Page 110

“No, seriously.” She points at me accusingly while we continue down the path. “This definitely has something to do with your mystery boyfriend. Which we’re still going to talk about, by the way.”

I look ahead at the crowd instead of answering.

The path opens into a clearing washed in silver moonlight and soft amber string lights. Hay bales and layered blankets are scattered across the grass in loose rows facing a massive blank projector screen stretched between wooden poles. Pumpkins glow from every corner, candles flickering beside them. People lounge in groups in thick jackets, voices blending into the cold night air without ever becoming loud.

“Okay,” Amani breathes out with a grin, “this is so adorable.”

I scan the setup automatically, eyes catching the edge of the hedge maze stretching behind the screen, dark walls of trimmed green disappearing deeper into the property.

Amani picks a spot for us to sit down and tucks her legs beneath the blanket and leans into my side, shoulder pressed against my arm as the lights overhead sway softly in the wind.

“I think Lucas likes me,” she says suddenly.

I glance down at her. “You think?”

She snorts quietly. “Okay, fine. I know he does.” Then her smile softens. “I just… don’t know what we are yet.”

I rest my elbows on my knees, staring ahead at the blank screen.

“Things got really bad for a while, you know, after Xavier.” Her fingers toy with the edge of the fabric. “I kept thinking about all the horrible possibilities, and I couldn’t stop. I think I drove myself insane for a bit.”

I stay quiet and let her talk.

“His parents were a mess, Adrian. So was his sister. Lucas and I started helping out where we could. Bringing cooked meals over, helping search, making posters.” She shakes her head slightly. “That’s kinda how me and Lucas started spending more time together.”

I hum faintly, nodding and knowing exactly where this conversation is going. Our friend group has been scattered and misplaced after that day Xavier stormed the Pizzaria looking all mortified and shit. I’ve had my own problem to solve and haven’t been hanging out with them as much as we used to. However, I knew this meant that they ended up spending more time together, alone. This was inevitable, really.

“He surprised me,” she admits. “I always thought he was just… loud and chaotic and kind of an idiot.”

“He is.”

Amani laughs softly and nudges my knee.

“But there’s another side to him,” she claims. “He stayed with Xavier’s mom for hours one night because she didn’t want to be alone. He helped organize search parties. He actually cares about people, you know. Like a lot.”

“That’s unfortunate for him,” I mutter.

She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

I do.

And strangely enough, I’m glad she’s talking about Lucas instead of circling endlessly around Xavier’s disappearance again. The grief still exists under her skin, but it doesn’t consume every sentence anymore.

Amani rests her head briefly against my shoulder as she continues, “I think I like him because he makes things less heavy.”

My gaze drifts toward the dark tree line beyond the screen, watching the trees in the distance dance like disembodied shadows.

I understand that feeling more than she’d ever know. It’s frustrating. However, I don’t feel the buzz of irritation that usually settles under my skin.

A scuffle behind us catches my attention, but before I can turn around, a voice booms between us.

“Boo.”

Amani yelps beside me, nearly falling over as Lucas drops down behind us, laughing so hard he almost chokes on himself.

I don’t even flinch. I’ve been ambushed enough.

“Fuck-sakes, Lucas,” Amani hisses, smacking his arm while he collapses onto the blanket beside her.