“Forbidden or not, if it's meant to be, it will be.” She smirks, “Plus, you two would make cute babies.”
I chuck a pillow at her face. “Sal! What is wrong with you?”
We dissolve into a fit of giggles, and I feel lighter. I'm so grateful to have finally shared this with her. The secret isn’t just mine to carry anymore. She knows. And no matter where this goes, I know she’s always in my corner.
“Well,” she says, catching her breath. “Just let me know if you need an alibi. Happy to cover for you anytime!”
“Ditto.”
The silence settles around us. We relax back into our seats, enjoying the silence and the stars winking high above us, when my phone vibrates in my lap. My heart leaps into my throat as I fumble to unlock it, already knowing who it is.
Him.
Sal notices my reaction instantly and scramblesto my side, nosy as ever. When she sees the name on my screen, she shrieks, gripping my arm. “I told you! Happily ever after, here you come!”
She watches over my shoulder as I type, as I wait, as his responses trickle in. And then.. nothing. The conversation stops dead. My stomach twists, but I force myself to breathe. It’s late, maybe he fell asleep.
“I want an invite to the wedding,” Sal announces.
I groan. “Ha ha, hilarious.”
“Want something to eat? I've got the munchies.” She asks.
At the mention of food, my stomach rumbles. “Yes! Let's go.”
We raid the kitchen, demolishing chips, ice cream, and candy like we haven’t eaten in weeks. I find a bag of wasabi almonds, my favorite, tucked high on a pantry shelf. Sal throws on a movie, and we settle in, my eyes growing heavier with each passing moment.
Jack and Rose whisper their tragic goodbyes on the screen as my eyes finally slip shut.
A loud bangjolts me awake. Sunlight streams through the windows, way too bright. Sal groans beside me, rubbing sleep from her eyes. I sit up, pulse hammering, searching for the source of the sound.
Jace saunters in, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. I exhale deeply when I see him. Just Jace, being loud as hell with no regard for those who are sleeping. Jerk.
Sal pushes up onto her elbows. “Did you just get home? Where were you?”
Jace meets her gaze, his expression tense, then walks past without a word. Most likely retreating to his cave. I rarely see him out and about in the house, he avoids people like the plague. Fair enough. I’d do the same at home.
She lets out a frustrated breath, smoothing back the flyaways from her braid. “Any plans for today?”
“Nope,” I stretch, shaking my head. “But if you do, I can head home.”
“Absolutely not. You're mine today, then. Let’s spend the day right here watching sappy romance movies… you in?”
I grin. “You know I am.”
22
SOPHIE
Ispend the rest of the weekend at Sal’s, only dragging myself home late Sunday night. My parents barely glance at me when I walk through the door, which is fine. I’d rather be ignored than have to sit through their cutting questions. Their silence somehow feels heavy, though. It’s loud. An oxymoron, I know.
I don’t sleep much. I just lie there, staring at the ceiling as if it might have the answers I seek. Guidance for how to move forward. My phone stays beside me all night, the last message from Theo pulled up on the bright screen. I keep clicking it open, staring, then closing it again. My thumb hovers over the keyboard so many times I lose count. I want to say something. I wanthimto say something. But nothing comes. He doesn’t text. And I don’t have the guts to be the one who does first.
By morning, I’m at school before the sun is even fully up. The building is still and quiet. It’s weird, being here so early. The halls are still and quiet, a virtual ghost town. But I’m not here for peace and quiet, I’m here forhim.
I’m nervous. The sick to my stomach, fingertips tinglingtype of nervous. I don’t know what he’s going to say or how he’s going to act. Will he avoid me? Pretend it didn’t happen? Will he look at me like I’m a mistake, an error in judgement, that he now regrets?
My stomach churns. I hate to even think that way. I hate that I expect it. But after Cole… it’s like I can’t help but brace for the rejection, the hurt. That eventually, everyone will decide I’m not enough, or too much, or just wrong in all the ways that matter.
