Chapter 48

Ethan I headed straight to Reuben’s crib, the night’s events swirling in my mind like a tempest. I replayed the conversation with Caden over and over, trying to make sense of it all. It was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands—every time I thought I had a hold on something concrete, it slipped away, leaving only confusion. Caden’s presence gnawed at me, this persistent, intangible itch I just couldn’t scratch. As I pulled up to the crib, the energy of the party hit me like a wave. The bass thumped through the walls, and laughter echoed into the night air, mingling with the faint scent of alcohol. I pushed through the door, squinting against the sharp neon lights flashing around the room, and was instantly swallowed by the crowd. My friends and cousins were deep in celebration, shouting, dancing, and raising their glasses. I tried to sink into the atmosphere, to let it wash away the heaviness that had settled in my chest. After a few minutes, I spotted Emily across the room, la