Page 109 of Next to Everything We Wanted

We sat there crying and getting snot all over the place for who knew how long, unable to let go of each other. It was gross and pathetic, but we needed this moment. I couldn’t remember a time when we’d been this close.

“Hey, Forrest, is Gavin up?—”

We broke out of our hug to see Phoenix standing at our door with grocery bags, his mouth hanging open.

“Oh my.” He blinked. “I’ve never witnessed something like this before.”

“Shut up.” Forrest wiped his nose with a tissue. “We willneverspeak of this again.”

Phoenix shook his head before dropping his bags. He joined us in our hug on the couch, wrapping his long arms around his. The three of us sobbed together, rocking back and forth and blubbering nonsense. Even as our souls crumbled, it felt so . . . right.

I didn’t know if the media would find more information about my current life, if anyone spilled about that night,if everything remained the same. The future had endless possibilities, good and bad.

I just hoped these two guys would be a part of it.

CHAPTER 26

Sienna

My body jolted itself awake the moment my phone rang. I checked my pink digital clock,9:00 AMflashing in white.

I grabbed my phone from under my pillow and pressed the answer button, my heart thrashing against my ribs. “Is he home? Is he dead?”

“One of those answers,” Everett muttered, his voice muffled. “Yes, he’s home. He woke up an hour ago.”

“Thank goodness.” I put a hand to my chest, the air in my lungs finally circulating again.

Everett stayed silent for a few moments. “Listen, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us. Is there any way I can repay you?”

“You don’t have to pay me with anything. I’m just happy Gavin is alright.” I let out a deep yawn. “Sorry, I haven’t been sleeping that well.”

“I think I slept for almost twelve hours after Gavin came home yesterday.”

“I’m glad you finally got the rest you needed.” I fiddled with a hair tie on my wrist. What was I supposed to do now? Gavinwas home and recovering, Everett—or Forrest, though I hadn’t looked him up to see if I was correct—didn’t hate my guts, and nobody died.

Still, everything had fallen apart. Gavin thought he could hide his past from me. And even though part of me understood why, it tore me to pieces that he hadn’t trusted me. From what I found on the internet, he hadn’t done anything scandalous or shady—not that I researched much after what he’d said to me.

“Stop acting like you have everything under control.”

“I don’t need you. And I regret thinking I did.”

Yeah, we were over.

But it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d recovered from his mild concussion and could go back to his normal life. Well, his not-so-normal life.

Whatever. If I kept telling myself I could move on from this, that this was just a silly teenage relationship that wasn’t meant to last, I’d be as good as gold.

Gold with a bunch of cracks in it.

Ugh.

“You still there, Sienna?”

“Yeah.” I yawned again. “So, what’s going to happen now?”

“Honestly? I don’t know what our future holds.” Everett sighed. “We had to use Gavin’s real name at the hospital, and even though that information is confidential, someone could’ve overheard. But that’s not what I’m concerned about.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.” I fought the urge to curse at myself. Of course, there was nothing I could do to help. “And tell Gavin I love . . . for him to keep recovering.” I smacked myself in the face, knowing I sounded ridiculous.