“So you’re not mad at him?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m furious with him. I might even punch him the next time I see him. He deserves it. He stole my girlfriend right out from under me. I definitely will punch him next time I see him.” The corner of his mouth lifts like he’s teasing. “But he’s a good guy, and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He can give you more than I can right now.”
It’s like he’s giving us his blessing without actually saying he’s giving us his blessing.
I pull Justin into a hug. “I think you’re going big places, and I can’t wait to see all of your hard work pay off.”
His arms wrap around me, and we hug in my parents’ kitchen for a few minutes, letting this moment be the end of us—something that should’ve happened months ago.
But at least it’s happening now. Before it’s too late.
* * *
I comeinto the living room. My family is quieter than ever before as they watch me.
“Justin left. I snuck him out the garage so he didn’t have to face all of you and the embarrassment.”
“We know,” my mom says. “We had Peter sneak a cell phone in while you were talking and leave it on the kitchen table. We heard your whole conversation through the speakerphone.” She holds up another phone, showing me. “I think Justin took it pretty well.”
“So do I,” Juliet agrees. “All things considered.”
My mouth falls open. “I can’t believe you guys. That was a private conversation.”
“Really?” Anna folds her arms. “You’re going to judge us when you’ve been lying for weeks about who Justin—or should I sayCaleb—really is.”
“That’s fair.” I bite my lip. “Should we just call it even?”
“Summer, it’s sad that you thought you had to go to such great lengths to make us like Justin.”
“You guys are the most important people to me. I need you to love whomever I love.”
My mom steps toward me, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Well, we love Caleb.”
“I do too.” I smile as tears gather in my eyes.
“Then let’s go get him,” she says.
“Right now?”
“Yes!” my family says together.
“What better time is there to go after the man you love than Christmas Eve?” Erin smiles. “Plus, I want to see it, so you need to do it while I’m in town.”
“Call it a birthday present to yourself,” Juliet encourages.
“I think he’s at his parents’ house. That’s probably where Justin is headed. I can’t show up there and confess my love to Caleb after I just broke Justin’s heart. They’re mom will kill me.”
“Sure you can!” my dad says as he jumps to his feet. “And I’ll drive you.”
“I’m coming too!” Peter bounces up and down.
“We’ll all go in the van.” My dad gestures for everyone to come with him.
“We can’t all fit in the van,” I protest.
“It’s a twelve-passenger van!”
“Yeah, and there’s like twenty of us.”
