to sing Happy Birthday off-key to her, most of them trying to get her to laugh. 

“Happy Birthday to you, dearling Greer!” Dougie placed his hand on Greer’s shoulder as Benny lifted his son from his godmother's lap. Then, holding the plate of cupcakes out in front of the birthday heiress, Dougie nudged her encouraging her to open her eyes or at least to blow out the dwindling candles before her. 

Greer took a deep breath as the butterflies took hold. Then, making the same wish she made every time she saw 11:11 on the clocks in her house, Greer blew the candles out on her cupcakes with the help of William. Cecelia, William, and Dougie cheered for Greer, making her blush more as she grabbed a cupcake off the plate and leaned back against her headboard, pulling Dougie with her.  

Cecelia took the plate from Dougie, ensuring everyone got one before sitting on the lounge chair at the end of the bed with her fiancé and son. 

“What did you wish for, Smith?” Benny enquired as he started to lick the frosting from the top of his cupcake. Dougie looked at Greer, who was currently trying to fight off Salem, who was very interested in the cupcake. 

“That’s for me and the universe to see if it’s in the cards. If I tell you guys it can’t come true, it’s common law.” Greer shrugged as she nudged Salem to the other side of the bed. The kitten looked back quickly, giving it back to her. Greer just rolled her eyes. 

“Not even a little bit of a hint, Gee-Gee?” William climbed up on the bed, leaving frosting handprints in his wake for the poor housekeeper to clean up later in the afternoon. Dougie grabbed the boy around the waist and pulled him into his lap, tickling the little boy and making him giggle. 

“You can’t spoil a wish, Will. If you do, they can’t come true. So what have your parents been teaching you, kid?” Dougie lifted the kid upright and hugged him. 

“Does this mean Buzz’s wish can’t come true because he told his parents he wished for a longboard for Christmas on his birthday?” Will looked up at Dougie as Greer looked at him with her eyebrow raised. 

“Would you look at the time? Will, you have swimming lessons in 45 minutes, and you can’t be late again.” Cecelia jumped from her spot on the lounge, nudging Benny with her hand. “Kiss Aunt Gee-Gee goodbye, and hug Uncle Dougie goodbye.” Cecelia made her way over to the side of the bed and kissed her friend’s forehead. 

“Happy Birthday, Greer. I’m so lucky to have had you as my roommate all those years ago. I don’t know what this family would ever do without you. See you tomorrow night for your birthday dinner. Call me if you need me.” Cecelia let go of Greer, who wiped a stray tear, secretly not wanting to let her friend know she had been made emotional by her words quite yet. 

William threw himself across his godparent’s lap, putting both arms on Greer and Dougie. 

“Thank you for the cupcakes, Uncle Dougie. They were good. Happy Birthday, Aunt Gee Gee. I love you so much.” Greer smiled as she leaned down, kissed William on the crown, and ran her fingers through his hair. 

Benny picked up his son and hugged Greer. 

“Happy Birthday, Greer. Thanks for being a fantastic godmother to our kid and just as good of a friend to Cecelia. They don’t make friends like they used to. So I’m trying to say we are lucky to have you in our family.” Benny patted Greer on the shoulder, grabbing Cecelia’s purse left on the floor by the lounge, leaving Dougie and Greer alone.

There wasn’t much Greer needed when she was an heiress to a multi-billion dollar company. Dougie had been bugging her for weeks about what she wanted for her birthday. She gave her the standardized answer she gave him every year, “just another year of your genuine friendship.” Dougie would send laughing emojis or ask her to be serious. What did she want? 

Greer couldn’t tell Dougie what she wanted because what she wanted could probably end their friendship for good if it wasn’t something they both enjoyed. So she would be okay with just another year of having Dougie as her best friend. 

Dougie and Greer managed to finish the plate of cupcakes. Dougie ate most of them before they entered the living room, where candles warmed the room, and tons of cushions were on the floor with blankets facing Greer’s big screen TV. 

“Dougie, what is this?” Greer looked at the bassist.

“You weren’t giving me any hints about what you wanted for your birthday, so I asked Giovanna and Cecelia. They said you would wish to spend a day inside, with no one to bother you. So I will give you just that and a marathon of The Last of Us because you have been hounding me to watch it.” Dougie led Greer to the cushions laid out, where she found popcorn set out along with various of her favorite candies next to her favorite living room blanket. If her heart wasn’t already beating fast, it almost felt like it could come out of her chest. 

“Benny helped me set up the cushions, but I lit all the candles, made sure they were from that one store that Johnny Depp gets them, the one you dragged me to a few years ago. The lady said we should get a whole day's marathon out of them. No need to trim the wicks or anything.” Greer got comfortable as Dougie continued to ramble about the heavenly-smelling candles he had sprinkled throughout the surfaces of her living room. 

At that moment, Greer didn’t care about the burning candles though they probably cost a fortune. She didn’t want to watch Joel Miller and Ellie Williams risk their lives to save the world from mushrooms. Though it was one of her favorite shows and video games, she would much rather spend it with Dougie and her feelings off her chest. 

“Dougie, I like you, and I’ve liked you for a long time, and I’m not going to keep these feelings to myself anymore.” At some point during her little speech, Greer's hands had found their way into Dougie’s while her eyes had pinched shut in nervousness. 

Dougie laughed as he tugged on Greer’s hands, pulling her closer to him, his grip on her hands getting tighter. 

“Greer, you did what I couldn’t do and admitted you liked me. Would I have gone out of my way to get you all these candles from that bloody store if I didn't want you? If I didn’t have it bad for you, would I take the time to answer your text messages at three in the morning? If I didn’t like you, Greer Smith, would I put up with your obnoxious friends from boarding school that even you admit you can barely stand? No. I want you, Greer Smith, and I have liked you for a long time. I just haven’t had the guts to tell you.” Dougie laughed at Greer’s shocked face as he let go of her hands to pull her face in to kiss her softly on the lips. 

Greer had wished on every birthday candle for the past three years for something more with Dougie. More alone time, more outings together, more signs that he loved her the way she loved him. Just as she wished for him to kiss her, just like she expected, his kiss took her breath away. 

“If I had known all it would take was me setting all this up to have you telling me you like me, I would have brought the candle store out sooner.” Dougie joked. Greer blushed as she leaned forward with her head on his chest. 

“It took me blowing out the candles on my cupcakes and all the candies. The candles are a nice touch, though.” Greer laughed as Dougie tickled her side. 

“Dougie, I didn’t say anything sooner because I thought you only saw me as one of your best friends, an heiress, someone you could take with you places when you didn’t want to be alone.” Greer felt the weight she had been carrying lifted off her chest while Dougie felt his heart breaking slightly. 

“Greer, you are more than just an heiress or someone I show off at parties.” Dougie brushed a piece of Greer’s hair behind her ear. “To me, you are someone I can tell my deepest darkest secrets to, and I know I will not get judged for them unless it’s for liking KitKat’s over Cadbury. You’re someone I can spend hours in a silent room with, and it is not awkward. I could walk around art galleries with you. Nothing matches your artistic abilities. Greer, you are one of a kind, and I would want no one but you.” professed Dougie as he traced Greer’s dimple with his thumb. 

“You will always be more than what those stupid tabloids say, and the thoughts in your head may want you to believe. Hopefully, you will be my girl Greer Smith. And if anybody wants to label you more than fantastic, they must take it up with me.” Greer leaned forward and kissed Dougie intensely with admiration.

No one in Greer’s life had taken the time to speak highly of her and make her feel good about herself. She hadn’t felt this good since Cecelia told her she was the Godmother of William like someone truly admired her for caring for their child, but this time someone truly admired her for her. 

“Yes, Dougie Poynter, I shall be your lady. With that being said and done, I want to cuddle with you, eat some chocolate, and watch grumpy Joel Miller with my boyfriend.” Greer cuddled into Dougie’s side, pushing him to lean back against the bottom of her couch. Boyfriend Dougie liked the sound as he passed Greer the remote and some Cadbury. Dougie and Greer, we're meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend.