“Because of a fight?”

“No. Because I’m ready to take the next step with my boyfriend.”

“See? I think that’s where the confusion starts. No offense, Lark,” he says, drawing my eyes to him. “But you’re thinking about you and acting on what you want. She’s thinking about not only being left behind by you but where this leaves her in the long run.”

I stop with a shirt in my hands, his words getting through my annoyance. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”

His shoulders pop, and a smugness comes over him. “I don’t have the fancy degrees like you two, but it’s basic human psychology. Everyone is out for themselves.”

I roll my eyes and start folding again. “I’m not out for myself. At the same time, I’m allowed to be happy. I’m allowed to grow up and move out. We weren’t going to live together forever.”

The creak of Amanda’s door has me looking up at the hallway again. She says, “I thought we’d at least finish our senior year together. That doesn’t sound so off-the-wall to me.”

I can’t blame her for assuming we’d continue living together. I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do, but putting myself in her shoes, she’s not leaving Beacon right after graduation. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

I do.

Maybe some of these conversations never got below the surface because of assumptions, or maybe they were avoided, but neither of us can say that this wasn’t coming. Moving in with Harbor might not have been on the bingo card, but I was always going to be leaving next summer.

Does it matter? No. None of it does now and won’t get us closer to healing. I need to stop arguing and just move forward. I say, “It’s not off-the-wall.”

Dane backs up in the cramped space. “Wait a minute? You’re moving now?”

I’d love to share my excitement and my nerves about this huge life move, but I’m thinking this isn’t the time for that. With the sound of his tone, it feels like they’re doubling down on her original take. “I am. I’m moving in with my boyfriend.”

“The mysterious rich kid I never get to meet?”

I reply, “Well, he’s coming over, so you’ll finally get to meet him.” Amanda doesn’t even blink at the news I’m leaving. She’ll probably enjoy the reprieve.

“He better hurry because Mia’s waiting in the truck.” He says, “Come out here.”

I pad into the living room behind Amanda. Dane stands by the door with his hand on the knob and looks at me. “You dropped a bomb on your friend and expect her not to be blown to pieces.” Turning to Amanda, he adds, “The girl is in love. Maybe it will work out, or maybe it won’t, but as friends, you’ll be there for her, just like she’s always there for you.”

She’s quick to say, “But—”

“No buts about it. The rich are all the same.” He looks back at me now. “I hate to say it, but when you can have anything you want, what you have isn’t so interesting. You need to be careful, Lark.” Wrapping his arm around Amanda’s shoulders, he keeps his gaze on me. “But if you aren’t, we’ll be here for you.” Squeezing her, he adds, “Right, Amanda?”