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Uncle Matt put his arm around Aunt Brooklyn’s shoulders. They smiled at each other.

I remembered thinking that Jacob and I were that happy. I was so naïve.

“Are you okay?” Axel whispered.

I nodded. But I was so tired of telling everyone I was fine. “I asked someone to the dance. And he didn’t show.”

Axel didn’t respond.

I turned toward him even though our parents were still taking pictures. And it was the first time I realized that his date wasn’t here either. “Wait. Did no one ask you?”

“A few girls did, actually.”

“Oh. So... Did the one you said yes to not show either?”

“No, she did.”

I laughed and looked around. “So where is she? Oh, is she in the bathroom? We should tell them to hold off on the pictures. Please tell me it’s not Gigi, though.”

Axel slowly shook his head. “No. My date is right in front of me.” He stared down at me.

I wanted to cry all over again. “You said no to the other girls who asked you to the dance so that we could go as friends? You didn’t have to do that Axel.”

“I didn’t.”

“Oh, my dad made you, right?” I sighed. “You didn’t need to listen to him, Axel.”

“No. Fuck your dad. I’m done listening to him.”

“What?”

“You asked me to the dance. You asked me and your dad was behind you and he shook his head ‘no’ at me. And screw that. Screw him and his stupid rules that have made me miserable since sixth grade. I’ve been waiting for you to make the first move my whole life. You finally did. And I’m not waiting another second. This was supposed to be my loophole.”

Loophole? What is happening?

“You asked me to the dance and I didn’t say yes even though I wanted to. But then I asked you and you said yes.”

I shook my head. “You never...”

“Yes I did. I texted you.”

“I think I’d remember you texting me that.”

“I didn’t text you as me, baby.”

Baby. I opened my mouth and closed it again. There was only one person that called me that.

“I never meant to make you feel like I didn’t love you out loud. But you hadn’t made the first move yet. And I just couldn’t bear the thought of you giving all your firsts to someone else when they belonged to me.”

All my firsts? “You’re...you...” Was he saying that he was my kiss thief? I’d wanted to give Axel all my firsts. But I never thought he’d wanted them. “I told you I saved my first kiss for you. You didn’t want it.”

“It’s all I wanted. So I took it the only way I could.”

“You’re my kiss thief?” I whispered.

He slowly nodded. “And you haven’t been stood up. I’m your date to the Sadie Hawkins dance. And every dance for the rest of our lives. Unless your dad makes good on his promise and actually kills me.”

What?