Chapter 2

Regret. Guilt. Something else I couldn't quite name.

It was all there in her eyes.

I stared at her, and suddenly everything fell into place.

Audrey had come back, too.

* * *

After that, Audrey watched me like a hawk.

If I got within ten feet of Caleb, she appeared between us.

When I passed the living room on my way to the kitchen, her whole body tensed.

If I took three steps toward him, she stood up.

Once, Caleb climbed onto a chair to reach a photo album on top of a cabinet. I reached out to help.

Before I could reach the album, Audrey rushed over and shoved me aside.

"I've got it."

I stumbled back two steps.

Caleb glared at her.

"What was that for? Why are you being so nasty to Julian?"

She didn't explain. She just took down the album and handed it to him.

He turned to me with a smile.

"Ignore her. She's been ready to bite someone's head off lately."

He pulled a pack of gum from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.

"Audrey bought it. Half for you. That's what brothers are for."

The pack was still warm from his palm.

I closed my fingers around it, fighting the sting behind my eyes.

He'd shared his candy with me exactly like that when we were small.

But I couldn't keep getting close to either of them.

I stopped joining anything they did together.

If Caleb invited me ten times, I turned him down ten times.

I was tired. Had a headache. Needed to study at the library.

Eventually, he knew something was wrong.

One weekend, he practically dragged me to a dessert café. Audrey followed, looking grim.

He dug into his mango sorbet and watched me with worried eyes.

"What's going on with you?

"We haven't gone out together in ages. Did you and Audrey have a fight?"

I stirred my iced coffee and avoided his gaze.

"No. Results are coming out soon. I'm just nervous."

I tried to change the subject casually.

"Have you decided where to apply?

"Ashford University is a good school. It's close to home, and the programs are strong. Your parents would worry if you went too far."

Audrey, who'd been silent until then, looked up sharply.

"Close to home isn't always better. Sometimes the farther certain people go, the better it is for everyone."

She made no attempt to hide who she meant.

Caleb stared, then nudged her.

"Audrey! Can you talk like a normal person? What's your problem?"

He gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't listen to her. I don't know what's gotten into her lately."

The way he defended me warmed my heart and broke it at the same time.

That night, I curled up in bed while fond memories came rushing back.

At six, someone mocked me for not having parents. Audrey and Caleb beat the kid up until he cried.

At twelve, I had a fever. They cut class, climbed over the school fence, and bought me soup.

At fifteen, we stood on the roof and shouted at the stars that we'd be best friends forever.

All that kindness had been real.

But so was the suspicion in Audrey's eyes now. The irritation whenever she looked at me.

The day before the college application portal opened, Caleb and I sat on the swings in our neighborhood, rocking gently.

The sunset stretched our shadows across the ground.

I hesitated for a long time before speaking.

"Whatever happens, don't go drinking alone. Places like that aren't safe.

"If you're upset, come find me. Any time. Okay?"

He blinked, then grinned.

"Okay, Mr. Worrier. I don't even like those places. Too loud."

I was just beginning to relax when a voice came from behind us, tight with anger.

"Ju-li-an."

Audrey stood a short distance away, her expression thunderous.

She strode over and pulled Caleb off the swing.

"Come home with me."

"What are you doing? I'm talking to Julian!"

"There's nothing to talk about."

She turned, still holding his arm, and shot me a warning look.

"Stop filling Caleb's head with your strange ideas."

As she pulled him away, Caleb kept looking back at me, confused and apologetic.