Across the room, Alex laughed at something Mel said. His whole face lit up. But then the warmth twisted, because I knew how this went.
My mother hated anything that didn’t fit inside the picture-perfect life she planned.
Stacey didn’t evenpretendto hide her judgment. And Ava . . . God, she was so vulnerable right now, opening night and big feelings and the world just being loud. I didn’t want to face their opinions. Not tonight. Not when everything felt so . . . new and good and fragile.
Alex caught my gaze again across the crowded room, and a tiny crease appeared between his brows, worried, like he could see every thought spiraling in my head.
It wasn’t fair that he felt bad. None of this was on him.
He started making his way over, weaving between kids and parents holding cupcakes. I pretended to sip my water, even though I could feel my pulse in my throat.
“Hey,” he said softly when he reached me.
“Hey.”
“You doing okay?” His voice was quiet, just for me.
My throat tightened. “I will be.”
He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean?—”
“No,” I cut him off quickly, shaking my head. “Please don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong.”
He looked relieved and guilty all at once, which was extremely Alex of him.
“It’s them,” I said quietly. “It’s always them.”
His jaw tensed. “I hate that they make you feel like this.”
I stared at my cup, twisting it between my fingers. “I hate that I let them.”
He didn’t say anything, but the look he gave me. It was full of a quiet protectiveness that nearly undid me. I had to swallow around the sudden burn in my chest.
Before I could say anything else, Ava’s laughter floated from the couch. She was showing Leo how to make her spooky little bat sound effect, and he was trying to imitate it. Her shoulders were relaxed. Her eyes were bright.
My girl was safe. Happy. Belonging.
I wished, more than anything, that I could freezethisand never go back to the cold, disapproving house waiting for us.
I was still standing there, clutching my cup like a life raft, when Mel suddenly materialized at my elbow.
“You look like you’re about to crawl right out of your skin,” she murmured, eyes soft and full of knowing. She glanced around the room. Becca was laughing with another parent, Leo and Ava sprawled on the rug building some kind of absurd Legotower, and Alex was watching me like he wished he could build me armor.
Mel leaned in. “If you guys need to get out of here . . . just say the word.”
My throat tightened. “I don’t want to be rude?—”
“Oh, please.” She waved a hand. “Half these people won’t notice, the other half will assume you went to talk about costumes. You look like you need air.”
She wasn’t wrong. I just wanted a moment.
Mel nudged me. “Go. I’ll keep Ava here with me. She’s having a great time.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you sure?”
She gave me a look that said,Honey, please.Then she winked.
I took a deep breath and walked over to Ava and Leo. They were sorting out whose dragon had better wings.
