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“You must be Cameron,” she says, rushing into the room with her hand extended.

Cameron swallows hard. “Nice to meet you,” he manages, shaking her hand.

I jump in before she can sense anything wrong, pulling her into a big hug. “Hey, Gwen. How are you?”

“Good! Busy with finals, but good.” She pulls back, looking between us. “Do you guys want to go out? There’s this new place on King Street that’s supposed to be amazing.”

“We’re really tired,” I say quickly. “Long drive.”

“Ah, bummer.” She looks genuinely disappointed. “Well, maybe tomorrow?”

“Maybe,” I say noncommittally.

Cameron clears his throat. “I’m actually going to… I’ll just go to my room.”

He practically flees.

Gwen watches him go, then turns to me with wide eyes.

The moment the door closes, she grabs my hand and squeezes it.

“Oh my God, Luc. He’s so fucking cute.”

My mouth falls open. “What?”

“Don’t play stupid with me,” she says, grinning. She hits me on the shoulder. “Claire called me. She saw you with him on campus, and she figured it out. I’ve been waiting to meet him for weeks.”

My heart is racing. I’m trying to work out what she means by all this. Trying to understand.

I sit down on the bed and start taking deep breaths.

“Luc?” Gwen’s voice shifts, concern creeping in. “Are you okay? Luc?”

I can’t look at her.

“Oh God, are you mad at me? That’s so unfair. I should be mad at you! Why didn’t you tell me you like boys? I had to find out from Claire!”

“Gwen,” I say weakly. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad. Promise.”

She looks at me with horror. “Are you crazy? I would never. I can’t believe you think you have to tell me that. Duh.”

She sits next to me and wraps her arms around me.

“I love you, Luc,” she says quietly. “This doesn’t change anything.”

I hug her back as tears leak from the corners of my eyes.

I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that.

The relief is overwhelming. My chest heaves, and I can’t stop the sob that escapes. Gwen holds me tighter.

“Hey, hey,” she whispers. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

But I’m not okay. I’m scared. Afraid that Mom will look at me the way Dad does. That I’ll lose everything. That Cameron will realize I’m not worth the risk.

“I’m so scared,” I admit, my voice breaking.

“Of what?”