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“It’s only four years.”
“So, I guess you’re not going to see sense then.” Heshook his head. “I need to do the same thing you did to your dad.”
“Wh-what?”
“I’m not staying friends with a guy who takes advantage of my sister.”
“I didn’t mean to take advantage of her, I just?—”
“You did.”
“She consented.”
“I don’t care! God, Alden,whywould I want my bestfriend crawling around her? I thought you were better.” He looked away. “Guess I thought wrong. Get out.”
Panic hit me—the same panic as when Dad left with his new wife. The same panic as when I found out Mom was gone and wouldn’t be coming home.
I couldn’t be left by one more person. The only person who had stuck around was Nick, and through him, I knew the Summers—the only family I had left. If I ruined things with him then I ruined things with them all.
“I’m sorry,” I rushed to say.
“It’s too late for that.”
“Let me fix this.”
“Fix it?”
“Yes. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
I was half convinced he would tell me to leave anyway, but instead, he looked just as pained as I did. I could only hope that he didn’t want to hate me as much as I didn’t want to hate him.
I gave him time, praying that he could think of something.
“Break it off with her,” he finally said. “And never look at her again.”
“Not even be friends with her?”
I couldn’t imagine my life without Stella in it. Even when we were kids, she made me as happy as Nick did.
“Can you stay away from her if you’re friends with her?”
I wanted to say yes. It would have been easier if I could.
But I knew the truth. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Then leave her alone.”
My head hung heavy. I was keeping Nick but losing Stella. And ithurt.
“Don’t try to make me feel bad,” he said. “You should have never touched her.”
“I know,” I replied. “I’ll keep my distance.”
He gave me a stiff nod and looked away. It was a clear dismissal, and I left his room without another word.
Down the hall, Stella’s door stood innocently. She’d invited me to spend time with her, but I knew I wouldn’t take her up on that. If I were smart, I’d march in there and tell her we could never do this again.
Even the thought made me feel like the biggest asshole in the world. I didn’twantto break it off with her. I didn’t want to hurt her.