Page 164 of Come Back to Me

This is the best Thanksgiving ever.

now

GRAYSON

NEW YEAR’S EVE

How the hell has this year gone by so damn fast? I swear the New Year’s Eve ball for this year was dropped at midnight last night. Now, we’re about to drop the ball again for a different year.

A new beginning.

I stopped creating resolutions for each year because I ultimately end up abandoning them. It’s not because I choose to. I simply forget about them as time goes on.

This year is going to be an awesome year because I’ll be entering my senior year at Sunset Cove University and finishing up my sport business management bachelor’s degree along with my nutrition minor.

I’ll be heading into my final season as captain of the SCU Stingrays basketball team, which I’m in denial about. I remember when I joined the team my freshman year.

Along with my education and extracurriculars, I’ve been focusing on spending time with my mom. Since she lives with Laura now, it’s been easier to visit her without having to worryabout any restrictions and time constraints. I can tell how much more relaxed she is living there. I’m happy she has friends that are taking good care of her.

Tonight, I’m spending New Year’s Eve at the apartment with Noah, Xander, Dani, Bella, Sage, and Violet.

My girlfriendis going to be there. Fuck, I missed calling Violet my girlfriend so much. I will never get tired of saying it.

Everybody is in the living room. Noah and Dani are sitting next to each other on the sofa. Bella and Xander are sitting across from each other on the plush chairs, while Sage is sitting on the floor near Bella. Violet and I are standing next to each other, closest to Xander.

“How much longer until the ball drops?” Xander asks.

“Fifteen minutes,” Noah says.

I wave my hand in the air. “Violet and I are going to head downstairs in about five minutes.”

“You’re not going to be with us when the ball drops?” Dani clarifies.

“Not in the same physical space, no. Can you blame us for wanting to have some alone time together?”

Dani kisses Noah’s cheek. “As two people who love their alone time, we sure as hell don’t blame you at all.”

Sage rolls her eyes. “I only agreed to come because you didn’t want me to be alone on New Year’s Eve. Enough with the mushy love shit, alright?”

“You’re not the only single person here, Sage,” Bella points out.

“She’s right,” Xander agrees.

Sage breathes in and out. “I know, but it still grosses me out.”

“We’re going to take our mushy love shit outsidenow,” Violet says.

“What time is it?” I ask Violet, rubbing her back with the palm of my hand.

“11:50 p.m.”

“And that’s our cue,” Grayson says.

Guiding Violet out the front door, we head downstairs and sit inside the bed of my truck parked in one of the parking spaces closest to the building.

I hug her tightly from behind, placing my chin on top of her shoulder.

“Hello there,” she says.