“Maxwell Levine.”
“Clayton Reeves.”
Walking behind Max, I watch his every step. As students exit the stage, we are allowed to go off to our loved ones. The stage of students getting more and more empty by the moment. My mom and dad find the four of us before anyone has a chance to go find their families.
“Boys! All of you, squish in together. Let me get a picture!” Mom squeals, pure joy over her face. Dad smiles at her, watching over her shoulder.
She takes a photo and smiles. “Perfect. You all look so happy!”
“Happy to be free. Hell yeah!” Maverick cheers.
“Language!” Mom calls out.
“Sorry, Mrs. Reeves,” he mutters.
Randall Levine comes up behind my parents, pushing past and walking right up to Max. A woman next to him, their hands together. Her hair is long and dark, waves cascading over her shoulders. Dark eyes, a sharp and skinny nose, and full lips. She lights up the second she sees Max. I’m assuming it’s his mother.
He opens up his arms, taking her in. “Oh, it’s so good to see you, honey,” she says to him. Max smiles.
“It’s good to see you too, Mom.”
She turns and looks at Maverick and Dax. “Bring it in, boys,” she opens her arms and they both take turns hugging her.
“Mom, this is myfriend, Clayton,” he emphasizes the word friend. My mom looks at me with a raised eyebrow but I shake my head.
“Congratulations,” Randall says to Max, clapping a hand on his shoulder. It makes my entire body clench seeing his hand on him, even if it’s something so mundane.
All I picture is the bruise along Max’s face. I watch the way his body stills at the contact.
“You too, boys,” he says, holding a hand out to Maverick then Daxton.
“Thanks, Mr. Levine,” Dax and Maverick say in unison.
Mae comes over, wrapping her arms around her brother and squealing with joy. “You did it!”
“Thank god, right?” He chuckles. A man came up behind her. It must be Maverick’s dad because he looks like his twin.
If you took Maverick and aged him, you get his father. Copy and paste.
Several minutes go by and no one comes over to Dax. Max sees me staring with a curious face. “His parents have passed. All he has is us and our families. Don’t say anything because it doesn’t bother him if it isn’t talked about.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Not really my thing to tell, but you have questions written all over your face. Let him be and act normal, okay, pretty boy?”
I nod, agreeing, but feeling a little sad for him. We all stand here talking and chitchatting with each other's families. At this moment, under the hot Florida sun, in the beginning of June, I know that this is my corner. My family. This is where I belong.
And I’m so happy that I’ve found it.
Chapter 24
Maxwell
Two weeks later
“Havingyouhomeisso nice,” Mom says at the dinner table. Randall is running late and it’s the first moment that I’ve had alone with my mom. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about Clayton since graduation. My father seems to be at every turn and when he is, I’m not around. “I wish I could see more of you,” she adds.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t really stand being around him, you know,” I explain.
