I slam my hand over his mouth. “Shush.”
He chills out, smiling. “So, are we good?”
“Yeah, I think so. You cool with the real me?”
“I can deal. Maybe you can even talk with Tabby about this stuff.”
A tired chuckle seeps out of me.
“So, these dates you want to go on,” he says, hesitantly looking out the door. “They’re with Milo?”
I swallow hard. “We’re official.”
Kai’s eyes grow glassy. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was fighting my feelings for so long; I didn’t think there’d be anything to tell.” I kick my feet against the bed frame. “Then we started up, and I didn’t want anything to ruin it.”
Kai nudges me. “You didn’t want me to ruin it.”
“You kept Tabby a secret from me until you got serious about her.”
He gestures at the TV. “Because the version of yourself you shared with me wouldn’t have approved.”
I rest my head on his shoulder. “This is why we can’t have any more secrets.”
He pats my knee. “Totally agree.”
Thirty-One
“Ohmygosh,Jamie!”Eight hours later, when I hear Aunt Maddy’s voice, it’s like sweet relief.
“Aunty!” I cry out, racing to meet her by the sofa.
We hug, and she pants her breaths. “Oh, Jamie. I can’t believe this. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
“Don’t be. It wouldn’t have changed the outcome. We already knew Mom was gone.”
She nods. “Now we have closure.”
I look over her shoulder. “Where’s David?”
“He’ll be back in the morning,” Aunty Maddy replies. “He raced to the airport with me, but there was only one seat left on the plane. Nothing was stopping me from getting back here, and he supported that.”
“I’m sorry you had to cut your trip short.”
“Are you kidding me?” Aunt Maddy cups my face as her eyes become glassy. “Nothing’s more important than being with you right now. Gosh, I missed you. Are you okay, baby?”
I nod, smiling. “I’m okay. I’m so freaking thankful you’re home.”
Aunt Maddy sighs with relief, enveloping me in the warmest hug. When we part, Mrs. Nelson embraces my aunt while I wander toward Milo. An adorable smile brightens his face, and I can’t help melting.
“We should get going,” Mrs. Nelson says. “Leave you guys to process everything.”
“Can Milo stay?” I ask, interlacing my fingers with his as I clamp down on his hand.
Aunt Maddy double-takes at us, gesturing at our linked hands. “What’s this?”
“Umm, we…” Milo trails off nervously.
