SEEKING 7 | boys of tommen

t o m o r r o w

Feeling like Aurora and I were somewhat back on track, I made a silent vow to ensure she had the best night possible. After everything that had gone down, maybe—if the stars aligned—I could charm her enough to earn some forgiveness for my Dee-scretions.My strategy? Dance like my life depended on it, and keep her smiling.

The moment we stepped into the ballroom, I caught Aurora's hand and led her straight to the dance floor. The live band had just launched into The Beatles' "Twist and Shout," and I wasn't about to waste time worrying about hanging with the lads. Tonight, my mission was clear: make my girlfriend happy.

I'd seen the surprise in her eyes earlier when I finally showed up, and worse, I'd seen the streaks of dried tears on her cheeks. It hurt, knowing she was so prepared for me to let her down. Not tonight, I thought. Not on my watch.

Now, anyone from Ballylaggin could tell you that I, Gibsie Gibson , was hands down the best male dancer in a ten-mile radius. But dancing is a team sport, and Aurora—my brunette bombshell—was the secret weapon that made me look even better. She had this way of putting me back together, of filling the cracks in me with her laughter, her presence. She healed me in ways I didn't fully understand.

And I was only ever whole for her.

When Aurora's best friend Katie eventually swooped in to steal her away, I graciously handed her over. But I stayed on the dance floor, continuing to bop around to the band, content to entertain myself. Honestly, my moves were wasted on anyone else.

As the band transitioned to a haunting cover of Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," I decided it was time for a different sort of break. A shot break.

I spotted Aurora and Katie in the corner, half-dancing, half-hugging to the slow, emotional song. Squeezing past them, I made my way toward the changing rooms, knowing the lads would be there. Sure enough, the moment I stepped inside, I was met with cheers and a bottle of tequila.

"Come to me, you beautiful devil," I muttered, lifting the bottle and taking a long gulp. It burned going down, but I managed to swallow a surprising amount. One of my many talents, apparently.

Johnny clapped a hand on my shoulder when I sat next to him on the bench. "Well, if it isn't mister nine lives himself. I don't know how you managed to put that smile on Aurora's face, but keep it up, lad."

"It's a gift," I replied, taking another swig. "Though I'm still not over the fact they canceled the ski trip for this poxy dance. What a rip-off."

"Agreed," Johnny nodded, taking the bottle from me. "But the girls seem to love it, so I guess it's a win in their books."

Hughie, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly rose to his feet. "We better get back out there before they come looking for us."

"We?" I raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure Katie and Aurora are out there dancing like a married couple, so I think I'm off the hook."

Hughie shifted awkwardly. "I didn't come with Katie."

Johnny looked confused. "Then who did you come with?"

He hesitated before answering. "Lizzie asked me."

Johnny and I exchanged bewildered looks. "Lizzie?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around it. "And you said yes?"

"Yeah," Hughie replied, his tone steady. "And before you say anything, no, it's not up for discussion. It's a long story."

Johnny and I shared a glance, but we let it drop. "Fair enough," I muttered, tipping back the tequila. "It's your funeral, mate."

Hughie grunted, clearly not wanting to elaborate, and made for the door. I took one last swig of tequila before deciding it was time to head back out myself. As much as I loved the lads, tonight wasn't about bro time. It was about keeping Aurora smiling, making sure we could steal a few more happy moments before the weight of everything we'd been through came crashing back down.

Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow, we'd face the storm. But tonight, I'd hold onto her as long as she'd let me.