My mom patted his arm like he was a good boy. “Didn’t you have something you wanted to say to Julia?” She continued to direct the conversation, and I felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone where everything was a little backward and roles had reversed.

“I’m sorry I kicked you out. I was wrong to do that. Even with or without what happened tonight, I should have never done that to you. I was just so mad; I couldn’t see straight.” He tugged at his salt-and-pepper hair, the distress written all over his tired eyes.

“I know.” I started to add that it was okay but stopped myself because it wasn’t, and I didn’t want to excuse his behavior.

“I think I was mostly mad because I had known it was coming. I had seen that storm brewing in the distance years ago, and I knew, once you crossed that line, there’d be no going back for either of you. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep you two away from each other, no matter what I did. Can you ever forgive me for trying?”

My eyes watered with my dad’s admission. “If you can forgive the Russos, Dad, I’m willing to forgive just about anything,” I said and meant it, my heart feeling so full that I thought it might burst inside my chest and flood my entire body. Ten more seconds, and I’d drown in a sea of my heart’s own emotions.

Thankfully, the words stopped, and I hugged each of my parents before heading outside. I cast a quick glance at the Russo house and noticed that all the lights were still on. I wondered if they were discussing the evening more, like we had been, or if they were still celebrating.

My legs begged me to cross the imaginary line that no longer existed and knock on their front door for the first time in my life, but my mind stopped me. It was too tired for more words or feelings tonight, and so I trudged toward my tiny bungalow instead, a hot shower and my bed not only calling my name, but also screaming it.

Poor Jeanine had been texting me all night, threatening my life if I didn’t at least give her a thumbs-up or down emoji. She informed me that she couldn’t sleep until she knew something, ANYTHING—she had written in all caps.

I sent her a quick response with a thumbs-up to calm her nerves and told her I’d fill her in on everything tomorrow. My best friend was going to lose her mind over what had happened here tonight. And that would make two of us.

SPREADING RUMORS

James