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The rooftop erupts into chaos again.More champagne bottles pop open.More shouting.Mikey climbs onto a lounge chair and begins some deeply motivational speech that Dean immediately starts recording.I’m sure it will be used later for blackmail purposes.

Vanessa leans closer into my side trying to contain a laugh, and I wrap an arm around her waist to tug her closer.“You, okay?”she asks.

The question lands differently these days.Because once upon a time, nobody asked me things like that.And if they did, I lied.Now, I look around this rooftop filled with people I love and realize something very simple, I’m happy.Not temporarily distracted.Not managing.Not surviving.Happy.

My grip tightens against Vanessa’s hip.“Yeah,” I confess honestly.“I really am.”

Her eyes soften as she rises onto her toes and kisses me beneath the glow of Vegas lights while fireworks begin exploding somewhere in the distance.It’s not quite midnight but apparently this city has never respected timing in its life.

When she pulls back, her forehead rests against mine.“You deserve to be happy.”

The words hit harder than they should.Because for a long time, I genuinely didn’t think I did.She’s changed that for me.My dad changed that for me as well.

Midnight arrives just the way you would expect in Las Vegas.The countdown begins to echo through the rooftop loudly.

Ten.

Mikey is yelling.Dean is filming everything.Luc is kissing Lily before the countdown even finishes because rules never did apply to him.

Seven.

Quinn and Sadie are laughing so hard they spill half their champagne on the floor.

Five.

Vanessa turns toward me, eyes shining bright with love.

Three.

Her hands slide around my neck.

Two.

Suddenly nothing else exists.

One.

The rooftop erupts in a chorus of cheers.Auld Lang Syne starts blaring from the speakers.The entire skyline explodes into flashes of endless, colorful lights, and sound.But all I see is her.

And for one suspended second, I think, there she is, my home.I kiss her as the crowd noise grows even louder.I kiss her slow and with intention, and without a single bit of fear or hesitation.All I feel is love.

When I finally pull back, her cheeks are flushed and her smile is so beautiful it almost hurts to look at.

“Happy New Year, Nessa,” I murmur against her mouth.

Her fingers brush through my hair at my nape.“Happy New Year, Hayden.”

Behind us, Mikey yells loud enough for the entire city to hear, “OH MY GOD THEY’RE IN LOVE.”

Dean nearly chokes on champagne laughing.Vanessa buries her face against my shoulder while I shake my head and grin over the top of her head.

“I’m going to throw him off this roof.”

“You adore him.”

Lucky for him, she’s correct.

A little while later, all of us end up gathered along the massive balcony overlooking Vegas.The city glows bright beneath us.Champagne glasses clink between us.Laughter drifts warm through the night air.

Luc stands with Lily tucked beneath his arm.Dean and Sadie lean against the railing beside them.Mikey and Quinn are somehow quiet for one blessed moment.And Vanessa rests against my side while my fingers remain tangled with hers.

Standing here, surrounded by the people who somehow became my family, I realize something monumental.For the first time in my life I’m not wondering what comes next, because where I am right now is utterly perfect.