Page 76 of Stranded

“Yes, ma’am,” he says and plops me back on my feet as my parents and brothers join him. They’re staring at everything backstage, but especially my models.

I pull my gaze off them and look back at my teacher.

“Ronan,” she says, nodding. “I was worried about you at the end of last year. But you came back a new person. Something changed.”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Right before classes started, I realized you were right. It’s like when you’re walking down the sidewalk and you collide with people.” She tilts her head, and I shrug. “I was looking where I was tryingnotto go. I just eventually got lucky enough to run right into what I actually needed.”

Professor Meyer nods at last, looking over at Alph. “I’d tell you what a gem you’ve found, but I think you already know.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s got some more tumbling to do before he graduates… but you keep looking after him, all right?”

“He is,” Alph agrees with a good-natured smile, glancing nervously at me over the bouquet he’s still clutching. “I sure plan to.”

“Congratulations,” she tells me, and then she strides off before I can say another word.

The models are filtering out now, and our obligations are wrapping up. I want to say something to Alph, but my family’s rushing close. They all hug me. Mom, Dad, both my brothers.

“You know, I think… I get it now,” Dad says, pulling back to scratch his head as he watches the retreating models like he’s searching for data he can use. Then he shakes his head and looks at me. “More than before, anyway.”

My mom ruffles my hair, pushing the blond strands back into place. “We can see that you’re happy now,” she says quietly. “This isn’t making you miserable anymore.”

Was it really?I swallow hard, casting my mind back to the summer, and my stomach twists. I think she’s right. I was so consumed by my fear of what I didn’t want… that I’d lost sight of what Idowant.

“I’m sorry,” Dad tells me. He clasps my shoulders until I look at him. “For what we said—about not supporting you for the last semester. We thought…” he clears his throat and lets go of one shoulder to wipe his eyes. I put my hand on Dad’s, silently shaking my head as my eyes water. “We thought we were offering you a way out.”

I pull him in and hug him tightly, and then I wipe my eyes. “In a way… you did.”

One man’s chains are another man’s freedom. That’s why I chose chains to link together the looks in my mini-collection—and not just any chains, but marine chains.

My dad pulls back and clears his throat while my brothers slap me on the back and grin.

“Hey! Sweet shirt,” Garrett says, nodding at the shirt Alph’s wearing.

Alph grins. “Thanks. I got it from the best new designer in town.”

“Oh—oh yeah. Um. Mom, Dad, Garrett, Reid… this is Alph.”

All of them are laughing. Alph takes my hand and squeezes it. “We sat together for the show,” he reminds me gently. “We’ve met now.”

Oh. Right.

“Let’s get out of here to the afterparty!” yells one of my classmates.

“We’ll leave you to celebrate,” Mom tells me, kissing my cheek. “I’m proud of you, Ronan.”

“And it’s very nice to meet your boyfriend,” Dad adds, shaking hands with Alph.

Alph shifts the bouquet in the crook of his arm and glances at me ruefully, the question in his eyes.

I smile. I can’t tear my gaze away from his. “Yeah,” I answer. “It is.”

After our families leave—and after the cleanup—Alph finally takes my suitcases, one in each hand.

“I just have one?—”

“I gotta ask?—”

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