“You have. You’ve done that so many times?—”
“I know, but you deserve to hear it again and again. Look, I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for what happened to you. I nearly… we nearly lost you because of my mistake. I should have been driving more slowly and more carefully. I should have stayed calm, and maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad. We could have been fine. You could have graduated on time and done all the big things you had planned. And I… I just wish I could change it all. Every day I wish I could change it all. I’m so sorry.”
Logan moved to my side in an instant and pulled me into her arms. It wasn’t until my cheek pressed against her shoulder I realized I was crying. She was crying too, but her voice was far more stable than mine.
“I didn’t realize this was affecting you,” she said as she rubbed my back. “I didn’t know you were holding on to this so tightly.”
“It was the only thing I could do,” I confessed. “The only way I knew how to serve penance.”
“Yara, listen to me carefully.” She pulled back to look me in the eyes. “I have not and will never hold the accident against you. I love you too much to ever expect you to pay for one mistake. When I look at you, I see the one of the people I love most in this world, and everyday I think of how lucky I am to call you my sister. Nothing will change that. My love for you will never change.”
I cried silently now, but just as hard. Logan pulled out a tissue to dab away my tears. Her words nestled into my chest, medicine to a cold I’d been harboring for ages. The shame wouldn’t go away completely, but it wouldn’t burn through me like a fever any longer.
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t hate you if you weren’t. I love you forever.”
Logan smiled and nodded. “I’m surer of this than anything else in life.”
I sniffed and pulled her into another hug. She rubbed my back and let me take all the time I needed to calm down. When I finally pulled away, I almost started crying again because my makeup had ruined the soft pink fabric of her dress.
I groaned. “I’m so sorry.”
She laughed. It was a light sound that made me smile and thank the heavens I got to hear her. To know her and be a part of her journey, wherever it may take her. “It’s just a dress. This moment’s more important than just a dress.”
We hadour first batch of fireflies of the season. They lit the sky and could be easily admired through the clear event tent. Their lights made the toasts and well-wishes more magical.
David didn’t leave my side for a second after he helped with unloading. He’d seen my puffy eyes and ruined makeup and tried to figure out the issue without alerting people around us. I whispered to him that I would tell him everything once we got some alone time. He could barely keep still ever since.
I placed my hand on his knee after my dad gave the last speech, and the band started playing what I assumed was Rose and Ren’s song. We all watched the couple dance on their own for a moment before people began joining in. I stayed seated, enjoying the view of the people who I most days I couldn’t stand and every day adored.
“I miss our friends,” I whispered to David.
He leaned in to kiss my temple. “Just one more week.”
“I miss you,” I teased and turned to him.
“I’m right here.” He kissed my lips then. “Till you get sick of me.”
“Never,” I promised and stood. He raised a brow at my outstretched hand. “Do I have to waste a dare?”
“I don’t dance,” he reminded me.
“We’ll sway.”
He sighed. “That’s somehow worse.”
“David.” I waved my hand. “Come on, just two seconds, and we’ll brood in the corner like you always did during school dances. It’ll be like old times.”
“I didn’t brood.” He got up, though, and accepted my hand.
“Then what would you call it?” I led us to the edge of the dance floor. We were close enough to be included but far enough to feel like we had our own space. We were on our own time.
“I believe the word is judging.” His hands wrapped around my waist, pinning me against his hips.
I pursed my lips and flickered my gaze down at my midsection. I could feel how hard he was.
“What can I say?” He offered me a crooked smile. “I missed you, too.”
I laughed. “Why did you go to those dances if you were just going to judge?”
