"To Zara," Dad declares, "The toughest woman in this entire club."
"To Zara!" Locke, Mayhem and Jade echo loudly, clinking their glasses together.
I lift my own glass, taking a long sip of the sparkling white liquid. The sweet, crisp bubbles hit my tongue, completely indistinguishable from the real thing in the moment. I catch Locke’s eye over Mayhem’s head. He gives me a subtle, knowing wink.
"Alright, enough crying," Jade laughs, wiping a tear from her cheek as she picks up the flowers and hands them to me. "These are for you. Fresh peonies to celebrate fresh beginnings. Now let's eat before Mayhem eats the takeout containers."
"Hey, I brought the good stuff," Mayhem protests. "Garlic bread, salad, penne, braised short ribs, and gelato for later. We're celebrating properly tonight."
