Page 56 of The Chemistry of Us

Then

“Make a wish,”I whispered. “And don’t make it shitty.”

Tru’s smile lit up the night sky. I’d only known her for months, but celebrating with her and enjoying her company felt natural. Things had gotten a bit more complicated after we returned to the city, so I wanted to do something special. I went big and rented out the rooftop restaurant. I hired a band that did old-school fifties jazz—badass, I know, and I made sure every one of her favorite foods was present. Earlier that day, I sent over a dress. I did the fullPretty Womanthing where she was pampered the entire day and didn’t want for anything.

“A wish,” she repeated and stared up at the stars. “When I was in foster care, I used to think it was stupid to wish for something that would never happen, but now I want it. I want to make it.”

I wrapped her up in my arms and rested my chin on her head. “What changed?”

She squeezed my folded arms. “You. You happened. You made me believe it was possible to be happy. You made me realize it's okay to do the most terrifying thing in the world.”

“Skydiving?”

She laughed and then sobered really fast like she was stuck in her own mind. “Hope. You made me hope, Van.”

I froze. The truth and intensity behind that one word sliced me into tiny little pieces, breaking my heart over and over again. I realized at that moment that she didn’t need the special food and she didn’t need the dress. She didn’t give a shit. Why would she? It wasn’t important.

I was.

She was.

It was us.

What she needed was one word and the follow-through behind it.

“Hope.” I squeezed her tighter. “Do you have it now?”

She shuddered beneath my arms almost like she was releasing something, letting go, finally taking down all the shields she’d so carefully constructed over the years. “It’s the best gift anyone’s ever given me.”

My throat all but closed up as we clung to each other and stared at the stars. “Make another wish then, one that I can make come true…not because I’m rich but because"—I was dizzy—no, drunk on it—“I love you.”

She turned in my arms. “Nobody has ever said that to me before.”

Speechless, I had to take a minute to respond, not trusting my voice or the emotions she evoked behind her truth. Dammit, Tru, speaking her truth was one of the most beautiful and tragic things I’d ever had the honor to witness.

“Tragedy,” I finally said. “It’s a fucking tragedy that nobody has taken the time to tell you your own truth. You have worth, Tru. You have something to offer the world. You’re incredible, addicting, and exciting. You are important. Test me. Test my actions and my words. You’re the only truth I’ve ever known.”

Tears cascaded down her cheeks. “I love you so much.”

“Happy birthday, Tru.”

CHAPTER 22

TRU

Now

I didn’t makeit to my bed.

I barely made it through the door before collapsing in front of it and leaning my head back against it. It shouldn’t affect me in any way. He was my ex. It was in the past. It didn’t matter.

I didn’t matter.

That was my takeaway, and I hated that my insecurities came rushing forward like a damn flood I couldn’t stop.

Drowning.

I was drowning in my own emotions over a stupid birthday that, for the past few years, I didn’t even care about… but seeing him.

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