Chapter 19

The last day of the year had always been my favourite.

As a child, the only thing I cared about on New Year's Eve was the fireworks show. I was able to sit on the windowsill for hours, watching the night sky and keeping an eye out for the colourful lights. Though exhausted, I liked it when the fireworks were illuminating the dark night and changing it temporarily back into day.

When I grew up, my love for the fireworks remained the same. Every time I was at a New Year's Eve party, I just couldn't wait for the great show. The second the countdown started, I was immediately by the window, observing the night sky and hastening the fireworks to show themselves.

This year, wanting to change the way I had always spent New Year's Eve, I decided to go with Henry and our friends to Lake District. At first, we couldn't settle our accommodation as the hotel prices were really high, but it turned out that Henry's parents had a big lake house and let us stay there for a couple of days.

After a few hours of driving, we finally reached the house. Quite big and painted blue, it had two floors and lots of windows facing the nearby lake. Though I couldn't see the tiny pier, I had immediately noticed the forest where Henry, Paula and Dominic used to play when they were children.

"What will it be, Lexi?" Henry asked, closing the car boot and lifting our suitcases. It was the first day of our four-day stay and we were the first ones to arrive. The rest of our friends were still on their way to spend the best New Year's Eve in the world. "Where will we sleep? In the master bedroom?"

I laughed, following him into the house. "If you think you can persuade me to give you more tonight… I have to disappoint you. Not yet, darling."

"Well, at least it was worth trying." Henry stopped for a moment and put the suitcases on the ground. "I've forgotten something," he said unexpectedly.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling confused.

"This." He pulled me up to him and kissed passionately.

"Wow." It was all I was able to say.

Henry laughed. "Why are you always so surprised when I kiss you like that?"

"I don't know. I think I'm not used to it yet."

"Well," Henry gave me a look, "I think I should work on that." Putting an arm around me, he pulled me closer and smiled. "Practice makes perfect, darling."

I looked at his mouth. "True. But don't you think we should get inside before I freeze my tits off? It's so cold out here."

Henry set his blue eyes upon my chest. "Freeze your tits off?"

I hit him playfully on his arm and asked, "Is that really the only thing that you paid attention to?"

He shrugged. "Yes."

Rolling my eyes and gasping, I tried to get free. "Henry, your siblings will be here in several minutes, so let's go inside and light a fire." I gave him a smile. "You told me there was a huge fireplace in the living room and I can warm my tits a bit. Unless you want me to really freeze them off."

My boyfriend glanced at my chest again. "Well, we wouldn't want that to happen, right?"

"Definitely." I tried to hide my smile when he let go of me and peeked at my shock-absorbers again. "Do you have the key?" I asked, trying to keep my hands warm. Though it wasn't snowing, the temperature seemed to be quite low and my hands started to feel numb.

Henry grabbed our suitcases and said, "It's in my jacket. Left pocket."

When I finally managed to open the main door, all I could see was a dim room with lots of furniture that was covered in plastic. Apparently, Mr and Mrs Bailey weren't spending much time here. "Do you need help with our luggage?" I asked, looking over my shoulder.

"No, thanks." Henry smiled. "Let's go inside, darling."

Men, I thought, closing the door.

###

Standing by the window and drinking tea, I was observing our friends who had just arrived at the lake house. Dressed in a pale pink jacket, Paula was talking with Amanda and showing her something in her bag. Her blond hair was hidden under a big fluffy hat that had to be new as I hadn't seen it before. Amanda, Janelle Monáe's biggest fan in the universe, was wearing a grey coat and mittens, but she didn't have a hat. Well, everyone knew that she loved showing her dark hair off and absolutely despised wearing hats.

Both girls laughed and looked into the bag again.

Smiling, I fixed my eyes on Marco, Amanda's husband, who was unloading their luggage, and laughing at something Tyler was saying. He was a handsome man with a funny accent and beautiful brown eyes. Though I didn't know him long, as he married Amanda in April, I liked him a lot.

A sudden movement drew my attention towards the car. When I looked there, I saw my best friend standing by his Ford and waving to me. I smiled and waved back, making Tyler grin. Oh, I loved that guy very much and couldn't imagine my life without him. Two years older than me, he was like a big brother I had never had, and supported me in everything I was doing. Together with Paula, they were an inseparable part of my life.

Still watching the front garden, I heard steps in the living room. I sensed that Henry approached me by the window, and then wrapped his arms around my waist. "What are you drinking?" he asked, kissing my neck.

I sighed, leaning against him and wanting more caressing. "Tea. I found it in the cupboard. And answering your question, I checked the expiry date before I brew it."

He laughed quietly, laying his chin on my shoulder. "I wasn't even going to ask such a question, but fair enough."

"Is Dom with them?" I asked, looking at our friends. "I haven't seen him yet."

"No, he's not. Ty said he was going to be late."

"Odd, don't you think?"

Henry shrugged. "With or without him, it's going to happen on Monday. You know, Lex, stop thinking about my little brother." He started kissing my neck again. "We've got more pressing matters to deal with at the moment." Henry's hands started wandering around my body, teasing it here and there, and making me want more. I closed my eyes, suddenly forgetting about my tea. I loved it when he was touching me like this. I loved it when…

"Whoa. You're making out in front of a window?" Paula's mocking voice brought me back down on earth. "Seriously?"

With a heart racing, I opened my eyes and pulled away from Henry. I knew my cheeks were red but that didn't stop me from glaring at our friends who were now standing in the living room and watching me and Henry. "I thought you were outside," I said.

"Well, and now we're here." Paula rolled her eyes. "God, and to think that we could have walked in here two minutes later. And saw much more…" She made a face.

"Come on, darling, they're young and in love," Tyler said, laughing. "I believe we were the same all those years ago. You know, wet lips, hot kisses, lots of wine…" He tried to put his arm around his girlfriend but she glared at him and then headed for the kitchen. "Hey. Don't leave me like that, Paula. I'm already standing at attention."

"I'm too hungry for this, Ty," she called, not even looking at him. "Amanda, do you want to join me? I brought sandwiches and meat pie."

"Yes! I'm so hungry I can eat a horse. Or even two." Amanda flashed me a smile and disappeared in the kitchen.

Carrying two suitcases, Marco stopped in the middle of the living room and frowned. "Ragazzo, you sound like a horny little shit."

"Don't blame me. All these dirty thoughts made me hot and bothered." Tyler moved his eyebrows up and down several times. "So I think I will snatch Paula into the bedroom and play hide the salami."

I laughed. "Good God, Ty. No one's using that phrase anymore."

"Really?" Tyler frowned and made a duck face. "I thought that everyone in our beautiful kingdom plays hide the salami."

Marco giggled and started climbing the stairs. "Pazzo."

"I've heard that, Macaroni!" Tyler shouted.

"You know that I hate that nickname, Ty," Marco replied, giving him a look over his shoulder. "You are truly a pazzo who plays hide the salami." He laughed, disappearing upstairs.

Tyler approached the railing and lifted his index finger towards Marco, saying, "Tonight, I'm gonna destroy you in Uno, bastardo."

"Yeah, right." We heard Marco's voice. "Why don't you eat some salami, you horny little shit? You're not yourself when you're hungry."

"Arsehole." Having given him the middle finger, my best friend turned around and only then did I notice that his nostrils flared. "My victory will be spectacular," he said viciously. "I will destroy him like the Rebels blasted the Death Star." Then, he adjusted his jeans and added, "But first, I need to play hide the salami with Paula."

"Whoa. Grow up, man," Henry said and crossed his arms. "Stop publicly announcing that you're going to pound the duck with my sister." He smiled.

Tyler and I laughed.

My best friend looked at me. "I think I'm gonna change my favourite phrase, Lexi."

"Yes, please." I rolled my eyes. "Do it, Ty, and forget that damn salami at last."

Henry opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but his phone rang. He looked at it and said, "I have to answer it. I'll be right back." Next, he went outside and didn't even put his jacket on.

"I hope he won't get a cold." I bit my lip, glancing at the front garden but I didn't see him there. Apparently, he must have gone towards the garage.

"It's not that cold outside, so he'll be fine," Tyler replied. "He can always warm up with a glass of mulled wine."

I turned around and flashed him a sad smile. "I'm afraid we don't have any. Yesterday, I bought whiskey, beer and vodka, but not wine."

"Hmm." Tyler regarded me for a while. "Then I would have to go to the shops with Henry and buy some. You know, we can't throw a New Year's Eve party unprepared, can we?"

I showed some teeth. "I believe so."

"But before we go, I need something to eat and drink," he added and headed for the kitchen. Then, I heard him asking Paula, "Darling, do we have any salami?"

Giggling, I turned around and looked at the garden. Still, there was no sign of Henry.

###

Later that day, we were all sitting in the living room and talking.

A fire burnt in the fireplace, making the whole room incredibly cosy and reminding me of Christmas. With a glass of red wine in my hand, I was sprawled over one armchair, Henry was sitting in the other one, and Tyler and Paula were lying on the carpet. The Monáes, as we sometimes called Amanda and Marco, were the only ones who decided to choose the big corner sofa.

"So the weather forecast claims that tomorrow will be cold but sunny," Marco said, looking at his phone. "And we'll be able to see the stars at night."

"And the fireworks." Tyler put some peanuts into his mouth and started chewing.

"Yes, please," I chimed in. "I love fireworks."

Amanda drawled, "We all know that, Lexi. You've been talking about it for years."

Shrugging, I said, "There's no harm in repeating that over and over again."

Amanda rolled her eyes. Then, she grabbed her whiskey and, looking at me, added, "One day, I'm going to put you in a firework and send you to the moon." She tilted her glass and drank the rest of the liquid inside. "You wouldn't even need a spacesuit, dearie," she grinned.

I laughed. "I don't think you'll find such a big firework."

"I'll think of something," she murmured, putting her empty glass on the table. "NASA will surely be of great assistance."

"Well, I'll take you up on that." I toasted her.

"Before we start preparing for the party tomorrow, we should go for a walk in the forest." Paula sat up and glanced at us all. "To breathe fresh air. To clear our heads. That stuff." She shrugged. "And we'll show you our favourite tree where Henry lost his two front teeth." She smiled. "Thankfully, they were deciduous."

"I'm sure they are still there," Henry said, not taking his eyes off his phone.

"Maybe the tooth fairy took it?" Tyler asked, still eating peanuts. "And the coins are still waiting for you to collect them."

"Santo cielo," Marco muttered, putting his phone aside. "Please, don't use the word 'fairy'. I'm sick and tired of it."

"And why is that?" I frowned.

"This one," he pointed at his wife, "keeps telling me about some guys with huge wings and dark shadows around them." He sighed and set his eyes upon Amanda. "I swear, the second you ask me to personate one of them in bed, I'm divorcing you."

Amanda glared at him and said, "There was only one with dark shadows around him."

"Non importa." Marco crossed his arms. "I'm not going to personate him."

I looked at Amanda and flashed her a huge smile. "Don't tell my you're reading 'ACOTAR'."

"Of course I am." She beamed. "Actually, I'm reading the second part."

"Oh, so you're over Tamlin the Tool?" Paula asked. "Good. I couldn't stand that guy."

"So did I," I said. "The moment that golden haired bastard pretended he didn't know Feyre I knew he was finished."

"Exactly!" Amanda exclaimed.

"What the hell were you three reading?" Tyler asked, frowning and eyeing us suspiciously.

"A book called 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'," Paula said. "I was telling you about this."

Tyler's only answer was, "Never heard of."

"Come on, darling. It was last year," she added, but Ty shook his head. "I knew you weren't listening to me." She sighed.

"That was a good choice," Marco whispered and nodded his head several times.

Amanda glared at him again.

Looking at Marco's sheepish smile, which was the only response to her glare, made me laugh. "Careful with that one," I said. "Or you're going to personate Rhysand in bed."

"Rhysand!" Tyler shouted and we all looked at him. "I remember that guy. And the book of course." He gave Paula a look. "That was the story about elves and magic."

"Fairies," Paula corrected him. "They were fairies."

"Whatever."

"Is that the one with the shadows?" Marco asked. "That Reason guy?"

"Yes, that's him." Amanda nodded. "I was telling you about Rhysand."

Paula closed her eyes and whispered, "Rhysand is the best lover a female can ever dream of." Then, she put her arm around Tyler and added, "You should learn from him, darling."

"Yeah, right," Tyler mumbled. "I've always known that a book character could be my next sex role model."

"Or you can choose Cassian," Amanda chimed in. "The one with huge wings."

Giggling, I raised my glass. "Well said."

Paula kissed Tyler's cheek and let go of him. "Maybe he also liked playing hide the salami," she said and then fixed her eyes on Amanda. "You know, I'm sure he's well-hung."

Marco burst out laughing. "Santo cielo. I can't believe you're talking about fictional men's balls."

I asked, "And what should we talk about? Pussies?"

But it was neither Tyler nor Marco who answered my question. Still using his phone and probably browsing the Internet, Henry said, "Well, yes. For starters." Though I gave him a look of disapproval, he didn't take his eyes off the screen and continued, "That would be more interesting than someone's nuts."

Paula took a sip of her beer. "Well, you boys prefer talking about pussies, we girls prefer talking about balls and cocks," she observed.

"Obviously." Henry stood up and seemed to be quite annoyed. "I'm all in. I need to go to sleep." He didn't look at me as he headed for the stairs and started climbing them. When he disappeared upstairs, I realised he didn't even kiss me goodnight or ask if I wanted to join him which was really strange.

"We should all go to sleep," Tyler said. "We'll need to be well-rested for the party."

"That's a good idea, darling." Paula got up and extended her hand to him. "Let's go. We have some salami to find."

Ty laughed, standing up and kissing her hand. "I knew you would like that game."

"Of course." Paula smiled and then approached me with a sad smile. "Goodnight, Lexi."

"Goodnight," I replied, not looking at her. I was too busy cleaning up the glasses.

"I'll help you if you want me to," Paula added but I shook my head. "All right then. Night, sunshine."

"See you in the morning," Tyler said.

When they climbed the stairs, the room went silent. The only sound that we heard was the fire crackling in the fireplace.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Amanda asked, still sitting on the sofa with Marco.

I lifted my head and set my eyes upon her. "No."

"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, right?" She smiled.

Having grabbed the empty glasses, I straightened up and said, "Thanks but I don't need it."

"Leave them, Lexi. We will take care of them." Marco lifted his plate and glass. "We've got this, bambina."

"Really?" I asked. When they both nodded, I sighed and put the glasses on the table. "Thanks. I think I will go upstairs and get some sleep."

"Sure." Amanda flashed me a smile.

Upset and a bit confused, I turned around and walked up slowly to the stairs.

It was the first time I had ever seen Henry behave like that and I had to admit I didn't like it at all. I knew he sometimes could act like a spoilt child and hurt someone in consequence, but it was never done on purpose. He wasn't like that.

Yet, to make things worse, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that tonight's behaviour seemed odd. I felt like he wasn't my Henry anymore and the only reason I could come up with was that something happened today. Something he didn't tell me about. Or didn't want to. Either way, I knew I had to talk with him in the morning.