“Yeah.”
We both sit in silence again.
“I know we can’t change the past,” Kylen continues. “And there are a lot of emotions in all of this. But do you think we can try to look past it and be friends again? Because I always felt like you were one of my best friends.”
I stare at the floor. “I felt like you were one of my best friends, too.”
“Now that we know it was all a misunderstanding, maybe we can finally let it go. You’re still the amazing person I met at camp, and I hope in time you’ll see that I’m decent, too.”
“Just decent?” I can’t help but smile a little as I look at him.
He laughs softly. “Well, I think I’m more than decent, but I don’t want to sound cocky here.”
“You were never cocky like the other guys at camp who were trying to show off to impress girls. You were always so sweet and kind. And I loved how positive you were.”
“Thanks.”
“And you’re right that we have nothing to feel angry or hurt about. Itwasa misunderstanding. And as much as I hate what Beck did, I can’t be mad at him. I know what it’s like to feel lonely. If I saw I was losing my best friends, I’d be worried, too. I mean, I wouldn’t have sabotaged a letter, but I would be very worried.”
“Yeah, the jerk,” he half jokes.
That makes me laugh. “He is a jerk, isn’t he? Maybe we should throw him to the wolves and watch him die a slow and painful death.”
“He’s not worth me going to jail, though.”
“Yeah. Me, either.”
We chuckle again, then sit in silence.
Kylen holds out his hand. “So…friends?”
I stare at his hand, remembering how good it felt when we walked around camp with our hands laced together. I especially loved when I got jealous looks from the other girls. They thought I wasn’t cool enough to be their friend, but I managed to snag the heart of a cute and sensitive guy.
I slide my hand into his. “Friends.”
He punches his free hand in the air. “I thought I would never hear those words come out of your mouth!”
That has me giggling.
He smiles. “I miss your laugh.”
“Well, don’t expect to hear it often.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay. We’ll see.” He stands and smiles shyly at me. “Is it okay if I hug you?”
My heart nearly catapults out of my chest. We haven’t hugged since the dance. “I’d really love that.”
I stand and walk into his open arms.
“Thanks so much for giving me the chance to explain myself,” he whispers against my temple. “It feels like a load has been lifted off my shoulders.”
“Thanks for apologizing and explaining everything. I’m sorry for the way I treated you. The whole situation is kind of messed up.”
“It is,” he agrees. “But now we can look past it and move on.”
