“Really? It’s funny coming from you two!” He shoots up, clutching his hair like he’ll rip it out. His voice cracks like a whip.“You’ve been treating me like a basket case my whole life. You think you’re saints? You’re hypocrites!”
Maggie bolts up, stepping protectively in front of Nova. “Calm down. They’re just trying to help you.”
Sam does the same but, unlike Maggie, he stands right beside me, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. He doesn’t say a word. He just watches, staying close, like he’s ready to jump in when the time comes, like he’s studying every move.
Steven rolls his eyes, folding his arms across his chest the way they did. “Well, I don’t give a damn about their concern. Don’t you see how hypocritical they are? Nova, you need psychiatric help more than anyone in this room, and yet you act like some hippie whose only problem is picking the right flower crown to wear. You try to spread joy and make everyone happy, but you want the truth? You can’t. You’re just a whiner trying to make up for your own shortcomings by playing mom to everyone around you. Let me tell you something—you’re a terrible mom. And you,” he continues, looking at me, “maybe take care of your own problems before lecturing me about mine. At least I’m trying to take care of my health. When’s the last time you went to therapy? When’s the last time you even took your meds? I’m sick of both of you. I’m tired of being stuck in the middle of your drama. The only reason you keep me around is so you can feel like better people when you screw up and feel like shit. Maybe you feel like shit because youareshitty people! Taking care of me makes you feel like martyrs, but the rest of the time? Steven doesn’t exist. Just because you’ve got fucked-up families and screwed-up pasts doesn’t mean nobody can call you out! Don’t you get it? I’m sick of being nothing more than an extra in your stupid push and pull. Everyone knows you’re in love with each other, and if you think keeping your distance is respectful—guess what? You’re terrible at pretending. Nova, you couldn’t even manage to break up with me like a grown-up, and you,Vincent, didn’t even have the guts to tell me you’re in love with my ex after we broke up. Is this friendship? Is this caring? Eye-fucking each other in front of me and being joined at the hip the second I’m not around, without having the courage to face me? You’re not scared of fighting—you’re scared of the truth. Here’s the truth: you don’t care about me. You never have. And you know what, Cooper? You can have her. She’s your problem now.”
His last words set my blood boiling, and I step forward, placing myself in front of Nova and Maggie. “Say whatever the hell you want to me, but leave her out of this, okay?”
“Sure. I should just leave her out of everything. Why don’t you go to hell?” Steven mutters, his voice dripping with venom. Then his eyes snap to Nova. “And you—why aren’t you saying anything? You never shut up, and now suddenly you’ve forgotten how to speak?”
His tone is so sharp I feel Nova flinch beside me. I know how much confrontations eat her alive, especially with people she loves. In moments like this, all she’d manage to do is apologize, even if she hadn’t done a damn thing wrong.
I step forward, my chest tight. “Leave her out of this. None of this is her fault. If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at me. But don’t touch her.”
Steven throws his arms out, fury blazing in his eyes. “How the hell is it not her fault?” His voice rises, nearly breaking.
“I’m the one who confused her, okay? It’s on me!” I shout back, my throat raw.
Sam cuts in, tugging at my arm before stepping past me. His voice is calm, but there’s iron underneath. “No, dumbass. You didn’t confuse her. She’s not a kid.” He glares at me.
“Man,” I groan.
“Shut up and let me back you up before this blows up even worse,” he mutters, then turns on Steven. “And you—can you just listen to them for one damn second? For once in yourlife, stop acting like an asshole and actually hear what they’re saying.”
Steven clenches his jaw, silent but seething.
That’s when Maggie steps in, her voice softer than usual but steady. “I get why you’re furious, Steven. But you don’t get to tear them apart like this. Not this way.”
Steven lets out a bitter laugh, rolling his eyes. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you. You’re talking about feelings? The queen of bitches? Don’t make me laugh. You wouldn’t recognize real feelings if they slapped you in the face. You can’t even realize that Sam’s going to leave you after fucking you, just like you only care about his dick! You all know nothing about feelings!”
The words slice straight into her. I see it in the way her shoulders tighten, in the way she forces her chin higher to keep from breaking. Maggie never lets anyone see her bleed, but Steven knows exactly where to stab—and this time, he doesn’t miss.
Then his sharp glare cuts to Sam when he steps in front of Maggie ready to start a fight. I’ve never seen him this mad. “And you, don’t fool yourself into thinking anyone gives a damn about you. You’re only here because money falls out of your ass. No one cares about you. Or about Will, Aurora or Max. No one cares about anyone. Just like no one gives a fuck about me or my feelings. And I don’t give a fuck about your feelings anymore!”
Sam freezes. His expression doesn’t crack much—he’s good at wearing armor—but his hand curls into a fist at his side, knuckles white. For just a second, though, I catch the flicker in his eyes, the way Steven’s words hit a place he tries to keep buried. Because no matter how tough Sam acts, deep down he’s always been afraid of exactly that—that without the money, without what he cangive, no one would stay.
His last words hit like a punch to all of us. They’re not just angry—they’re wounded. Raw. It’s the kind of pain you can’t hide, the kind that eats you alive.
And that’s when Nova moves. She steps forward, past all of us, planting herself right in front of him. Her eyes are blazing, not with anger but with heartbreak and fire all at once.
“Will you cut this crap already?” she snaps, her voice cracking. “Enough, Steve. Hurting us doesn’t make you stronger, and you damn well know it. I’m sick of hearing this. I’m sick of watching you push away the people who love you just so you can pretend you’re untouchable. It’s bullshit. That’s not strength—it’s just you breaking yourself, and us, piece by piece. I get you’re mad at us, but don’t you dare say anything to them. Especially Maggie. They did nothing wrong to you.Shedid nothing wrong to you! You don’t have any right to insult her, okay?”
He stares at her, silent, his jaw tight. His whole body trembles with something he refuses to let out.
Nova doesn’t stop. She takes another step and lays a hand on his shoulder, the gesture raw, almost desperate. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s actually going through your head. Scream it, cry, smash something—I don’t care. But stop pretending to be the asshole you’re not. Because Iknowyou, Steven. And I know this isn’t who you are. This is not my best friend.”
The silence that follows feels endless. Heavy.
Finally, he rips his gaze away with a growl. “Screw you, Nova.”
She exhales, not moving her hand from his shoulder. Her voice drops low, almost pleading. “If you’d just listen to me—”
“No,youlisten to me. I’m done staying quiet and watching your pathetic circus. Go ahead, fuck Vincent all you want. Do whatever the hell you want. I don’t give a fuck. But stop preaching to me about how I live my life. Both of you. You don’t get that right. Not when you don’t care about me. Not whenyou’re even more miserable than I am, acting like superheroes who can save everyone. You can’t save anyone. Try saving yourselves first, and stop shoving your bullshit down the throat of someone who’s perfectly fine the way he is!”
Aurora takes a step toward him, but she trips over a chair and falls forward. Max, Will, and Nova rush to help her up. I see Steven start to move too, but he freezes the second our eyes lock again.
I know he doesn’t mean what he said. I know it. I can feel it. But that doesn’t excuse the words he threw at Nova, Maggie and Sam no matter how hurt he is or how dark the place he’s in right now.
