Page 146 of Light My Fire Three Times
“Hell yeah,” Leo pipes up. “This is it, Liv. The end of his game. And the best part? He’ll never get his hands on you again.”
The truck lurches as Jesse shifts gears, the excitement building. The closer we get to town, the more I can feel the buzz in the air, and it’s not just from the excitement of us finally winning.
The whole town knows what’s been going on. Everyone’s been rallying behind Olivia. Supporting her, giving her the strength she needed to fight back.
I catch Olivia’s gaze, and there’s a new confidence in her expression. She’s still Olivia, but there’s a fire in her now that she didn’t have before. Something that says she’s taking her life back.
“I guess I’m not the only one starting fresh this year,” she says, her voice full of that quiet strength.
“Nope,” I agree, my grin spreading. “This is a fresh start for all of us. And you know what that means…” I pause dramatically. “Time to ring in the New Year with a damn party.”
Jesse nods enthusiastically, his fingers tapping against the wheel. “You bet your ass. The whole town’s celebrating tonight. You know how it goes. Bonfire, music, everyone making good memories for once.”
“We’ve earned it,” Leo adds. “Let’s kick off the year the right way. Screw all the stress. Screw the lies. Tonight’s about having fun and looking forward.”
The truck rolls into town, and the first thing I see is the big bonfire burning in the park. People are already gathered around, drinks in hand, the flames casting a golden glow on their faces.
The entire place is alive with the energy of people ready to let go of everything bad from the previous year.
We pull into a spot, and Jesse throws the truck into park. I’m already grabbing my jacket, the buzz of anticipation crackling through me.
“Alright, let’s do this,” Olivia says, adjusting her coat and fixing her hair, that confident grin back on her face. “No more looking back. Let’s start this year off right.”
I open the door and step into the night, the cold air instantly sharp against my skin. I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything lift a little more with each step.
“Happy New Year, Coyote Glen,” I say, throwing my arm around Leo’s shoulders as we head into the crowd. “Here’s to new beginnings.”
The crowd’s buzzing with excitement, the music thumping louder, and I can feel the energy building in my chest. Tonight’s going to be epic.
“Let’s make it a night to remember,” Jesse says, full of determination.
I glance at Olivia as we approach the fire, her eyes shining with a kind of peace I haven’t seen before. She’s here. She’s free.
“Yeah,” I say, raising my voice so she can hear me over the noise. “Let’s make this a year to remember.”
The moment is full of light, sound, and the promise of freedom. The fireworks begin, exploding in colors above us, and the entire town comes together in one collective cheer.
People hug, laugh, and embrace as if we’re all one. And for a moment, the whole world is cheering for Olivia’s new chapter… and for ours.
As we get closer to the bonfire, I see Ivy waving from across the crowd. She rushes over and pulls Olivia into a tight hug, the two women laughing together as the rest of us follow.
It’s a reunion of sorts. People from all over town are stopping us to congratulate Olivia, high-fiving us, and telling her how proud they are of her.
“Liv!” Ivy says, hugging her again. “I can’t believe it. You did it. You’re free!”
Olivia laughs, squeezing her back. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you. You’ve all been there for me.”
As we stand there, the heat from the bonfire brushing against our skin, the buzz of laughter and music fills the air, wrapping around us as a warm blanket.
People are dancing, chatting, and enjoying the night. I glance around, noticing the curious glances from some of the townsfolk, the way they look at us, then at each other, then back at us.
Their heads tilt slightly, eyes narrowing in on Olivia and us, as if they’re piecing something together.
I see it in the way Bill, who’s always been quick to gossip, raises an eyebrow at us, exchanging a few whispered words with Mayor Hartwell.
The mayor’s lips curl into a smile, but there’s something in his gaze that lingers on our group.
Dottie, standing nearby, nudges Lani, and they share a look, the same one I’ve seen a hundred times before when a rumor’s about to spread. The whispers start slow but soon grow louder.
