Page 104 of Fighting

The whole group peers around the room, eyeing the chaos we’ve created, and laughs. We take turns changing into shimmery new year’s dresses in the bathroom and the bedrooms before taking a group selfie.

Delia serves as photographer, of course, having the longest arms.

The guys roll up in a pair of oversized SUVs and step out, all of them dressed in dapper suits and ties.

Millie grabs a box from the front door, and goes from person to person, handing over corsages and boutonnieres.

I chuckle to myself. It truly is like going to prom again.

Mateo slips a gorgeous oversized purple dahlia bloom onto my wrist before kissing my cheek. “I got us a room at the Honeybee Inn tonight, since my sister is back home,” he says in my ear.

“Mmm. Why don’t we just skip the party and go there now?” I tease a finger over his dress shirt.

“I think they’d notice if the primary donor and new Executive Director didn’t attend.” He kisses the tip of my nose and pulls back with a grin.

Lily pins a fiery tiger lily onto River’s lapel, and then Delia and Millie, descend on Seth trying to pin a boutonniere to his jacket. Once they do, they slip blooms onto their own wrists, Shae too, and we pile into the SUVs.

Five minutes later, we pull up to the square. The energy at the party going on at the dance studio and library is buzzing.

Lily’s studio is open for partygoers to dance. Outside the library, folks mingle beneath the twinkle lights, not straying too far from the outdoor heaters. It’s beautiful, the way this town has come together. These people and this man are mine. There’s no point fighting the swell of my heart, the love I’m filled with cannot be dulled. We spend the evening chatting and drinking and dancing.

As we get closer to midnight, during a slow song, Mateo leans into me. “What do you want to accomplish next year, gorgeous?”

“I think next year I want to get to love you for all three hundred and sixty-five days.” I smile at him.

“I love you, mischievous girl. Have for a while. I’m glad you caught up.” He winks, and when he smiles, that dimple pops, doing me in like it always does. As my knees weaken slightly and he pulls me closer, his lips are on my cheek, my chin, and finally my lips.

“What else, goal-getter?” he asks, his tone oozing with pride.

The crowd begins to count down and we enter the new year laughing, kissing, and holding each other.

From now on, I want every year to begin just like this.

epilogue

Mateo

One Year Later

Microphone in hand,I stand at the front of the large room in the community center and survey the crowd, finding my gorgeous girlfriend, my sister and brother-in-law, and my friends—not just her friends, but mine—and a sense of accomplishment, of purpose, washes over me. This is home, and I’m so happy to be back here.

“Good evening, folks!” I finally say. “Thank you so much for giving me a moment of your time. I want to start off by thanking the generous donors who have made this dream a reality. The Peacock Springs Community Center is the product of the hard work and collaboration of many. Special thanks goes out to Christina Salvatore and her fiancé, Tom Sinicola, for rounding up some of the best construction teams in the tri-state area.”

The crowd erupts into applause.

“Speaking of the Salvatores,” I continue. “If you enjoyed tonight’s appetizers, please be sure to thank Carmine and the team at the butchery. They are offering ten percent off selectitems for anyone who shows a ticket from tonight’s event at checkout through the end of January.

“Our drinks came courtesy of the team at The Featherweight, be sure to thank River and Lily when you get a moment. Our head bartender, Kyle, created tonight’s New Year’s punch himself.” I hold up my glass of the delicious concoction. “Please enjoy responsibly. If you need help getting home, members of the high school student council are here to drive or walk you home. Do not get hurt. Liam is off duty tonight.”

The guys from the fire department erupt in a chorus of boos for that joke.

“Last, I want to thank the executive director and head clinician of the facility. You may know this local celebrity for her relationship advice podcast, but I simply get to call her mine. Nessa, can you please join me up here?”

The room explodes into a hearty round of applause as she approaches, her eyes narrowed on me.

Fuck, I love when she’s feisty like this.

“Nessa,” I say when she’s at my side. “Eighteen months ago, you and I played a game of truth or drink and had a fair amount of tequila. Tonight, I have only one question for you, though I have two choices of shot glass. The one you get will be based on your answer.”

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