Page 107 of The Temptation of Truth

She nods. “It’s my comfort movie. It’s so underrated.”

“So underrated. I haven’t seen it in years.”

I shake my head and blink at the television. God, what are the odds? I used to be obsessed with this movie. I used to force Sav to watch it with me at least once a month. I tried to watch it once with Kat, but she hated it. I haven’t seen it since, and here’s Aurora calling it her comfort movie.

“Do you want to stay? I can start it over. I don’t mind.” She gestures to her bed. “I have snacks.”

I didn’t even notice the bag of popcorn and package of TimTams, but when I see them, I laugh again. I don’t know what I did in a past life to deserve the temptation that is Aurora Jade Hammond, but she might actually be perfect. It’s agonizing, but I’m done fighting it, at least for tonight. I don’t have any strength left in my body.

“It’s hard to turn down TimTams,” I say with a dramatic sigh.

“Oh my God, they’re so good, right? I think I’ve eaten my weight in them three times over since Melbourne. I already told Uncle Wade he has to ship me boxes from now on every time you guys tour here.”

I smile with her despite the pang of loss that radiates through me.

The statement was meant to be fun and light, but I hear the stark reality screaming from between her words.

She won’t be here for long.

When we tour again, she won’t be with us.

Soon, she’ll return to whatever life she was living before this.

She’ll return to Brady, and she’ll leave me.

I twist my ring around on my finger and press my toes into the floor again. I direct my attention back to the television and decide to focus on that. On the movie and the snacks and the company. I refuse to ruin this moment with the truth. I don’t want to cry more. I don’t want to feel lonely.

For now, I just want to enjoy the present. I want to watch one of my favorite movies with one of my new favorite people whilesnacking on TimTams in this ocean front mansion in Sydney. I want to behereand ignore everything else.

I put on a smile and allow myself to pretend. Just for tonight. Just for a little bit. I just want to be happy, even if it’s all a lie, and I really, really don’t want to be alone.

“Are you sure it’s okay if I stay for a bit? I know it’s late.”

Aurora rolls her eyes. “Absolutely. Movie nights are better with company.”

I round the bed and climb onto the side with the unrumpled covers. When she climbs in beside me, the mattress dips under her weight, and my stomach dips with it. I grab a TimTam and shove it into my mouth to distract myself from the way my heart flutters in my chest.

It’s just a movie. Nothing more.

I keep my eyes on the screen as she starts the movie over, her arm raised in my periphery with the remote in her hand. She pushes play, drops the remote to the bedspread between us, then hands me the popcorn.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, drawing my attention back to her face.

God, she’s beautiful.

Her eyes are like starbursts. If I stare into them long enough, I’m sure I’d find sparkling constellations in those hazel irises. She’s filled with every green and gold and blue cosmic wonder of the universe.

And then it hits me.

Aurora is my passing comet.

Brief and brilliant.

Not meant to stay, but to blaze through and leave my sky rearranged.

I want to cry all over again, but I won’t let reality ruin it. I fist one hand in the duvet and grab a few pieces of popcorn with theother. I force a smile, give her a nod, and speak the only truth I can utter for now.

“There’s no place I’d rather be.”