“Scorpio: After a challenging period, Venus enters your sign. A New Year kiss will mean more than you expect.” My horoscope on New Year’s Eve doesn’t make sense. I’ve just caught my fiancé of two years cheating on me, in my own bed. I lost everything when I walked into that room and left just with the clothes on my back and my truck. I left everything to follow him to this middle of nowhere, God forsaken Texas town. Now I’m crashing on my bestie’s couch, nursing my broken heart and trying to figure out my future. So I doubt there will be any kisses at midnight for me, even when my BFF’s hot brother surprises her for the holidays, back from a year long deployment with the army. I’ve always found Neal hot but I doubt he sees me as more than his big sister’s bestie, someone who’ll eat pizza and watch movies with him when he comes home on leave. And my string of bad luck is confirmed when I get asked to work the evening shift at the gas station, missing the party Sarah has organized for tonight, inviting some eligible bachelors. Things go from bad to worse when I’m stuck at work, alone, with the roads closed during a blizzard. Or am I alone? Three hot soldiers passing through this middle of nowhere corner of the world on their way to a party – the same party I’m missing – come into the station. They’re all handsome and friendly, and when the roads are too dangerous to leave, they’re stuck here with me. Sparks fly, but will I get my New Year’s kiss after all? *Trigger warning: this whychoose story contains mild violence and elements of danger. **This novella was previously published as part of the Hogmanay anthology in December 2019.