Chapter 290
I shook my head. My mouth refused to move, but in my mind, I screamed, “No! That’s not true at all!”
Soleil sidled up to me. “God, Ren, you really are a master at wasting an opening. Hug and kiss her already, you dork!”
She shoved me straight into her brother’s arms.
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by him.
The crowd roared with laughter as Richard quipped, “Where are the rings, man?!”
I could no longer hold it in and laughed through my tears.
Then someone shouted, “The fireworks have started!”
Soren and I turned at the same time.
The night sky erupted again, this time with a dazzling display of colorful sparks shot from boats traveling down the river.
From our height, we could see the fireworks right before our eyes–sometimes even below us.
I thought they looked like transient flowers of flame, blooming just for us.
Then, toward the end, the fireworks formed words: [Happy New Year. May you have a bright year ahead!]
So much happiness and contentment–feelings that had eluded me for years–washed over me in those few minutes. Passion, excitement, and pure joy rose within me like a tide.
Then, when it seemed every firework in the world exploded at once, I heard the bell tolling, ushering in the new year.
Warmth spread over my skin as Soren kissed my cheek.
I heard him whisper in my ear, “Happy New Year, Taylor.”
All the walls around my heart crumbled, then shattered into smaller and smaller pieces, until it felt like they’d never existed.
I looked up and met his eyes. I…
My phone rang from my bag, pulling us out of the moment. I glanced at the screen–Jean.
I had completely forgotten about her call! Could it be an emergency?
“You should answer her,” Soren said encouragingly.
I nodded. “Okay.”
I picked up the phone. “Hello-”
“Did you see the drones?! That whole performance went viral! Best Boy Soren has Kenway–ed again! Now the haters and trolls are quiet!”
I had to pull the phone away from my ear. Her voice was so loud even Soren could hear her. He scratched the bridge of his nose, a little embarrassed.
My cheeks burned. “Yeah… I saw it…”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 290
“Girl, what is up with your voice?! Oh my God, were you crying?! Who the fuck bullied you at a time like this?”
“What? No! Nobody bullied me. I… I was watching the drone performance live, so, you know, I’m a little…” I coughed.
“That’s why you didn’t pick up!” Jean shrieked in pure excitement. “So, what’s going on between the two of you now, huh? Still in that situationship or something?!”
How was I supposed to say no?
Soren made his love for me known–not just in Metropolis, but across the country. How could I say no? Did I even want to say no? Or was I just clinging to old baggage?
I looked at Soren and smiled. “No, Jean. We’re dating now.”
