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Shit. I said the wrong thing. I said too much. I never meant to make him cry. That was never my intention. I don’t like seeing him hur…

Before I can finish the thought, Milo wraps his arms around me, hugging me so tightly it steals all the air from my lungs.

“Thank you,” he whispers against my ear. “Thank you for telling me this. Thank you for being my friend. Just… thank you.”

I swallow hard as I feel his heart pounding against my own. Thankfully, Mr. Fletcher has impeccable timing, so the second he walks through the front door, Milo quickly pulls away from me, hastily wiping the evidence of his tears.

“Everything okay in here?” Paul asks, his brow furrowing as he looks between us.

“Everything’s great, Dad.” Milo smiles before jumping to his feet. “How about you let me help? Or at least teach me what’s wrong with Max’s kitchen sink. It might happen again, and I’d like to help her out if I can.”

“Sure, Milo. I can teach you… if that’s what you want.” Paul looks almost surprised by the offer.

And maybe he is. From everything Milo just told me, things between them have been strained for a while. Maybe Paul’s been feeling that distance just as much as his son has.

I remain seated on the living room couch, watching the Fletcher men disappear into the kitchen to tackle the problem together.

Less than an hour later, the heat is back on, my faucet is no longer leaking, and both Milo and Paul are smiling. Apparently, fixing a couple of things around my house managed to fix something between them too.

“Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. I really appreciate you helping me out.” I offer him a sheepish smile, a little embarrassed for not even being able to pay him for the job. “Maybe there’s some housework I can do over at your place to repay your generosity.”

“No need for that, Maxine. You helping Milo get a good grade on his biology test is all the thanks I need,” he says with a smile, grabbing his toolbox. He starts heading for the door, only to stop halfway, slowly turning around and asking, “That’s all you two will be doing, right?” His lips twitch. “Studying for your biology test? There isn’t another biology assignment you two are more interested in?” He raises an eyebrow. “Like… human anatomy?”

“Dad!” Milo blurts out, shifting awkwardly beside me as a flush creeps up his neck.

“I’m just asking.” Paul holds his hands up innocently. “You two are getting to that age where hormones have a tendency to override good sense. Truth be told, I’m not looking to become a grandpa anytime soon. You’re both still kids. You’ve got plenty of time before… you know.”

God, are you there? I know you and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms, but if you could open a hole in the ground right now so I can jump in and hide… that would be great. I don’t even care if it takes me straight to hell. It has to be better than standing here listening to Milo’s dad give us the sex talk. Please and thank you.

“We’re just studying. That’s it. Take your head out of the gutter, old man,” Milo jokes, but the nervous laugh that follows gives away just how uncomfortable this conversation is making him, too.

Please kill me now.

“Hmm.” Paul studies the two of us, Milo instinctively taking a step away from me when it becomes obvious his closeness to me isn’t helping our case. “Maybe you two should study at our house instead. I’m sure Peyton would be more than happy to help.”

Hard pass.

“Actually, Mr. Fletcher, I have a few other friends coming over to study. It won’t just be the two of us, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“You do?” Milo and his dad ask in unison, though their reactions couldn’t be more different.

While Paul sounds relieved that we won’t be alone in the house after all, Milo just sounds deflated. As if I’d somehow disappointed him.

“Yes. Actually, I’m a little surprised they haven’t arrived yet.”

Just as I glance at my watch, God finally takes pity on me as—lo and behold—the doorbell rings. I hurry to answer it, finding Misty, Sienna, and Jalen standing on my porch.

“Sorry we’re late. Misty here couldn’t decide which winter coat was appropriate for walking one whole block,” Sienna says, already brushing past me and into the living room.

“Is it my fault my green coat clashes with this sweater? I don’t think so,” Misty replies, following behind her. “Some of us have standards, Sienna.”

“Whatever,” Sienna grumbles. “Hey, Milo.”

“Hey,” Milo greets just as Jalen throws him a nod of his own.

“You’re here too, huh? Should’ve known,” Jalen mutters under his breath.

However, Milo doesn’t get the chance to respond since Misty hijacks everyone’s attention.