Page 48 of Yours, For Good

"Perhaps a growing sense of affection." I licked my bottom lip.

Wasn't kissing someone part of the tradition for the evening, too?

"Ten!" someone announced nearby. People around us joined in the count down. "Nine!"

She held steady. The shimmer in her eyes was curious, maybe even close to a dare.

"Seven! Six!"

I could kiss her. Call it a friendly New Year's peck. Say fuck you to who I wanted to become, for five more seconds.

A tiny twitch narrowed her eyes— she was thinking hard as well. Maybe she wondered about an innocent kiss, too…

Her eyes dropped to my mouth. She definitely was.

"Five! Four!"

It wouldn't be an innocent, simple, friendly kiss. Not for me.

"Three! Two!"

Back and forth, the battle inside me continued with blasts on every corner. Nora made my emotions into a minefield, awakening feelings too ready to burst out of me. I liked it too much.

She waited for me to make a move. I had promised I wouldn't.

"I shouldn't," I said before I knew what I was doing.

"Me neither," she mouthed to me.

"One! Happy New Year!"

Sound exploded around us all at once. People laughed and cheered, hugging each other; children screeched and blew noisemakers, and detonations from the raft in the bay reached us right behind the first few fireworks lit up the sky.

Nora turned to the spectacle above us. Colors showered on her skin and glinted in her eyes. She smiled, unaffected and free.

I had been good. Barely, but I had managed.

I kissed her cheek. "Happy New Year, Nora."

We may not be compatible enough for romance, but friendship flourished regardless. She'd always known that, and I was finally lucid enough to know the whole of it.

Going our own ways the next day would help us. It was easier keeping the lines between us when I couldn't feel her close and see her thinking about kissing me, too.

Before I could do something I'd regret— something Nora could blame me worse for— I joined her in admiring the show in the sky.

Chapter 19

Date: December 31st

To: Mr. Smith

From: Eleanora

Subject: new revolution around the sun

Dear Mr. Beanpole,

It's NYE and I'm still in Lock Willow, and I just realized something: I don't know where you are! It may already be the New Year for you, and I want you to know that I'm thinking of you today, too.