“I won’t pick on anyone too much,” Avery decided. “Besides, I’m just happy to see everyone so happy.”
“Me too,” June chimed. “It’s nice.”
Itwasnice.
I breathed out for the first time in years. Phil was gone. All my worry about that was far greater than I’d ever realized, and it was gone.
Some of the resentment I’d carried toward my dad immediately lessened, and I melted back, letting the feeling settle in my chest.
And for the first time in years, I really let myself miss him without wishing I was like him, without wishing circumstances were different.
Things were exactly the way I wanted them to be.
Almost.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Evie
Austin
Can all of you meet tonight at 7pm? At my place?
Austin’s cryptic message had been on my mind for exactly twelve hours now.
I baked, prepped, sold a full case of pastries—but Austin Whynot was on my mind. When wasn’t he, though?
Things had settled down over the last couple days. Phil was, thankfully, out of the picture. The Whynot family was safe, and we no longer had a stalker.
Something was still missing, though.
I was getting in my head. I knew I was. But now that the dust was settling, part of me wondered if this was the moment it all fell apart.
Twelve fucking hours was a long time to wonder if Austin was ending things with us.
It was my greatest fear. What if he was done? What if he didn’t want to give this a try? Matthew and Nick had no idea what he could want to talk about tonight either. They were just as worried, it seemed, even though he and Nick had finally come together (in more ways than one.)
God, what if I was walking into that?
I pulled my car into his driveway and leaned back in my seat, staring at the front door. Nick and Matthew beat me here, of course. I pulled out my phone, reread his text message, then decided to panic-text Avery and June. I’d told them about Austin’s cryptic text at lunch, so they were eagerly waiting for an update too.
Me
What if I walk in and he breaks up with us?
Avery
Austin loves you, Evie. He loves all of you. We saw it the other day.
June
I agree. That man is so in love. It’s really really sweet to see. You should have heard Dallas talk about it. He’s so happy for him
Avery
Yes, exactly. Mateo and Levi said the same thing. There’s no way he’s doing that
June
