Triple no.
What the hell is he doing?
“This year wasn’t great,” he breathes. “Far from it. If anything, it was the worst year of my entire fucking life. Everything went to hell. Everything. And the only good part—” his eyes find me in the crowd, “—was meeting a girl.”
I swallow hard.
He’s looking at me like I’m the only person at the party.
The only person in the whole damn universe.
“Technically, I didn’t meet her. I’ve known her for a while. Since I was a hyper little boy playing tag in this very backyard. I just didn’t know how much of an amazing human being she was until recently.”
I give him a pleading look.
Don’t do this.
There is nothing left to save.
Nothing worth ruining your life over.
I’m confident it can’t get any worse until he calls me by name.
“You were right, Aveena.”
Heads turn on cue, searching for me somewhere in the mass. People spot me in a matter of seconds, boring holes through my skull.
“I am a dork,” Xavier admits, each word coated in guilt.
My throat starts aching like a motherfucker, and I welcome the thick layer of tears stealing my sight.
I can’t watch this.
“I’m the biggest fucking dork on the planet for letting you suffer in my place. I might not have been strong enough before but…” Xavier shifts his focus back to the bewildered guests. “Someone once told me to protect the people who would protect me—” he steals a glance at his mother standing near the buffet with his dad, “—and I think it’s time I listen.”
His father looks flaming mad.
And his mom… she’s as pale as a sheet.
Xavier doesn’t speak again for the longest, most miserable wait of my life, keeping every person present on their toes.
That’s when he says the one thing he can never take back.
“I’m Zac.”
Time stops.
No one moves.
Reacts.
Makes a sound.
And, for once in my life, I truly understand what my dad meant. For the first time since he left me, I experience one of those life-altering moments that’ll either make you stronger…
Or kill you.
Here, gathered with half the town in Finn’s backyard…