Page 33 of If the Stars Align

“Well, you and Sunny make a stunning couple,” Uncle Ted said after the blonde woman had gone. “You look like a pair of movie stars.”

“She’sthe real star. Smart, kind, and gorgeous. I still can’t believe how lucky I am. If I play my cards right, I’m hoping that could be us someday.” I nodded toward Ben and his blushing new bride.

Had no clue at the time that my world was about to turn upside down.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Sunny told me. “What we have isn’t real.”

She may have said something else. But I could barely hear.

My vision went spotty—I was afraid I’d go blind.

To be honest, I was sure I was losing my mind.

Just say something. Anything! But what can I say?

She doesn’t want to be with me.

Of course she doesn’t want to be with me.

I’m a fake. A lie. A total sham.

So I nodded and said, “I understand.”

I understand???

What the fuck was I thinking? That is far from the truth—I understandnothing. Like how the hell can two people share a love this intense and let it all go? It just doesn’t make sense. ButI let my insecurities win. And letting Sunny go was a godawful sin. I can’t believe I fucked up like that.

But I’ll fight like hell to get her back.

I wait until sunrise, then I drive to Sunny’s house. I’m going to tell her that I love her. Hell, I’ll tell her about my panic attacks if I have to. I’ll squash any doubt she has about us. I’m almost feeling confident when I step onto her lawn.

But as fucking luck would have it—I don’t get very far.

“Dex? What are you doing here?”

It’s her mom. She’s dressed in hospital scrubs, heading toward her car. And she’s scowling.

“I need to talk to Sunny,” I say matter-of-factly.

But my heart is racing. My palms are sweaty.

“Honey, she’s asleep. It’s the crack of dawn! Why don’t I have her call you later this morning?”

No, I can’t turn back. I have to stay.“I’ll sit and wait in my car,” I say.

“You look like you’ve been crying. Did you and Sunny have a fight?”

She does her best to ask politely, but I’m well aware she doesn’t like me.

“It was a misunderstanding, not a fight. I need to talk to her.”To make things right.

“Dex, I don’t know what your intentions are. But trust me when I say, this willnotend well. Why don’t you save us all the trouble and go home?”

I can hardly believe my ears. “I’m in lovewith your daughter. I have been for years.”

I said it out loud—finally.

It’s like the weight of the world lifts off my shoulders.