I checked my watch. Midnight was a little over half an hour away.
It was below freezing outside but ….
You’re a Scotsman, Bright!
“Let’s go outside. I want to see the bonfire and the fireworks.”
“Good.” Lew guided me through the crowd with his usual hand on the small of my back. We bundled up in our coats, hats, and scarves and stepped outside. There was snow in the air, and we huddled around one of the burning fire baskets by the stillhouse. Duncan and a huge Minotaur lit a small mountain of lumber with torches. They stood shoulder to shoulder and stared mesmerised at the rapidly spreading flames before throwing their torches into the fire.
More and more people filed out, among them Skye followed by Ægir, who had a sleeping Bylgja strapped to his chest, SweetPea who had an arm around Clara, and Grace, Lone Fox’s wedding planner who joined Syrad’s side. Fitz’s physiotherapist had spent a lot of time here to help with the Christmas market. He was part of the Lone Fox family too, and it warmed my heart how everyone here showed up for each other.
Mirren, Maddie’s step mum, smiled as she stepped up to where her husband stood. She waited for him to play the first chords of Auld Lang Syne on his battered guitar.
I had known it would come, but nothing had prepared me for his smoky voice joining hers. The way I felt the song in my chest, Seamus Gallagher might as well have plucked at my heartstrings.
Tears trickled down my cheeks and froze in the icy night air. Then an arm slipped around my shoulders, and I was pulled into a huge body. The warmth seeped through Lewis’ clothes, my coat, and right under my skin where it spread and soothed the ache and old hurts.
I’m home.
I knew I should have told him then.
“You do not carry last year’s mess into the new one, Noah.” That was what my grandfather used to say.
“TEN, NINE, EIGHT …”
“Lew, I—” I struggled for words.
“SEVEN, SIX, FIVE …”
He pulled me into the shadow of a building until my back was up against a heavy wooden door.
“FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!”
The words that wouldn’t come were drowned in shouting and cheering from the hugging crowd behind us.
“Happy New Year, Noah,” Lew whispered before he kissed me with his entire body.
“Happy New Year, Lewis,” I gasped when he backed away again.
Holy shit.
Lew bit his lip, clearly pleased with how thoroughly he’d stolen my breath.
We joined the others for more hugs and well wishes before groups broke off the crowd to visit the warehouse, the office, the cooperage, and the hotel. Bread, salt, candles, and whisky was carried between the spaces and laughter echoed off the rough stone buildings.
“Happy New Year, Noah,” Maddie said as she hugged me and kissed my cheek. “It’s so good that you’re here with us.”
Ollie eventually found me, too. He looked upset and like he’d cried, but I didn’t want to lay into him.
“Happy New Year, Noah,” he said next to my ear as he squeezed me to him, then he sniffed.
“Happy New Year, Ollie.” I tried to put what I couldn’t say into the hug and held him for a long time. Tears still swam in his eyes when we let go. He nodded and pressed his lips together as if he willed the tears not to fall. Then he turned and walked away.
“Kat and Roy just called,” Lew murmured in my ear. “They wish us a Happy New Year.” I hadn’t even noticed he’d been on his phone but squeezed his forearm.
“Thank you.” Maybe we could go see them once I’d plucked up the courage to tell him that I was staying.
The night slowed as SweetPea, who’d been chosen to be the first foot, made his way around the estate to carry gifts and blessings over each threshold.
