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“They were a little preoccupied.”

He scoffed.

“Things are tense enough as is.” He said. “Did you need to add fuel to the fire?”

I took a threatening step closer, ready to tell him what a hypocrite he was, but Gracie’s words had us both frozen.

“Are Mom and Dad going to get a divorce?”

All the rage in our faces disappeared. We could deal with our grievances later. Gracie was our priority.

We kneeled to her height as she clutched Duke closer to her. The downturn of her lips was unsettling. Josh and I shared a glance.

“No, they’re not.”

“They might.”

We spoke at the same time. He glared at me, but I kept my gaze on Gracie.

“What Asher is trying to say-”

“What I’m trying to say is that no matter what happens, we’re always going to be here for you. You’re always going to have us.”

Tears glossed her eyes. I reached out to wipe them for her, but she recoiled.

“Until you’re both off to college.”

Her sharp tone took us aback, but even more by her angered walk into our home. Josh ran his hand down his face.

“Good job, Asher.” He said. “What a way to comfort her.”

The weight of regret pushed down on my shoulders, leaving me covered in a blanket of remorse. I kicked a lone pebble and listened to it clatter into the darkness. I always messed everything up.

??

12

“This could be the end of everything.”

Somewhere Only We Know, Keane

Josh

The hallways were alive with the symphony of hurried footsteps, and the air carried a sense of excitement, as it always does on a Friday. The cafeteria was just as lively, blended with the aroma of various foods.

I searched the crowded room for my friends, but my eyes fell on Sawyer’s table. My heart quickened and my palms felt sweaty. It’s something I’ve noticed happens whenever I’m near her or thinking of her.

I had it bad. I’d only known her for a month and I was already in deep, but I couldn’t help but notice her eyes light up as she talked with her friend.

“What are you looking at?” Noah asked.

Just your sister.

“Our friends.”

I looked in the opposite direction as Sawyer. Noah dragged me towards the table where Ava, Elsie, and Collin sat laughing at something Kellan said. He was sharing what we’d gotten up to during practice until he lost his footing on the ice and landed on his rear end.

“I asked Asher and his band to perform at my party tomorrow.” Elsie said after Kellan’s lengthy story.