Page 31 of Lunar Crest University

“Aquí tiene,” he murmurs. “That’s better.”

I gape at him meekly before clamping my mouth shut and swallowing. His expression is back to being unreadable, and any trace of what I saw before—that affection, thatwant—is long gone.

“Thanks,” I mutter, but it’s still pitiful-sounding.

“See you Friday.”

It’s a dismissal, one I don’t dare question before I’m fleeing the classroom and down the hallway. My feet move quickly as my vision blurs, and as a couple of tears escape down my cheeks, it doesn’t even matter, because it’s raining again. I can walk across campus and cry as much as I want without anyone even noticing.

So I do.

Chapter Thirteen

FINLEY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 2023

I’ve had the same comfort routine since I was a freshman in high school:Gilmore Girls, a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, and the baggiest sweatshirt and sweatpants combination I could find. Almost ten years later, and the only addition is some white wine straight from the bottle, because I donotfind comfort in dirtying up a wine glass.

The plush blanket wrapped around me and the lit candles being the only source of light in my apartment aside from the glow of the TV is the icing on top of the cake. Nothing can ruin this cozy paradise for me.

And then, the doorbell rings.

Okay, except for that.

As I feebly attempt to untangle myself from the blanket, an impatient knock resonates from the door, which only makes me feel like I’m sweating by the time I escape. With a frown, I check my phone to see no new notifications, and I wonder who on Earth is banging on my door at almost midnight. My parents would most definitely call, and Levi?—

“Finn? Finn, are you in there?”

Well, IthoughtLevi would normally text or call if something is up, but apparently, he has switched his tactics to disrupting myGilmore Girlsreruns in person.

Swinging open the door with a glare, I cross my arms over my chest as I take in my best friend’s appearance. He must’ve left his dorm in a rush, because he’s wearing mismatched pajamas, the pair of slippers I bought for him last Christmas, and the headband he usually puts on to keep his curly hair out of his face while he sleeps. The bags under his eyes indicate he didn’t quite reach the sleeping part.

“Someone better be dead, Levi,” I grumble. “You disturbed my?—”

“Gilmore Girlsand sob fest, I know.” My jaw drops at his insult as he pushes past me and waltzes into my apartment like he owns the place. I make sure to slam the door behind him before following him back into my living room. “My dad is marrying her, Finley. He’s marrying her, like, forreal.”

My annoyance dissipates as my arms fall to my sides.

“He proposed?”

Levi’s family situation has always been complicated. It had been him and his dad since he was seven years old, when his mother tragically passed away from a brain tumor. He adored that woman with every fiber of his being, so it wasn’t a surprise at all when he was livid about a new woman in the picture during our first year of college. His dad was moving on, and he couldn’t fathom the thought. He felt like it would force his mother’s memory away for good.

Naturally, he immediately hated his dad’s new girlfriend, Naomi. Not only did he feel like she was trying to replace his mom, but she also had a daughter the same age as us. I’d met them both a handful of times, and they were nice, but Levi refused to be swayed.

“Yeah, he did,” Levi snorts and then sighs in defeat. “They’ve already decided to marry as soon as possible. This summer, in fact.”

I watch as he plops down into my blanket fortress, and I bite at my lip as I tiptoe over to join him on the couch. It’s quiet for a while, nothing but the sound of his unsteady breathing as he tries to calm down. I want to speak, but I also want him to feel how he needs to feel without someone trying to tell himit’s okay. Sometimes, it’s the last thing anyone wants to hear when they’re upset, so instead, I sit silently next to him as I wait.

“Want to see the text he sent me?” Levi asks.

“Yeah,” I say softly, extending out my palm as he brings up the message on his phone and plops it into my hand.

Dad:Hey, buddy. I know it’s been a while since we’ve talked, and I know it’s late, but I just wanted to let you know that I proposed to Naomi. We’re hoping for a summer wedding, and we would love it if you came out to spend the summer with us. I think it would be nice for everyone to spend some time together before the wedding, and you know there’s no one else I’d rather have as my best man than you, Levi. What do you think? I hope to hear from you soon. Love you, son.

“A lot tothrow on someone at once,” he mumbles before doing his best impression at mocking his dad’s voice. “Come stay the summer with us, Levi. Oh, and by the way, we’re getting married. And you’re the best man.”

Handing the phone back to him, I peek up at him with a sympathetic smile. It’s dark in here, but the glow of the TV illuminates the tears that well in the corners of his eyes. With a deep sigh, I press my face into his shoulder as I envelop my armsaround his bicep. He may be a brat about everything, but he’s like my brother. I hate seeing him upset like this.

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