Page 7 of The Destruction You Desire

"That's not what I mean. You're meant to be going out."

"I've cancelled," I confess.

"Nonsense. It's your birthday. You deserve to go out and have fun."

"Yeah well, I'm not really feeling up to it after…" I trail off, not really wanting to talk about it again.

"Peyton, you only turn twenty-one once."

"I don't care, Aunt Fee," I say sadly. I just want to curl up in bed and forget today ever happened.

"I understand that, I do. But I think you'll regret not going. Plus, your friends are waiting."

"I told them I'm not going."

"Ah well… about that…" She rips her eyes away from mine, but not before I see them flash with guilt.

"Aunt Fee, what did you do?"

"Well, I was walking past your room and your cell dinged and… well… one thing led to another and…"

"You told them I was going, didn't you?"

"Yep. I told them you'd meet them in…" She looks at her watch. "Less than an hour so you really need to shift that ass into gear, girl."

"Aunt Fee, I can't—"

"You can and you will. Your mother would never forgive me for letting you mope around on your big day."

"She's not here, Aunt Fee."

"No, she's not. But I am," she says firmly. "And I say that you're going. You're going to let your hair down, get drunk and dance with a good looking boy because you can. Because you deserve it."

"But—"

"Nope, no buts. Elijah has offered to take you, he—"

"Of course he has," I say, rolling my eyes as I remember his comments about Ella.

"Please, Peyton. All this drama will still be here tomorrow. Stewing about it in bed all night won't make it go away, but—"

"Getting drunk will," I add.

"Well, that wasn't exactly what I was going for but yeah, I guess."

"Tomorrow you can talk to Luca. Invite him over here if you like so I can speak to him too."

"Thank you, but I think that's something I need to do alone."

"Okay, well the offer stands. If you want to go to Maddie too, all you need to do is ask, sweetie."

"Thank you, Aunt Fee. I don't know w-what we'd h-have—"

"Shush, Peyton. I wouldn't have it any other way."

I swallow down the lump and will my tears to subside once again.

"Now, get upstairs and shimmy into that sexy little dress. It deserves an outing." She winks at me before grabbing what's left of the champagne from earlier from the fridge and pouring us both a glass.