I glared at him over the candles. “Dude, we’re 25, it’s just a tradition, just let me make the stupid wish.”

Jonah glared right back. “You can’t say it out loud! It won’t come true otherwise!”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Jonah had always been like this, and it had been more endearing when we were kids, I believed the stuff he said. But I had to comply, so I blew out my candles, wishing I didn’t have to wish in my head.

Jonah grinned. “Great!” He served me my cake, icing-covered candles on the side, and we set in to the rest of the non-taboo birthday rituals.

“So what’d you wish for?” Jonah asked, licking icing off his chin. I frowned.

“You just yelled at me for trying to say it out loud, why is it ok now?”

Jonah shrugged. “Feels fine. What’d you wish for?”

I stared at him. “To not have to wish in my head.”

“Hm. Cool.” He took another bite, oblivious to my growing confusion.

So it took 25 years for wishes to come true?

“Yeah.”

“Yeah what?”

Jonah laughed. “Takes 25 years.”

“What- how did you know-“

“I got mind reading,” he said, tapping his temple. “Wish big.”

I stared at him. This was ridiculous.

“3.”

I smacked him on the back of the head. “You dick!”

Jonah choked on his cake from how hard he laughed.