“What’s not true?”
“I don’t want you ever to think that you’re not the kind of girl people want. You’re...” The words caught in my throat. “You’re perfect. It’s me.”
“Oh, please. Not that it matters, but are you actually giving me theit’s not you, it’s mespeech?” she laughed, not the least bit offended.
“I’m serious.”
She rolled her eyes. “C’mon.”
We finally stepped out, but as Hazel made a run for the house, I grabbed her hand. The rain fell heavily, soaking us instantly. Two feet between us and the unbearable electricity at the point where our palms touched. I kept holding her wrist, but didn’t know what to do. What to say. I wasn’t going to kiss her, I just needed to touch her. This was as far as I’d allow myself to go right now.
Hazel looked down at our hands, then back at me, my gaze holding hers. Guilt, pain, and shame were all over my face. I felt like the bad guy wanting to leave her alone, yet also actively seeking her out.
Confusion in Hazel’s eyes suddenly transformed into something else. Her eyes softened. She stepped closer, while my heartbeat slammed into my ribs.
“Luke, there’s nothing to be sorry for,” she said gently. “I don’t feel sad or betrayed, or whatever you think in your lizard brain. We are who we are. And we want what we want. Or don’t want. And that’s okay.” Her thumb caressed my hand, and I tried not to lose myself in her scent, drowning me.
“You’re a good person. You haven’t done anything wrong. We’re friends.” It was something Ishouldhave wanted to hear. Instead, I felt worse.
For a moment, we just stood there. In the rain. In the moment. Feeling things without naming them. I lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss to her fingers. She didn’t try to hide the goosebumps trailing up her arm or how her lips parted slightly.
“Let’s go,” she said. “I believe we have a fun evening planned, am I right? Let’s have some fun.”
She smiled, giving my hand a gentle tug. And somehow, that simple gesture meant more to me than any of her words.
27
Hazel
I sat on the couch by the fireplace, listening to the rain hit the windows. It felt more like fall than spring. My blue dress was still damp, but I refused to take it off. I wanted to wear it for the entire birthday, to hold on to the memory as long as possible.
We’d played board games all evening. Summer banned Monopoly right away, claiming she didn’t want Ethan flipping the table in anger, which apparently was only a matter of time, so we settled on Jenga, Scrabble, and now Cards Against Humanity.
Luke and Logan dominated all evening, a hilarious spectacle of animals in their natural habitat. However, Luke had disappeared for a while now, so I decided to look for him. Suddenly, Ava grabbed my hand.
“Where are you going?”
“Um... bathroom?” It wasn’t entirely a lie because my bladder had been reminding me of its existence for the last half hour. Ava leaned to the right, squinting suspiciously, but once I turned, she interrupted my attempt. Again. I instinctively laughed.
“Because... we’re ready for the grand final,” Ava announced dramatically.
“There’s more?” I asked in disbelief. “Guys, it’s too much.”
“But it’s the best part.”
She turned off the kitchen lights, leaving only the flickering firelight dancing around the room. Luke appeared, holding a cake, candles aglow, as they all broke into a Happy Birthday song. Emotion swelled in my chest, and I covered my face.
“Make a wish, Hazel,” Luke said softly. I didn’t even know what to wish for. This was already perfect. This was everything. I felt so loved, I felt at home. I felt like family.
I glanced at everyone around me. Then I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out the candles to a round of cheers.
Later, Ava and Norah were gathered around the kitchen counter while others were outside—some smoking, some just keeping company.
“Thank you so much,” I said, a deep calm settling over me. Something you feel after a long but perfect day outside.
“I know you two must have planned most of today. It was perfect.” I said, putting a piece of cake in my mouth.
“Oh, honey, you couldn’t be more wrong on this,” Norah said, nudging toward the tall, dark-haired man with caramel-brown eyes, who glanced at me from time to time.
