Page 17 of What Maple Heard

A Sonnenberg doesn’t marry a pole dancer.

And I had said it out loud, to Kyle, laughing, while Maple stood on the other side of a door.

My phone rang. It was Kyle.

I stared at it for a second. Then I picked up.

“Hey.” Kyle said. “Are you still terrible?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m really sorry about that night, Cade.” Kyle said for the hundredth time since I had fucked up. “As I said Kyle, it was not about you. What I said— I was entirely responsible for it. One hundred percent.” I said.

“I still feel I was responsible somehow, Cade. I shouldn’t have taken you upstairs that night.”

“It’s fine. Anyway, how did the first call with the investors go?” I asked.

“Better than I could hope.” Cade said. “Why don’t we meet for lunch and talk more about it? It will also take your mind off things. Sapphire has also been worried about you. I’d ask her to join.”

“I can’t. I have to go to the town council.” That was a big part of Phase Two, but I wasn’t ready to spill all the details about it yet.”

A pause. “The town council. Why?”

“I’m making a donation to the Fall Festival fund. And I want to speak with the events director about something.”

Another pause. Longer this time. “Cade. What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done a long time ago.”

“This is about Maple.”

“Yes.”

Kyle was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had shifted slightly. “You really love her that much?”

“I need her, Kyle.” I said it simply, because it was simple. “I need her and I need River in my life. I’m going to make this right in whatever way I have to.”

“Okay.” He said it slowly, like he was processing. “Okay, man. I’ve never seen you like this about anyone. Not once. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“And your parents—“

“If they can’t handle my choices,” I said, “I don’t owe them an explanation beyond that.”

Kyle was quiet again. “Alright then. Good luck with winning her back, man.”

I pulled into the town hall parking lot, and had one foot out of the car when someone hugged me from the side.

I spun around.

Sapphire was dressed like she was going somewhere significantly more interesting than a town hall. She beamed at me.

“Surprise!”

I looked around the parking lot, then back at her. “What are you doing here?”

“I was supposed to meet you and Kyle for lunch, but then Kyle said you weren’t coming and that you’d be here, so I thought I’d come say hi.” She tilted her head. “You look terrible.”