Page 98 of Ours to Keep

She’s off the sofa like her arse is on fire. It’s the first time I’ve seen that youthful spark enter her gaze.

“This is going to be epic,” she says, clapping her hands together.

“Hmm, is there something I don’t know about?” I ask, casting my gaze on Elliot, his warm brown eyes giving nothing away.

Mia tugs on my wrist. “Come on, I’ll even do your makeup.”

Her eagerness and excitement at the prospect are infectious, and if it means seeing that look on her face, who am I to resist?

She pauses in front of the closed door when we get to my room.

“After you.”

Okay, something is definitely going on. I know I didn’t close my bedroom door.

Pushing it open, I come up short because sitting up against the headboard with a champagne flute in her hand is no other than Avery.

“Surprise,” she squeals, jumping up and rushing at me and pulling me in for a hug.

“What? How? When did you get here?”

She pulls back laughing and hands me the glass.

“About half an hour ago. They snuck me in while you were in the toilet. Who else would I want to be with to see in the New Year?”

She turns and reaches for two more glasses, and I raise my eyebrow when she passes one to Mia.

“Easy, mumma bear, that one is non-alcoholic, obviously,” she says, pointing to the two open bottles poking out of the ice bucket.

We clink our glasses, and Avery lounges on the bed, patting the space beside her.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, glancing at Mia. “You knew?”

She smiles and sits on the other side of the bed. “Of course, who do you think was the mastermind behind it?”

“Well, there’s no other people I’d rather spend it with, either.”

We spend the next few hours listening to music, laughing and joking about mundane things. I allow Mia to make me over and make me over she does.

“Wow,” I say, looking at my reflection. “This is amazing, Mia, truly.”

“Thank you,” she replies, adding the finishing touches to my hair. “I figure the more I practice, the better my chances of becoming an MUA when I finish school.”

“Speaking of school,” I say, glancing back at her reflection. “Did you want to return to Willowmount Abbey in the new term?”

She pauses, her eyes finding mine. “What do you mean?”

I turn to face her fully. “I mean, if you’d rather be home more, we can look at transferring you to a private school instead.”

Mia glances over to Avery, who is just finishing curling her hair, before looking back at me.

“I don’t know,” she replies. “I love my friends, and the teachers aren’t so bad,” she admits.

I nod in understanding. “You don’t have to leave. I’m happy for you to stay. But I also want you to know there are other options, too.”

“I’ll think about it, thank you.”

I reach for her hand and squeeze it.

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