Aurora Lockheart was once the sunshine girl-bright, kind, and full of life. But one night changed everything, leaving her a shadow of who she used to be.
A year later, just as she's beginning to think she'll never find her way back, her ex-best fr...
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"I'm going to die alone with only my teddies for company!"
"No, you're not."
Me, Aiden, Declan, Shannon, Claire, and Katie were all sprawled around Claire's living room, watching the countdown on the TV as the final minutes of the year ticked away. The room was still covered in Christmas decorations—garlands, fairy lights, and the faint scent of pine wafting from the tree in the corner. I was lying under that very tree, on my back in my ridiculously comfortable but undeniably silly playboy bunny pajamas, with a half-deflated party streamer hanging out of my mouth.
"Yes, I am, Aiden," I declared dramatically, blowing a sigh up at the twinkling branches above. "I'm already a crazy lady," I moaned, reaching up to scratch Cherub, who was nestled comfortably on my chest, purring like I was the best mattress she'd ever laid on. "At least one of us is content. It was cute when I had a partner in crime," I sighed, patting him gently. "Now it's just...ugh."
"Does that not hurt?" Shan asked, half-watching me and half-concentrating on a puzzle she'd started on the floor.
"Oh, indeed it does hurt, Shan," I said solemnly, staring down at my furry friend. "In fact, I don't think I remember what it feels like to not have a pain in my heart."
"Not your heart, Aurora," Katie snorted, pointing. "Those kittens are literally tearing up your hair. You look like Medusa over there."
I grimaced, reaching up to where my three new kittens—Tom, Dick, and Harry—were gleefully batting at strands of my hair like it was a set of fresh string toys.
"They're going through a challenging time," I said with mock sadness, watching the kittens continue their playful assault. "They miss their father. You'd think they'd miss me, but no, Gibsie's the disciplinarian with these troublemakers," I added, looking to Claire. "Isn't that right?"
Claire gave a quick nod of confirmation before Shannon's phone buzzed on the couch arm. She snatched it up instantly, a mischievous smile blooming across her face.
"Let me guess," I groaned, throwing an arm over my eyes. "It's Johnny with a long, mushy, smoochy New Year's text for his 'little river.'"
"Actually...yes." Shannon grinned, a light blush coloring her cheeks.
"Ugh, fuck my life, Cherub," I muttered into the fur of the one cat who wasn't trying to ruin my hair. "Promise me you'll never leave me."
"Claire?"
"Hm?" Claire responded, still distracted.
"It's like three minutes to midnight," Shannon said, an unmistakable glint of excitement in her eyes. "Do you think we'll be able to see the fireworks from your road?"
"Probably." Claire gave a nonchalant shrug, still focused on her puzzle.
"Oh, good." Shannon stuffed her phone into the pocket of her robe, then bounced to her feet, far too cheerful for my current existential crisis. "Come on, let's go outside and watch."
