Page 127 of Over the Edge

“Do you know how much I missed you?”

“I think I might.” She squeezes me tighter and it feels like all my fractured pieces are mending themselves. Quinn’s shoulders start to shake and I pull away, but instead of tears streaming down her face I find a wide grin.

“All good there?”

“I was just thinking how I nearly got a tattoo of your song lyrics, you know before I found out?”

“I don’t think that’s a reason to stop you.”

“Nah, I have to keep your ego in check.” Her smile softens. “I know you weren’t there all the time but when I listened to your music, it was always like you were.”

“But I should’ve been there.”

Her hand slips down and finds mine. “We have time.”

We stand lost in the relief of having everything out in the open, until we can’t justify it anymore because Quinn still has a flight to catch. There isn’t enough time to head back to Hartsfall and Oliver is driving my car so I have to get to the airport anyway.

Quinn speeds the rest of the way to JFK and once we arrive, it takes us half an hour to drop off Quinn’s bags and shuffle through security. All the while I’m buzzing with anticipation to turn back but I need my keys to do that, and I need to talk to Oliver even more.

We find him at the gate, balancing a cardboard drink holder on his lap. A tea for me and a sugary frozen drink for Quinn are nestled into opposite corners while he sips his own drink and flips through the first few pages of one of those thrillers that only seem to exist in airport bookstores. He fits here so perfectly, softly. I’m happy I get the chance to talk to him now.

We’ll always belong to each other like the first and last chapter belong to the same book, different parts of the same story.

“Hey, Ollie, walk me to arrivals while Quinn watches our stuff?” I ask, my heart caught in my throat.

“Sure thing.” He closes his book and hands us each our drinks.

I give Quinn one more hug and it feels good knowing it’s far from the last one and that there’s so much less distance between us. Oliver and I set off for the arrivals area so I can get to my car.

“Quinn told me you guys know,” I say.

His hand nervously runs through his hair. “Yeah, that was one wild thing to find out.”

“Why did you tell her not to ask me about it?”

“How do you know it was me?”

“Because you always look out for me, for both of us,” I remind him as I think about the choice he made. He didn’t owe me time to process this but he chose kindness. He chose to trust me in a way that I wish I trusted him.

He shrugs. “There wasn’t any other way I could think about it. You’d told us about your brother and all the stuff with your family and I think I got it. Music was something you loved but you also knew that it could be something that ruined things. Not saying that I love the choices you made, but I’ve had time to sit with them.”

“I am really sorry. I should have told you. I left and I know I hurt you.”

“You did, but I really don’t think about it as much as I did three years ago, but if I think about it really hard, I’m still hurt,” he admits. “The important thing is you’re telling me now.”

“If you need to talk about it more…I can and I will. I’ll put in the work I should have in the first place,” I promise. It’s the least I can do.

“What about your family? Do you think you’re ready to tell them?” he asks.

Yesterday, it was an impossible question, but talking to him and Quinn has made it less daunting. “I think I need to figure out how to. But talking to you both has helped me learn I’ll live, even if it isn’t perfect.”

And it won’t be. Mom will no doubt volley questions at me like they’re fiery arrows trying to convince me the choices I’ve already made should be taken back and reconsidered. Dad will give me a look of silent support. Drew, well, I wonder how my brother will take knowing that I have more Grammys than him, but otherwise I know he’ll be in my corner. But I know their happiness isn’t my responsibility, no matter how much I’ve tried to take on that burden.

“I’m glad you’re able to work through it.” He nods.

“Thanks to Quinn.” I have to give her credit. If it weren’t for Quinn none of this would have happened.

At her name Oliver’s expression fades a shade, his lip tipping downward. “Yeah, she’s the best.”

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