Ryder

I knew it was time.

The words had been sitting heavy in my chest for too long — weeks, months, maybe longer. I couldn’t hold them back anymore. I was done pretending. Done hiding. I wanted Lila. All of her. And I was tired of letting fear decide for me.

We were all at the table. The food was mostly gone. Lila’s parents were watching me, waiting. Her father leaned back in his chair and asked, “We’re waiting. Or don’t you want to talk about it?”

I sighed hard. The sound came out rough, like it had been stuck in my throat. “So, you actually know that person.”

They...