“Don’t mention anything just yet.” I still haven’t won Wyatt back, and it’d be super embarrassing to have to explain it to them afterward if this goes south.

Which it won’t.

Because I believe it.

“Is that literally all you called to tell me?” Samuel asks me.

“Yeah, I guess. And I think I was looking for some reassurance. And, you know … you’re my friend.”

“Who are you, and what have you done with Neil?”

“I’m trying this whole new emotional-honesty thing.”

“Sounds overrated.”

“You’re telling me.” We both laugh quietly.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, if a guy raced all the way across the country just to come and see me, it’d be hard for me not to fall for him.”

“Hoping for something with Hoon?”

“No, he’s with his family. They’re important too, I guess.”

“Right.”

“Okay, I’ve got to bounce now. We finally got a tank for this dungeon.”

“I’m just going to nod and pretend like I know what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever, wear a condom when you fuck! And remember to pee after—”

Samuel doesn’t get to finish his thought before I end the call. There wasn’t much said about the whole situation, but I do feel some relief after hearing Samuel’s voice.

I try to quiet my brain from everything that might happen, everything that I’m about to do. How are they going to react? Will they turn me away? Will we kiss right there in their driveway? There are too many possibilities, too many variables that I can’t predict. I don’t like it.

This could all be one big mistake.

But I’ve got to take this risk.

For Wyatt.

For myself.

I’ve got to know.

*  *  *

The landing takes forever; my hands are shaking while gripping the back of the seat in front of me. I need to get off this plane; I need to get to them.

It’s already ten thirty because of the time change.

I’m going to be showing up on their doorstep in the middle of the night, which probably isn’t going to win me any points with their moms.

Shit, I didn’t even think about how they’d react to the boy who broke their son’s heart standing on their doorstep.

It’s not too late to go back.

Except that it is.

Charlotte International isn’t so busy on a Thursday night, especially with it being so late. It’s already past eleven o’clock by the time we’re allowed to leave the plane and I make my way to the pickup area. The Uber I ordered is waiting for me.

“Neil?”