Page 78 of Wanted You More

He’s quiet for a long second. “Want to have a movie night tonight?”

I squeeze the arm that’s around his shoulder. “I’d like that, dweeb.”

He fiddles with his sweatshirt. “Hey, Austen?”

I look over at him.

“There is this girl I like…” As he tells me about the girl in a few of his classes, I can’t help but smile.

Then I think of Noah.

And my smile fades.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Afew textmessages are waiting for me on Thanksgiving morning, but none from the person I’d be happy to hear from. My roommate says she’s grateful for our friendship; Lincoln says he’s grateful for Kennedy and me, and Aunt Mae says she’s grateful for family.

Marybelle, in true best friend fashion, chooses to video call me and tell me in a very drunken state how much she loves me.“You need to come visit so we can make poor decisions together,” she says, slurring her words. “I miss boob punching you when you say annoying true things to me.”

That part made me laugh.

As the day progresses, Wolfe, Dad, and I work in the kitchen to make an early dinner. Despite laughing at silly stories and teasing each other for making a mess while working on some of the side dishes, there’s a heaviness in the pit of my stomach that won’t go away.

For hours, I ignore it.

But as I curl up in bed and stare at my phone, I realize why it’s there.

Ben and Elizabeth didn’t reach out.

Which tells me what I need to know.

It’s not just over with Noah.

It’s over with his entire family too.

Setting my phone down, I look at the bracelet on my wrist that I can’t seem to take off, no matter how much I’ve told myself to.

When sleep becomes impossible to achieve, I grab my phone.

Me:You up?

I bite down on my inner cheek as I wait for a reply, kicking off the comforter and sitting up when I see it come through.

Monty:The door is unlocked

I debate on whether to change or not when I decide it doesn’t matter. It isn’t like Monty cares what clothes I’m wearing because they won’t be on long enough.

As I’m gathering my keys and sliding into my closest pair of shoes, a little voice in my head tells me to go back upstairs.

To not give Monty anything.

But I’ve never been a very good listener.

After all, what eighteen-year-old is?

WINTER 2023

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

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