“I’m really sorry,” I say, and I am. My parents have always gotten along well, and there’s never been a time when I doubted that they loved each other or me. I can’t imagine living any other way.

“It’s fine,” he says. “I just really wanted to be with you. Things feel a lot better when you’re around, and focusing on the Diary has been a real lifeline for me lately.”

I smile. There’s a pressure in my chest, squeezing my heart and my lungs, twining through my nerve endings, like this is the Tether—the moment that binds us together forever.

“Hurry up!” Jordan screams.

And Drew shoots back, “Calm down! The movie doesn’t start for an hour!”

I laugh, interlacing my fingers with his. “It’s fine. We can get a couples’ popcorn or maybe an Icee?”

He smiles. “Okay, but we have to make this look legit, so we’re only getting one straw.”

Monday, June 11

MeetCuteDiary posted:

Hey, everyone!

Sorry I’ve been kind of MIA. Drew and I have been spending a lot of time together, and we just went on the world’s cutest movie date. Thanks for all your support, and I’ll get to your messages soon! Oh, and here are some photos!

Babbyabby12 replied: Ahh! This is adorable! So happy for you guys!

Mysticmayhem replied: No worries! We understand! You guys are like soul mates!

Krismaastime replied: Thanks for sharing these! So cute!

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Despite Brian’s badgering, I don’t get home at a reasonable time, and when I do get home, I stay up late updating the Diary with pictures from the movie. I want to make sure the Tether is really laid out for my followers so they realize how legit Drew and I are becoming. Unsurprisingly, the next morning, Brian has to literally drag me out of bed and deposit me on the floor until I finally groan and stand up long enough to change.

I’m more relieved than I can put into words when I run into Devin carrying two more cups of coffee.

“You still have coupons?” I ask.

Devin rolls his eyes. “It’s a special, not a coupon.”

“Whatever. I hope it lasts all summer.”

Devin smiles as he hands me the cup, and I toss it back, quickly scalding my mouth but also waking up.

And as the energy floods through me, I think about yesterday—about the movie with Drew and how it was the steel coating over our bond. And then I think about Devin, and the way we left things. He doesn’t seem bothered at all, but as we hit the rehearsal hall, I say, “Sorry about yesterday.”

He turns to me, head cocked to the side. “What about yesterday?”

“Things got a little awkward near the end,” I say. “I obviously talk too much.”