39. Wes

THIRTY-NINE

I've always loveda good party.

Not always to get drunk, but mostly to spend time with the people I care about. Walking around a room full of smiling faces is better than any drink or drug. There's something so special about having a party, celebrating something, getting together, and everything just slotting into place.

The Bailey's are experts at that. Over the years, a range of parties has been held in their house across the street from mine. They get the whole block together, the front yard full of random kids, a baby passed out in a bedroom down the hallway, and an endless supply of food. I never pass up on a Bailey birthday party, especially since it's Emma's birthday.

After spending the morning refreshing my email to see if I got a place on the teaching course at Drayton that starts next semester, I dragged myself into the shower to forget about it. I've spent days feeling sick over it, and now that exam season is over and the semester has ended, there's nothing more for me to do than distract myself. The nausea wore off after my shower, only to resurface when I checked my email for what I promised would be the last time and saw the congratulatory email. That immediately put me on a high for the rest of the day.

Even now, as I stand in the study with Mark while he gives me tips. He's been a history teacher at the high school for almost eight years, so there was no way I would ignore the perks of being in the same house as him. Early 2000s pop songs play from outside the room, making the study bounce with the vibrations.

Mark turns to me, his kind blue eyes searching my face. "What are your intentions with my daughter?"

"What?" I gasp, practically choking. We've been talking about teaching and the school system for the last twenty minutes and Nora's name has not been brought up once. I can hear her somewhere in the house, screaming lyrics at the top of her lungs, though. That's my girl.

His hard expression falters as he sighs, taking a seat on one of the chairs. I follow him, sitting across from him. "God, I can't keep it up for more than two seconds," he mutters. I chuckle awkwardly, running my suddenly sweaty palms down my thighs. "But, are you and Nora actually serious? I've seen the way you've looked at her since you were kids, but Ryan really did a number on her. She's my only daughter, and I don't think I could bear to see her heart get broken again."

His words knock the wind right out of me. The thought of Nora getting hurt again is enough to make my stomach turn, especially if I'm the cause of it. "Yes, it's serious. You know that I'll do anything for her. You've watched me trail after her for years. I'm going to continue to make her happy and protect her as long as she lets me."

He lets out a laugh. "Yeah, as long as she lets you. You might think you've got her under control, but you don't. She's a loose cannon, that one."

"I know. I don't want her to be tamed or even controlled by me. I love her the way she is. All wild and free," I admit, my own words making my eyes sting. There's nothing quite like the feeling of spending years chasing after something to finally catch it.

"You love her, huh?" Mark wiggles his eyebrows at me.

"More than anything."

"Good," he says, sighing a little. There's clearly something he's holding back from saying, and I'm just waiting for the words to get out. "Look, I've uh… sensed something off with your parents. I know it's hard. My parents split up when I was pretty young, too. I know your relationship with Nolan has always been a bit strained, but you can always come to Emma and me. You know that, right?"

My throat burns. There's always been something unsaid with the way Emma and Mark looked after me, the times my dad would get annoyed at me or train me too hard, and I'd spend the weekend with the Bailey's. They never said anything or questioned me or my parents. They just let me stay.

"I know," I whisper. "And thank you for everything you guys have done for me. But we're in a better place now, all of us. They're working on their own relationship, and I'm working on mine with them."

Mark nods, standing to his feet. "Good. I'm glad. Now, let's get out there before the birthday girl calls a search party."

I laugh as we walk out of the room, making our way through the crowds of people to the backyard. I can't hear Nora's insane singing or even see her, which is weird. The backyard is full of people I haven't seen in a while, friends I would consider my cousins, and food that I want to shove down my throat, but my eyes snag on two people mingling around the barbecue. Catherine's dad is working on the barbecue as he talks to my dad. God, I can't remember the last time I saw those two in the same place.

I jog over to them, my heart feeling like it's two sizes too big for my chest. "You're both here."

My mom smiles, her bright eyes reminding me of every time that she'd tuck me into bed at night. "Of course we are. A new normal, remember?"

Dad scoffs, listening in to our conversation. "Even if that means hanging out with all these lot."

"Oh, they're not that bad," I say, turning to see a bunch of familiar faces. I turn back to my parents. "I'm glad you guys came."

My dad grins, a sight I've weirdly missed. "Us too."

I spend a few minutes catching up with the three of them before I start to desperately miss the other half of me. You'd think we were attached to the hip with the way I miss her. We came to the party together, but I haven"t seen her since Mark dragged me off. I excuse myself from the conversation, making my way back into the house.

I scan the kitchen and the open living room, and she's nowhere to be seen. My heart begins to rattle in my chest, the uncertainty of her whereabouts freaking me the fuck out. She wouldn't run off from this party, right? I mean, it's her mom's birthday. She's known to disappear, but I thought I'd be in the loop this time, considering I'm boyfriend of the year and all. I take the stairs two at a time, coming to a halt when I hear a soft cry coming from one of the rooms.

I push open Nora's childhood bedroom door to find her on the floor, crying into her hands. Cat, Elle, and Connor are around her, not doing anything to console her when she's fucking crying. I rush over to her, almost knocking Cat over in the process as I kneel in front of her.

"What happened, baby? What did they do to you?" I pull at her hands, trying to see her face, and they all stay silent. I turn to Connor, my eyes squared. "Connor, I swear to God. What did you do?"

His eyes widen, holding his hands up as he stands. He's got an annoying kink in his mouth like he's finding this funny in some way. "Why would I make my sister cry? She does a lot of that without my help."

"I don't fucking know!" I probably shouldn't be shouting right now since Nora is currently sobbing in my arms. I turn and they're all standing now, a weird look on their faces as they slowly move towards the door.

"We'll give you two some privacy," Cat says, grinning as she shuts the door.

I tilt Nora's face up to me. "Hey, talk to me, Sunshine. What's going on?"

She sniffles, rubbing her hand across her face. "I got it."

"Got what?" I search her face and I slowly realize that these aren't sad tears. She gives me a watery laugh, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh my god," I mutter.

Her face explodes like sunlight, and I don't think I've ever seen anything more beautiful. "Yeah, oh my god!"

I pull her into my arms, falling onto my back, and she collapses on my chest as I pepper her face with kisses. "I'm so fucking proud of you. I knew you'd be able to do it." She giggles, leaning up off me to rest her arms on my chest. She's giving me that real Nora Bailey smile, and I want her to look at me like this forever. "You're going to be in a movie, Stargirl."

She presses her lips together, trying to contain her smile. "It already feels like I'm in one."

I drop my forehead to hers. "If this is a movie, I don't ever want them to yell cut."

We stay locked in the moment for a few minutes. This has been the one thing she has strived for. I've watched her for years trying to get her name out there, and this is the perfect opportunity for that. Being in a movie is one thing, but being in a movie produced by A24 is another. This is her big break, and I'm so fucking lucky to be here with her for this.

"I'm going to have to go to the city a lot starting from next month. I might not be home a lot, and I'll have to change my classes," she whispers, thinking aloud.

"Okay."

"And they're shooting at a lot of different locations around the country," she explains.

"That's okay."

"And they don't have a set date for when filming will end," she says.

"That's okay," I say again, unable to stop smiling at her.

"But—But you might not see me as often. You might get bored of me because I'll be tired when I'm back, and then you might start to hate me and resent me for taking this opportunity when we've only just started really dating, and?—"

"I could never hate you," I say, cutting her off.

"But what if?—"

This time, I cut her off with a kiss so deep that she sighs into my mouth, her body relaxing. I wish this girl could give herself a break. She's constantly working herself too hard. Worried about how everyone else will feel instead of going after what she wants.

I pull back from her.

"Hey, Nora?" She bites her bottom lip, nodding. "Shut up for once in your life. I'm here for you. I'm never going to get bored of you. I'm never going to make you feel the way he did. I'm here to support you, okay? Through everything."

She sniffles. "I'm here to support you, too."

"Great. Then why are you worrying about it?" I ask, laughing softly.

She shrugs. "I dunno. It's kinda my thing." She leans down and kisses the corner of my mouth before pulling back. "We'll be okay, won't we?"

"Of course, we will. I didn't spend my whole life loving you just to let you go this easily," I admit, pushing back the hair that's fallen in front of her face. "I won't ever let you go, Nora. The world would have to split in two, remember?"

"Yeah," she whispers. "Even then."

"Even then."

I hold her closer to me then because as long as Nora Bailey is in my life, I won't have to worry about not feeling enough to be loved. I've always been hers, and she's always been mine. Even the measly thing we call our planet can't contain the amount of love that I have for her. The amount I'll continue to have forever.