Right Place, Wrong Time

68. After the Fireworks

While Lauren really did think she and Julia had a good thing going with the New Year's brunch tradition, Julia wasn't so willing to give up their early twenties just yet, so they were having a party too. But the solid gold lining was that Joey would be there.

And admittedly, they had a lot of fun. The tiny apartment was way too crowded for Lauren's liking, she kept turning the music down so their neighbours wouldn't complain, and she was pretty sure they weren't going to get their security deposit back when they left this place, whenever that may be. But she always had fun dancing with Joey, the celebrations were spirited enough to distract her from an existential crisis, and being surrounded by her friends in a city she loved made her incredibly grateful for everything she was lucky enough to have in her life.

Her favourite part, though, was sneaking Joey away near midnight. There were too many people for them to be missed, apart from maybe by Julia, and Joey wasn't complaining. She pulled them into the quiet of her bedroom, the sheets on the bed still tangled the way they left them that morning. Lauren went to the window and pulled it open so that they could lean out onto the fire escape. Noise drifted in from a city full of celebrations, and a few premature fireworks  crackled in the sky.

She turned to look at Joey, and he was already gazing at her.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" he said, playing with one of the curls hanging down to her shoulders.

"Yeah," she murmured softly, smiling. She turned her head to kiss his hand.

"Thank you for opening your heart up," he said softly.

"JoJo," she said, capturing his hands in hers.

"I know you were scared, for a really long time. But I've never been happier than I have been this year, with you"

"Me too," she whispered.

He smiled, another round of fireworks reflecting in his teary eyes. Muffled behind the door, they heard the countdown beginning.

"I can't wait for more adventures with you," he said.

She had no idea where they'd be this time next year, a year ahead of them where anything could happen, but she knew it would be with him.

The sound seemed to echo from everywhere: 3, 2, 1!

"Happy new year, Lo."

He kissed her as the sky exploded, her arms around his neck, his fingers at the back of hers. Everything else was distant; her world was here, now, the negative space existing between her and Joey. She hated the idea that this night set the tone for the whole year, but if she had to choose a moment to start the year on then it would be this one. Every time.

Even after they pulled apart, they stayed there a long time, watching the fireworks, Lauren's head leaning on his shoulder. She would have stayed there forever, but she couldn't in good conscience with the party on the other side of the door. They slipped seamlessly back into it, but Lauren craved those quiet moments alone again, and she was relieved when the party finally wound down and they could head to bed.

In the bathroom, their eyes met in the mirror as they brushed their teeth side by side. Joey grinned, toothpaste foam at the corners of his mouth, and she smiled back. She still didn't know what happened when he graduated. He'd always thought he would move to LA, and she'd barely started to feel truly settled in New York. And taking the next step scared her, too. Because they'd found their rhythm now, and if living together changed that, she could still lose him, for all the promises of forever. But she could see a life like this with him. A life of the little domestic moments, getting ready for bed together every night.

His arms held her tight as they fell asleep that night, their own haven as parties went on into the early hours of the morning around them, and she knew it had to be only a matter of time before they could do this every night.

When she woke the next morning, he was still asleep, which gave her the perfect opportunity to get brunch started for when he woke up. She untangled herself from him, put her glasses on, and slipped out of the room to the kitchen.

Lucky for her, Julia had remembered their tradition too.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning," Lauren said. "Coffee?"

"Right here."

Lauren gave her a grateful smile, taking a long sip. "Everything smells so good."

"We have a guest to impress."

"I think he'd be impressed if I brought him a bowl of cereal."

"Yeah, because it's you."

Lauren couldn't help smiling at that, because as much as she could hardly believe it, she knew it was the truth. Joey somehow seemed in awe of everything she did, and she was lucky to have that.

"Speak of the devil," she murmured.

Lauren didn't get the chance to turn around before a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind, lips pressed to her neck. She set the coffee down on the counter and put her arms on his, leaning back into him.

"Hi," she murmured. She turned around in his arms to see his hair sticking up from sleep, his own glasses on. "You're cute as fuck," she said under her breath.

He heard her, and laughed, kissing her forehead. "What's all this?" he asked, gesturing to the spread.

"My favourite part of New Year's," she said, taking him by the hand and leading him over to the table.

He took the seat she pulled out for him. "Food?"

"New Year's Day brunch! Last year I told Julia it should be our tradition." She smiled at him. "Now you're part of it too."

He smiled back at her. "I think it might be my favourite part too."

They sat down to eat together, trading compliments and jokes and wishes for the new year. It made Lauren's heart full, to be spending the morning with two of the people she loved the most, and she knew she would trade any New Year's party for this in a heartbeat. And one day, maybe she and Joey could continue this tradition in a place of their own.