“I think that’s just with birthday candles.”

I shrug. “I wished that we’d go to bed. It’s been a long day and I’m beat.”

Wyatt eyes me suspiciously before grabbing his guitar. “You know, something tells me that you’re lying.”

“Me? Lie? Never.”

We both head inside, Wyatt packing his precious instrument away as I strip down in the bedroom, leaving my clothes in a pile on the floor. And just as I head to the door to close it, I watch him crawl under the blankets on the couch.

“Night, Fowler.”

I flip the light switch, leaving us both in the dark.

“Night, Kearney.”

I dive into my own bed, sinking under the comforter, and as I fall asleep, I think about Wyatt’s song, his voice, and my wish.

I want to hear Wyatt sing again.

Sunday: April 17

I wake up at six thirty the next morning.

Because of course I do.

I hate jet lag, and time changes. It’s such bullshit, even if we do need them. What do time changes even really do? What have they ever done for me?

Worst part is that I don’t even feel refreshed when I open my eyes. I have a headache, and my eyes are crusty.

God.

Fuck this day already.

I go right for my phone, scrolling through Instagram and Snapchat for a bit before checking TikTok. But there’s nothing interesting going on anywhere, so I flip on the TV until I find the cartoon channels and just sit there with my brain off for a bit. Then, about twenty minutes later, my phone dings.

SAMUEL: soooooo ….….…

SAMUEL: you’ve seen Josh right?

SAMUEL: like he’s officially at the wedding festivities?

I could just ignore him. I should just ignore him.

ME: Yeah.

SAMUEL: how are you handling it?

ME: What do you mean?

SAMUEL: well, it’s probably pretty awkward, right?

ME: I haven’t really noticed.

That’s a lie. A complete and total lie.

And Samuel will probably be able to see right through it.

SAMUEL: i smell bullshittttttttttttttt

ME: How are things going with Hoon?

SAMUEL:

SAMUEL: low blow kearney

SAMUEL: have you talked at all?

ME: He showed up at dinner last night.

SAMUEL: with your family? how did that go?

ME: He basically cornered Wyatt and interrogated him.

SAMUEL: ………

SAMUEL: i meant the dinner part

ME: Oh …

ME: As well as you’d expect.

ME: Met my brother’s fiancée for literally the first time.

ME: My grandmother asked me if I was out of this “phase” yet.

ME: Then she deadnamed me.

ME: But the pasta was good.

SAMUEL: where are you staying?

SAMUEL: i’m gonna go drop-kick that geriatric little fuck

ME: Be my guest.