Page 126 of Goodbye Note

“Maybe we should both get one, make it our thing.”

“We’re like a constellation. Nice to look at but probably dead for a million years. Our atoms forced apart by the black holes that suck out our life and energy.”

“Or burning for a billion years, twin stars orbiting each other.”

My chest got warm. “I like that better.”

“I thought so. I call Andromeda.” His eyes lit swirling with something.

“Now I’m looking up what it means.”

“It means ‘written in the stars.’” His voice dropped, like we could have a private conversation in a room with the guys. They were so engrossed in their game, maybe he was right.

“Then what should I get?”

“The Fireworks Galaxy. The fourth is coming up.”

“We’re more than fireworks.” I played with his hair, turning more into him. “I need something better.” I pulled up galaxy photos and listed them off. “Virgo Stellar Stream, Eye of Sauron.”

“Don’t look at their names. Look at what they mean. Like Medusa Merger.”

“Because we collide?”

“Exactly.”

“How about Circinus Galaxy. It’s shaped like a V for Varian and it spews hot gas.” I laid my head on his arm.

He rolled his eyes. “Here I am being romantic, and you’re talking about gas.”

“I guess I should skip the Black Eye Galaxy too.”

“Now you’re just making them up.” He took my phone out of my hands. “Butterfly. It’s like two kissing.”

“Let me see.”

He turned the phone around.

“That’s perfect.”

“Your mom’s calling.”

“It’s like one in the fucking morning…” My heart stopped as I picked up the call. “Hello?”

The person on the other end sounded hysterical, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying.

THIRTY-SEVEN

VARIAN

Arik’s grip tightened on my arm, and his face crumpled in a way I’d never seen before. “Mom, I’m fine. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Grandma called? Who told Grandma?”

I frowned, listening to him. Had something broken about us?

Did his family know?

I grabbed the laptop off the table and pulled up TMZ. They always seemed to have this stuff before anyone else. I scanned the front page of the blog for either of our names while eavesdropping for more clues.

Nothing.

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