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I greet them and plop down. I set Chloe’s plate beside me and start picking at my food. I suddenly lost my appetite, but I need to do something to not think about Chloe and what a jerk I am.
“You okay?” Uncle Zane asks.
I nod.
“Not in a chatty mood?” Aunt Bailey says.
I shrug.
Uncle Zane places his hand on my arm. “Want to talk about it?”
I shake my head.
Uncle Zane exchanges a concerned glance with his wife. I don’t want them to worry about me, so I say, “Just tired from dancing.”
Aunt Bailey smiles. “You kids looked like you were having so much fun.”
I dip my head. “Yep. Lots of fun.”
“Hey, man.” Uncle Zane bends close. “Are you upset because you don’t have a date? The right girl will come at the right time.”
“No, that’s not it. I guess I’m just in a crappy mood. I don’t know.” I hate lying to them, but the last thing I need is for them to be in my business.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Aunt Bailey asks.
I nod. “Just normal teenage stuff. Nothing to worry about. I’ll get over it soon.”
Uncle Zane nods in understanding. “And I’m sure the final round of the cooking competition is taking a toll on you. But don’t sweat it. Whatever happens, know that we all support you.”
“Thanks.” I wish the only thing I’m worried about is the competition. It seems so petty to worry about that when my friendship with Chloe will be destroyed forever. All because I was too much of a wuss to tell her how I felt from the start.
If I did that, would it have ended our friendship? We wouldn’t have watchedSwords and Legendstogether, probably wouldn’t compete in the cooking competition together. Would we be strangers?
Uncle Zane rubs my back. “You’re only a kid once,” he tells me. “Remember that. Whatever you’re worrying about will work out. Just enjoy yourself and your friends and all the good things in your life.”
I lift a brow. “You’re talking from your own experience.”
“I wish I would have enjoyed my life more when I was younger. Before I met this awesome person.” He smiles at Bailey. “I had so many people who cared about me, but I didn’t see it or appreciate it. You, Liam, have an army of people who want only what’s best for you.”
“I know. Thanks.”
Zoey runs over to her parents. “The women’s bathroom is flooded.”
Aunt Bailey gives her a look. “What did you girls do?”
Zoey blinks innocently. “Us?”
“We can sniff out the dirty work of you, Mia, and Rylee in a heartbeat.” Uncle Zane sighs. “All right. Let’s see the damage and call someone to check it out. See ya, bud.” He waves at me before he and Aunt Bailey follow my cousin to the bathroom.
I finish my food, forcing my eyes not to wander toward the hallway. But darn, I find myself getting up and peeking out. She’s still standing there. I’m pretty sure she’s been waiting there for over an hour.
I go back to the table with a sigh, and my friends, Aidan, and Xavier drop down on the chairs, pulling a few over from the other tables.
“That was so much fun!” Lily exclaims. She beams at Xavier. “Dancing with my Romeo never gets boring. I can do it all night.”
“All night,” Xavier agrees with a loving smile. “My amazing Cupid Lily.”
“Grandma Celine tried to get me to wear heels tonight,” Ava informs us. “I said heck no. Flats for the win. At least I didn’t step on Aidan’s toes too much.”
