“I’m moving on, Dad,” I told him with a smile, and I wondered if he recognized it as the one he hadn’t seen since I was little. “Your most precious is saying goodbye.”
I stood from my chair and turned my back on him as he’d done so, so long ago.
“Serenity,” he choked out behind me, the sound of his cries tearing through the whisper.
I paused, but I didn’t turn around. I notched my chin higher and walked out the door, stronger than I had ever been before. Finally, the last weight, the last chain, had been broken. I’d discarded the remnants of what had been holding me down in dark waters so that I could leap into the air and soar toward something better—my shining place in the night.
“CHEERS!”
Our group of nine clinked our glasses together over the center of the table, the alcohol sloshing out a little from the joyous smack. We all drank hearty sips while the club music played around and beneath the VIP lounge we gathered in.
“Woo!”Addie chirped as she slammed her empty glass onto the table. “That hit the spot. We’re going to party so hard tonight to celebrate Serenity quitting her job and officially starting her full-time author career!”
Everyone looked at me and clapped or raised their glass in my direction. An embarrassed heat swept up my neck and face, but more than that, an overwhelming sense of love, pride, and belonging filled me until I thought I might burst.
“Thank you, guys,” I gushed. “But there’s more to celebrate here. Like Iyla’s upcoming piano concert.”
Iyla’s smile widened, and Zagan looked down at the girl beneath his arm like she was the greatest gift to ever appear before him. He placed a kiss on top of her head, and she settled into his arm.
My gaze swung to Harper, who was wrapped in Perseus’s embrace. His chin rested on top of her head while he held her from behind, and there was a certain look of safety perpetually in her soft smile as she stood with him.
“We’re also celebrating Harper’s amazing return to the stage inDancing in the Dark,” I continued.
“Hell yeah, we are,” Perseus beamed, glancing down at her.
“Addie’s new house that’s almost done,” I went on.
Addie bounced on her toes. Coldin, who stood beside Addie, watched her from the corner of his eye with a silent threat to stop hitting him as she moved happily. Or maybe he liked her brushing up against him. I honestly couldn’t tell with him.
“Not to mention the comeback of Sinners Do It Better,” I grinned at all five members.
Xander raised his glass high and cheered.
“We all have something to celebrate tonight,” I declared enthusiastically.
That was right. Everyone at this table had something going on. Each and every person here struggled with something—inner demons or physical ones—but in this moment, I realized we were so much more than that.Iwas more than my dark thoughts on my bad days. I was more than the punching bag for others’ enjoyment. I was more than my insecurities.
After another round of drinks, people started splitting off to dance or get more refreshments.
“Wanna dance?” Dante whispered in my ear.
I turned in his arms. “With you? Always.”
He took my hand to pull me away from the table toward the private VIP dance floor. But that wasn’t where I wanted to dance tonight. I tugged him down the stairs where the public dance floor was. The last time we’d been here, I’d been too afraid to dance with him in front of so many people.
Today, I wasn’t afraid.
I knew that voice of uncertainty would come back at times, because getting better in my mental health didn’t mean never falling again. There would be days I’d struggle and question and have to let go of the fight, something I only now realized was okay. So I wanted to claim tonight’s victory with him. I wanted to have the memory for my future self to look back on and know that good times,bettertimes, would come. I just had to hold on and remember.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look today?” Dante asked with his head dipped close to mine as we began to dance to the upbeat tempo.
“Only a few times,” I laughed.
“Let me say it again then. You’re gorgeous, Star.”
I held on tightly to his neck while he cupped my hips in his large hands. Hands that meant safety, meanthome. Hands that guided me through the dark and saved me when I’d been ready to give up.
“So this is what it feels like,” I mused with a smile firmly etched on my face. “This is what it feels like to be excited for what’s to come instead of afraid.”
