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And Xed hasn’t said a word.

Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and drag a hand down my face. The only messages I’ve gotten are from reporters, teammates, Mom, Jenna, and my friends. All of them keep asking the same thing: What now?

I don’t have an answer. I’ve put everything out there. Everything. And the silence on the other end feels like a fucking brick to my chest.

Maybe I shouldn’t have done it. Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut, kept my feelings where they’ve always been—buried deep. Maybe this silence is his way of saying no.

The TV’s laugh track blares again, adding insult to injury, so I grab the remote and finally shut it off. My head falls against the cushion, and I stare at the ceiling, feeling completely lost. Missing my best friend so much it hurts.

Where do I go from here?

Was I too late?

A sharp knock at the door cuts through the silence, startling me. I freeze, heart pounding as I prick my ears to listen.

Another knock echoes around the empty house, louder than the last.

Half-annoyed, I drag myself off the couch and head for the door, grumbling at the clock. It’s like nine-thirty. Who shows up at someone’s house so late?

The moment I swing it open, I’m hit with a sight so ridiculous that, for a second, I think I’m hallucinating.

Because there he is. Xed. Man of my dreams. Standing on my porch, cheeks red, hair a mess, and holding… a duck.

An actual fucking duck.

It flaps its wings and lets out a loud, irritated quack like it’s just as confused about being here as I am.

“What—" My voice catches, and I stare at him, blinking like maybe the duck will disappear if I look hard enough. “What the hell are you doing here? And what is that?” I point at the duck because, honestly, what the fuck?

“It’s a duck,” Xed says like that explains anything. His tone is flat, but there’s a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “Obviously.”

“No, I mean—" I rub my eyes, still in disbelief. “Why are you holding a duck at my front door, Xed?”

He shuffles his feet awkwardly, looking down at the duck like it’ll explain everything. “It’s… a peace offering.”

“A duck is your peace offering?”

“Well, yeah.” He frowns like I’m the weird one. “You like ducks.”

I gaze at him for several quiet seconds. “Yeah, when I was a kid.”

He shrugs, holding the duck out toward me. “So? I figured it’d make you happy. Or distract you. Or… I don’t know.”

He trails off, and for the first time, I see it. The anxiety. The nerves.

The fact that he’s scared, just like I am.

My chest tightens, and I have to swallow the lump rising in my throat as I step closer. “Xed. What are you doing here?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifts the duck to one arm, the other running through his hair. Finally, he looks at me, his voice barely above a whisper. “I couldn’t ignore it. I couldn’t ignore you.”

My heart stutters and our gazes lock as the breath leaves my lungs. For a moment, all that exists is us—him, my best friend, studying my face like he’s afraid he’ll forget it if he doesn’t map every feature. I do the same, soaking in those gold-flecked eyes I love so much and the slight tilt of his lips. Lips I’ve gone way too long without kissing.

Just as I step forward, intent on claiming his mouth, an indignant quack shatters the bubble between us.

“We need to talk,” he says hoarsely, blinking as if dazed. I nod, moving aside to let him pass.

“Yeah, okay. Come inside. Bring the duck.”