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So no. I’m not okay. I’ll never be okay. I’ve spent so long pretending otherwise that I’m not sure I know the difference anymore.

I turn my attention out the window again, unwilling to let Milo see how much I’m hurting. But when he starts to pull his hand away from my knee, I find myself covering it with my own, lacing my fingers through his.

I only pull my hand away when Sienna’s ringtone starts blaring.

“Hi, Grams.” I hear Sienna say. “He did what? Okay. No, Grams, it’s no problem at all. Yeah. Okay. I should be there in five. Love you too.” She hangs up with a sigh. “Looks like I can’t come over after all. Pops is having a moment, and Grams needs me back at the house.” She leans forward between the seats. “Mind dropping me off first, Milo?”

“Sure. No problem.”

“Do you need me to come with you?” I offer.

“No, it’s okay.” Sienna waves me off. “Pops sometimes gets a little loopy when the sun goes down. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Minutes later, we stop in front of Sienna’s house.

“See you, losers,” Sienna says, jumping out of the back seat without another word.

“She really is a ray of sunshine, isn’t she?” Kody says while Milo waits for Sienna to make it safely inside.

“That’s what Max said too.” Paige giggles.

“She’s an acquired taste,” I add with a smile, watching my friend walk into her house. “But no one is a more loyal friend than Sienna Hartley. I can guarantee you that.”

Once Sienna heads inside, Milo pulls away from the curb and drives the block to my house. As we arrive, I turn to thank him for the ride when he steals the words right out of my mouth by leaning over to unbuckle me.

I try to keep it together, but I’m pretty sure I’m blushing too hard for him not to notice.

“Give me a minute, okay, guys? I’m just going to walk Max to her door.”

Before I can tell him otherwise, he’s out of the truck and closing the door behind him.

“I… um… have fun at the party,” I say, turning around to say goodbye to Kody and Paige.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Paige asks, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

“Not tonight.” I force a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the diner, yeah?”

Paige gives me an earnest smile while Kody keeps his arms wrapped tightly around her, apparently having no intention of letting her leave his lap anytime soon.

“See ya, Max.”

The truck’s door swings open a second later, with Milo standing on the other side.

Apparently unbuckling my seat belt and walking me to the front door isn’t enough. He has to open the truck door for me too.

I duck my head as I climb out, hoping the darkness hides just how much I’m blushing.

Neither of us utters a word as Milo walks me up the stairs, his hands shoved into his jean pockets.

“Well, this is me,” I mumble once we’re standing on the porch, not entirely sure what else to say.

“Yep, this is you.” He shifts on his heels.

“Thanks for the ride,” I add, jingling the keys in my hand instead of opening the door.

When neither of us says anything else, I insert the key into the lock and turn it. But before I manage to open the door even a crack, Milo gently grabs my wrist.

“Can I ask you something?”