I looked at him.
“Fyn has a therapist for his depression. Caleb got one to help with getting used to his new body. I have one that’s helped me process. There’s no quick fix to the shit that life throws at you. You have to work at getting through it.”
“Great. Just what I want to hear. More work ahead. Perfect.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, Vinnie.”
Tears came to my eyes at the old nickname. One more confession was needed, because Ihadto fucking move on. I looked straight at him and said the three words that I had never, not once, gotten out. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said with a smile.
I shook my head. “I am in love with you. I have been for years.”
His expression fell. “Vince.”
“I know you love Kal, and that’s fine.” I hugged my knees, laughing. “God, I’ve wanted to tell you for years.”
“I never knew.” His eyes were wet.
Fuck. I hadn’t wanted to upset him. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I can’t take that. No tears.”
He wiped his round cheeks. “Sorry.”
I bumped his shoulder. “It’s fine. I’m ready to get over you. I need to. I just want to be friends, but I needed to say the words out loud once. I’m a selfish dick like that.”
“You’re not.”
“I am. I wanted to take you from Kal, but he’s so damn perfect.”
Seth burst into laughter. “He’s pretty great.”
I shoved him gently, and Seth laughed again. I said, smiling, “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Being my friend.”
“That’s not going to change. Not ever.” He shifted to his knees so he could face me. “I’m sorry for cutting you off. I shouldn’t have. I can blame everything that happened on… Travis, but honestly, what I did to you was horrible and I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t want to be friends afterward.”
“I got why you didn’t.”
He settled beside me again, and I curled into his side. I felt lighter. Everything still sucked, but I felt a lot lighter. Someone knew; someone I trusted.
“I’m going home,” I whispered.
“Yeah, it’s late and you should get some sleep. Don’s probably worried about you. I know he’s been sleeping in your room. The brothers like to gossip.”
I shook my head. “I’m going back to Earth.”
His eyes turned glassy. “What?”
“I can’t stay. I’m going home.”
“Is it because of me?”
“No,” I said. “I want to forget, and going to Earth will let me do that.”
