“Hey,” I greeted.
“Hey.” He stood up and towered over me, but he didn’t make me feel small or scared. He made me feel bold and brave.
“How was the ride?” I asked.
“Good. The stars are bright tonight.”
I nodded. “Very bright.”
“I’ll take you on a night ride sometime if you want.”
“I’d like that,” I said. “You ready to go?”
“Can I show you something first?” he asked.
I nodded.
He took my hand and led me down the porch steps. I didn’t ask where he was taking me; I just let him lead.
“You and your friends okay?” he asked after a stretch of silence.
“Yeah, I think so,” I said.
“Liar.”
“What?” I asked.
“You’re lying. You’re still hurt.”
I swallowed. “I guess I didn’t cover it up well.”
“You did. But I know you.”
Under the night sky he was a tall shadow, but I swore I met his eyes. “You do know me, don’t you?”
“And you know me,” he stated. “This way.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said. “But it’ll take a bit. They know they hurt my feelings, and I know they didn’t mean to.”
“You forgive so easily.”
I started to giggle and it crescendoed into maniacal laughter.
“What?” he asked in confusion. “Why was that so funny?”
“Because Idon’tforgive easily. Not at all. I haven’t forgiven my parents for leaving me on my grandparents’ doorstep.”
“That’s different,” he stated.
“How?”
“Hadley, Salem and Wyn are your family—family you chose. Which is completely different. When they fuck up, you give them the benefit of the doubt. That’s not the same as your parents who abandoned you.”
Abandon.
Such a strong, ugly word. For me, there was so much anger and pain wrapped up in it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a real conversation with my parents. It felt pointless. They weren’t going to change. And clinging to the memory of their estrangement only hurt me more.
My throat was tight.
