His voice is softer now.
Careful.
“It’s okay.”
I don’t believe him.
But I want to.
He taps the bed beside him. Casual. Like nothing just happened.
“Wanna play?”
Relief hits so hard it almost makes me dizzy.
“Yeah,” I say quickly, sitting down beside him. Grabbing the controller like it’s something solid to hold onto.
Something normal.
• • •
I love Cassian.
I know exactly what kind of love it is now.
I’ve known since fourteen.
Fine, If I’m being honest, since eight.
But I’ll never say it.
Because he’s the person I tell everything to and this is the one thing I can’t.
So we can get past this.
We will.
Because I won’t bring it up again.
I won’t risk ruining this.
Because I know — this is only me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
• • •
Things changed that day.
The day on the bed. The it’s okay I didn’t believe.
If I had known what was coming, I would’ve held onto what we had a little tighter. Paid more attention.
Memorized it.
Because after that — it was completely gone.
