“Have you lot thought about what you’re gonna do?” Kiera asks, her question thrown into the mix like a bomb. I think I know where she’s going with this.
“Meaning?” Pia asks.
Kiera shrugs. “How you’re gonna cope being so far away from each other. Anyone doing long distance?”
An unease settles over the group. Bryce is the only one who doesn’t seem perturbed.
“I’m glad I’m single,” he says. “I can’t wait to experience college.” He laughs with a wink.
“Oh my god, Bryce, you’re such a caveman sometimes,” Pia shoots back.
“What? Not all of us get to meet our people in high school, ya know.”
Pia leans into Todd. “We’re obviously doing long distance. Although it’s still a possibility that we’ll end up close to each other.”
“Yeah, I’m not worried,” Todd says, leaning down to kiss Pia’s hair.
“I commend you,” Kiera says. “The statistics of high school couples staying together are like two percent.”
Two percent? Is that it?
“But if you make it ten years the percentage is like forty-six, so that’s good,” she tacks on.
I see Becca’s face fall, and Bella’s hand holds her a little tighter. I press Eden’s thigh, needing her to ground me. She responds by tightening her arms around my chest.
“Thing is, we have no idea what’s going to happen,” Eden begins. “If we spent our time worried about things that ‘could happen’ we’d all be wrecks. One day at a time is my motto.”
“Oh totally,” Kiera says. “And I’m sure you and Sloane will be fine. All of you will.”
I can’t tell if she’s being genuine or not. What I do know is that there’s a ball of tension securely lodged in my chest now.Two percent. It’s such a tiny figure. My mind thinks of all the couples at Holcroft. Of all the possible broken hearts that are predestined because of distance and a statistic that is so bleak, it makes my belly hurt.
The conversation moves on, but I can’t. Now I really wish everyone was gone. I’m not sure if I can keep being a good hostess when I have dread and two percent rolling around my head making me feel nauseous.
I waited too long to tell Eden how I felt. So many wasted years.
“Hey, babe. Relax,” Eden whispers in my ear. I nod but don’t answer.
Mom saves the day by reminding everyone how late it’s getting. The next few minutes are spent hugging and laughing as the group leaves. Kiera hugs both Eden and me. She doesn’t look like she was being mean. In fact, she’s really tried with Eden today. Maybe she didn’t realize how her words would affect us all. Or maybe she’s just being realistic.
I know long distance is going to be a challenge. Now I’m wondering if it’s doomed to fail. Am I not giving enough credit to Eden and my relationship? We’re good together. She’s the one I want to be with.
Dammit. Why did Kiera have to say that shit?
Eden whisks me up to my room as soon as Mom gives us the go-ahead. I’m still firmly locked in my head when she pulls me into her chest. We’re finally alone, and I’m crying.
Not the way I wanted her birthday to end.
“Hey,” she says, palming my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. “I have faith in us, Sloane.”
God, that makes me feel worse. Eden is so sure about us. Why can’t I be like her? Why does it only take one remark to throw me off balance completely? Here I am questioning if we’re doomed, and there Eden is telling me she has faith in us.
“Sloane, get out of your head. I’m here. Talk to me. We’re in this together, babe.”
I let the timbre of her voice fill me. Taking a deep breath, I let her closeness and faith chase away the unease and uncertainty. I can’t let today end like this.
25
Eden
