I know my parents love me. I know my sister loves me. I know Lav loves me.
But they didn’tchooseme.
Even Ava—she didn’tchooseme.
She took me because she believed we needed to get married since she was pregnant. It’s how she was raised. It’s what was expected.
“Fuck me, I don’t deserve you,” I whisper.
She laughs softly. “That’s what I think every time I see you too.”
I believe her.
For every bit that she’s my sunshine, my joy, myhome—I’m hers too.
Just as I am.
And for the first time in ages, I feel something else too.
Peace.
Lightness.
Optimism.
I love this woman, and I will move heaven and earth to keep her safe and happy.
And that—that’s not a chore.
It’s not an obligation.
It’s not a responsibility.
Cricket?
She’s an honor and a privilege to have in my life.
Every single minute of it.
40
CRAZY STUPID VIRAL
Cricket
Heath’s parentsare the best.
Thebestbest.
And I completely get why he’s worried that he’s not good enough, even though he absolutely is.
“You must’ve been so hurt,” Vivian—his mom—is saying to me as we watch Heath and his dad, whose name truly is Thor, setting up the bounce house for Lav’s party. “The internet doesn’t deserve you.”
“It brought me here, so I can’t complain too much,” I tell her.
“Yes, you can, and you should. The end doesn’t always justify the means, and the internet’s means were terrible.”
“Mabel says half the comments were probably from bots.”
