Page 34 of 300 New Year's Eves

With a huff, Sergio walks away. After a breath and a few strides, he stands tall, shoulders back, proud of himself for standing up to her. He makes his way across the party to Jeremy, arriving as Holden hops on stage to announce the countdown.

“Alright, everyone,” Holden says into the microphone. “Grab a glass of champagne, the countdown starts in less than a minute.”

“Here you go,” Sergio says, handing Jeremy his drink and inserting himself in the space between Jeremy and Chadwick,effectively blocking Chadwick from being able to talk to Jeremy anymore.

“Thank you,” Jeremy says, clearly relieved.

“Sorry, that took so long. Rose had some words for me.”

Jeremy smiles and brings his drink to his lips. He sips through the thin black straw, then says, “I’m sure she did.”

“She thinks I’m bad for you,” Sergio says right as Holden starts the countdown from the stage with a “Ten!”

Jeremy leans in close. “She might be right.”

“Nine!”

“What if I want to prove her wrong?”

“Eight!”

“Then I guess you better get to work.”

“Seven!”

“And how would I do that?”

“Six!”

“You can start by taking me out on a date.”

“Five!”

“How about tomorrow? I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

“Four!”

“Anywhere?”

Three!”

“Anywhere.”

“Two!”

“Kiss me again before I say yes.”

“One! Happy …”

Chapter eight

“Uncle Sergio! Wake up!” Henry shouts, kneeing Sergio in the nuts and jolting him awake.

“Why!” he cries out as he curls into a ball while Gus hisses and runs away from the scene of this repeated crime against Sergio’s favorite part of his anatomy.

“Because breakfast is ready,” Henry says slowly.

Sergio buries his head into his pillow. “Henry, I need you to go away right now.”