Page 142 of Crash & Burn

I want to take Mia’s hand and run. Wishing that we could goback to our little bubble of only us. The bubble that we worked so hard to create for it to pop in an instant and for reality to spill in.

I shake the thought away, knowing that I didn’t work this hard to be the man she deserved to not convince her brother—my best friend—that I am the man who will love her for the rest of my life.

Mateo has seen me at my absolute worst, and I am about to show him that I am at my absolute best, and it is all thanks to his little sister.

I push the door to the patio out, and I see Mateo leaned back against the brick wall of the venue we are at. He turns to look at me as the door closes behind me.

“Mia said you wanted to talk,” I say. I figured it would be best to let him lead the conversation, knowing that this morning he wanted nothing to do with me.

“She told me that you guys were serious about each other. Is it true?”

“Yes.” I barely let the question leave his mouth before I answer. “I’m in love with her.”

Mateo shakes his head, but it isn’t out of disappointment. It kind of seems like he’s at a loss. This is my best friend. Someone I know like the back of my hand. I know he doesn’t lose his cool. I know he thinks of every single possible outcome, so he can be prepared. He is just like his sister in that way.

I also know that he likes solutions. He likes clear-cut ways to solve problems.

He doesn’t like losing his cool. He doesn’t like conflict.

So, I’ll make it easy for him.

“Mateo, I love her in a way I didn’t know I was capable of. I thought I was broken, too broken to even bother fixing. I grew up thinking my only job was to make sure everyone around me was okay. Protected and safe. I never wanted anyone to have to worry about me.

“It was Mia who helped me realize I was capable of more, that I deserved more. She helped me see these parts of me weren’t so broken to begin with. I just buried them so deep that I forgot they were there.” I pause. Mateo’s eyes are glued to mine as he takes in every word. “She made life worth living again, Mateo.”

A few silent moments pass before Mateo lets out an exhale. “I will never forget that night with your dad.” We have never talked about this. Ever. One of the things we both leave unsaid.

“I’ve never thanked you for that.”

“You didn’t have to. I’d do anything for you, you know that. That’s what I’m saying. But that’s also why I think I reacted the way I did this morning. I asked you to stay away from Mia, knowing that she had a lot going on, and so do you, and you went behind my back. That’s fucked up, man.”

“Trust me, I know it was a really shitty thing for us—for me—to do to you. I can’t explain to you how guilty I felt, but I also can’t explain to you how I was willing to do anything not to lose her. But I should’ve never let that include lying to you.” I reach out to put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“You guys are the real deal? Not just messing around?”

“What I have with her is as real as it gets.”

He nods his head, taking in my words. For a second, I worry that he’s going to say he doesn’t care and kick me in the balls, but then he finally says, “I’m happy for you.”

What?

Not what I was expecting him to say, and the confusion must be written all over my face.

“I know the road here hasn’t been easy for you. I’ve noticed a change in you. I just didn’t realize it was because of my sister. You seem happy.Genuinelyhappy.”

“I am.”

“Don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t plan on it.” I pull him in for a hug, feeling a weight on my chest lift, the guilt I’ve been carrying dissolve.

“Did you guys kiss and make up?” I hear behind me, and I would know the voice—the sass, the spark—anywhere.

“Come here,” I say, bringing both my best friend and my girlfriend in, and the three of us don’t have to say aloud how much it means to hold one another after thinking we never would again.

“So, am I back in the band?” I ask, and the three of us laugh, and all is right in the world.

“Now, join me in welcoming Drew and Emmett, our beautiful newlyweds, to the dance floor for their first official dance as husband and wife!” Mateo says into the microphone.

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