Jessi Elliott - These Wicked Delights

America by XYLO

High by Dua Lipa and Whether

Heaven by Julia Michaels

Holding a Heart by Toby Lightman

Little Deschutes by Laura Veirs

Unbreakable by Jamie Scott

Hearts by Jessie Ware

Electricity by Sam Pinkerton

Darkside by [SEBELL]

Can I Exist by MISSIO

Fangs by Little Red Lung

Give Us a Little Love by Fallulah

Waiting Game by BANKS

Medicine by Daughter

Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation

Piano In The Sky by Winona Oak

Here with Me by Susie Suh and Robert Koch

Hell to the Liars by London Grammar

Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine

Tessa by Steve Jablonsky

Suns and Stars by Really Slow Motion

Revolution by UNSECRET and Ruelle

S pending my eighteenth birthday working late on a school project is hopefully not a sneak peek into what my year is going to look like.

Stifling a yawn, I reach for my peppermint tea and take a sip, wrinkling my nose at its lukewarm temperature.

Were almost done, Lana says with a sympathetic smile as she ties back her red wine-colored hair.

I wave her off and move to push my tea aside. My fingers hover around the outside of the paper cup, and I frown. Its radiating heat. What the

Emery? Jessa says, pulling my attention away from the cup.

I shake my head, flipping the page in my notebook. I need sleep. Its fine. We need to get it done. The assignment is due in a few days, and with the girls opposite work schedules, tonight was the only time we were all available to finish it.

We should be out partying, not stuck in this musty library, Jessa whines, picking at her chipped manicure.

I shrug, glancing around to find were the only ones left in the building.

We finish the assignment an hour later. As we walk out of the school, Lana and Jessa link their arms through mine, the wind whipping around us, shaking leaves off the trees lining the lot. Its already dark, and the temperature has dropped. Its only the second week of November, but it feels more like the middle of December.

Come on, Jessa says with a grin, lets grab some food.

Cant, I say. I need to get home.

Lana pouts. We have to do something to celebrate you getting old. Where do you want to go? When I open my mouth, she quickly adds, Im not taking no for an answer. Holly can scold me later. As if my mom would ever yell at her.

Old? I laugh, elbowing her side. Fine. Lets go to Bread and Butter. But only for a little while. As much as Id rather go home, I cant deny the desire for a latte and a massive piece of chocolate cake.

I send Mom a text to let her know Ill be a little late.

Excellent choice, Jessa says, tugging us along toward Lanas car, where we pile in and head for the caf.

Lana drops Jessa off before we head to my place. We take a right onto my road and drive for a while, gravel crunching under the car until Lana slows to a stop in front of my two-story farmhouse. The lights on either side of the door cast a warm glow on the covered porch where Ive spent many summer afternoons reading until dark. The black shutters on the windows are a stark contrast to the white siding, but it gives the place character. Most of the house is obscured from view by massive trees anyway, which makes it feel private and secluded. The house belonged to my dads parents and their parents before that. I often picture myself living here for the rest of my life and passing it down to my own child someday.

Thanks for the ride, I say, shooting Lana a wink, and the cake.

She grins at me, her pale green eyes glimmering. Of course. Hey, before I forget, Im going shopping in Augusta this weekend. You want to come?

I grab my bag off the floor. Ive lived in Covington my entire life; Ive never been anywhere. My heart longs for the adventure of getting away from this town, but Ive never been able to bring myself to leave. Even for a day of shopping a couple hours away. Let me make sure my mom doesnt have anything planned. Ill text you later.

Perfect. She glances toward the house and arches a brow. Whose car is that?

Huh? I turn to look, and excitement bubbles in my chest. Im grinning like a kid on Christmas morning when I say, Novas here.

This a secret boyfriend of yours I dont know about?

I smack her arm. No. Gross. Ive told you about him. He was my dads best friend. He comes around a few times a year and always visits on my birthday. Has for as long as I can remember.

Oh yeah! The silver fox that brings you presents. Huh. Hes kinda like a sexy Santa, but for your birthday.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head. Are you done?

Yeah, yeah. Happy birthday, Em.

Thanks. I shoulder my bag before closing the door, then hurry up the gravel driveway and the steps, the harsh wind making my hair fly in every direction. A hurricane of burnt orange curls obscures my view as I fumble to get my key in the lock.

Lana honks before backing out of the driveway and disappearing down the dark road.

Once inside, I drop my bag onto the bench and flip the lock over before hanging my key on the little hook next to the door. Then I kick off my shoes and toss them into the coat closet. The scent of cinnamon and apples tickles my nose; Mom always has at least one candle burning in the house, and she tries to coordinate them with the seasons.

Muffled voices float through the warm house, and I follow the sound down the hall, the old wood floors creaking under my stocking feet. I run my fingers through my hair, attempting to untangle it as I step into the kitchen and find Mom at the stove. My eyes quickly land on Donovanor Nova as Ive called him since I was old enough to talkwho is sitting at the kitchen table. His brown hair is a bit grayer than when I saw him over the summer; longer, too, curling slightly at the ends.