Page 120 of Puck Fest
He takes a breath. “Because I fucked up. At Play It Forward. The things I said. I was angry and hurt and I took it out on you. And I’m sorry.”
“I said things I regret too.”
“I know. But I need to say this.” He looks at me. “You wereright. About the Alex interview. I shouldn’t have talked to him. I thought I was defending us and setting the record straight. But all I did was give him ammunition to twist everything. And that got you fired. I know that. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t just the interview. It was everything. The videos, the relationship, all of it.” I shrug. “I’d probably have been fired anyway.”
“Maybe. But I made it worse. And I need you to know I regret that.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“Your turn,” he says.
“For what?”
“To tell me what you regret.”
I’m quiet for a moment, gathering the words I’ve been rehearsing since yesterday.
“I regret ending the relationship without talking to you first. Releasing that statement like it was a done deal when we should have discussed it together. You were right. I tried to control everything. The narrative, the outcome, the damage. I was so focused on protecting everyone that I forgot we were supposed to be a team.” I look at him. “And I regret giving up. You told me I was too scared to fight for us, and you were right. When things got hard, I bailed. I chose the safe option, the one where I didn’t have to risk failing or making things worse. AndI’msorry.”
Danny looks at me. “I talked to your dad.”
“I know. He told me.”
“He said he never gave you an ultimatum. Never told you to end it.”
“He didn’t. I made that choice and convinced myself it was the only way to protect everyone. But really, I was just scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of failing. Of not being able to fix things. Of making the wrong choice and losing everything anyway.” I lean back. “Turns out I lost everything by trying to prevent it. So thatworked out great.”
Danny almost smiles. “We’re both idiots.”
“Yeah. We are.”
“So where does that leave us?”
I look at him. At the exhaustion in his eyes. The hope underneath it.
“I don’t know. Where do you want it to leave us?”
“I want...” He stops, starts again. “I want to try again. If you’re willing. I want to do it differently this time. No hiding. No secrets. No pretending we’re something we’re not.”
“You mean go public?”
“Maybe not right away because of everything going on. But yeah. No more hiding.” He looks at me. “I’m tired of being scared of what people think. I’m tired of choosing my career or your career or anyone’s opinion over what I actually want. And what I want is you.”
My chest tightens. “Danny?—”
“I know it’s complicated. I know there are still consequences. You’re out of a job. I’m suspended. Your dad’s reputation is damaged. The team’s falling apart. But I also know that walking away doesn’t fix any of that. It just means we’re both miserable and alone on top of everything else.”
“What if we try again and it doesn’t work? What if we hurt each other worse?”
“Then at least we’ll know we tried. At least we won’t spend the rest of our lives wondering what if.” He reaches across the table but doesn’t touch me. He just puts his hand there. As an invitation. “I love you, Noah. I never stopped. Even when I was angry. Even when I told you to stay away. I love you. And I think you love me too.”
“I do.” The words come out before I can stop them. “I never stopped loving you. Even when I was trying to convince myself I could move on. Even when I was angry about the interview. I love you.”
