Page 10 of Through the Storm

“You’re right, that doesn’t sound good for your blood pressure. We’ll just dissociate from the issue for now. I support that.”

That makes me laugh like a crazy person. Then, breathless, I add, “Can you pleasenevertell Declan?”

She snorts. “God, no. He’d have a heart attack and die and then haunt us both. And the five candidates too. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked, though.”

“Oh, he has. I just said he doesn’t want to know. He agreed he really doesn’t.”

And suddenly the air feels lighter, like saying it out loud didn’t kill me. Like maybe it freed me a little. With Ella, even the messiest truths are accepted.

I can’t sleep. I haven’t been able to since I found out I’m pregnant.

The house is quiet, but my head isn’t. Everything feels heavier in the dark. The loneliness. The not knowing what comes next. I curl onto my side and press a hand to my stomach, wishing Ben were here. He was always good at making scary things feel smaller. Like he could take something overwhelming and turn it into something manageable. Even fun.

My traitor brain immediately reminds me of my favorite memory of him. The night of my first bonfire. So, I take out my computer anddo what I always do when my brain is a mess and needs to be tamed. I write it all down.

I’m sixteen and nervous enough to throw up.

I wear my best dress, curl my hair, do the whole perfect armor routine, and still feel like a fraud. I hover near the edge of the crowd, pretending my phone is suddenly fascinating, hoping no one notices how out of place I feel.

Ben finds me anyway.

“You good?” he asks, stepping directly into my line of sight, like he knows I’d avoid eye contact if he gave me the chance.

I shrug. “This is my first real party. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

He grins, easy and unbothered, like nothing in the world could intimidate him. “You’re not supposed to do anything, Katy Cat. Just do whatever you want.” He grabs my hand and twirls me.

I laugh, sharp and surprised, which I’m pretty sure is the point. With Ben, things that feel impossibly awkward suddenly don’t. He makes everything seem easy, like there’s no wrong move as long as I’m with him.

The music shifts to something slower, and before I can escape, he tugs me toward the crowd.

“Come on.”

I blink. “Where?”

“To dance. Obviously.”

“I don’t know how to dance!”

“But you’re in cheer. And you’ve done ballet forever.”

“I meant at a party. It’s a different skill set.”

His eyes soften, understanding flickering there. “Good thing I’m an excellent teacher.”

I roll my eyes but let him pull me closer, slipping my hand into his. His palm is warm, steady, and grounding. He places one hand at my waist, the other still holding mine.

“Just relax,” he murmurs. “There’s no right way to do this. There’s just Katy and Ben’s way to do this.”

I try. I really do. But it’s hard to focus when he’s looking at me like I’m the only person worth watching.

After a few songs, something loosens inside me. The self-conscious spiral quiets. I start having fun. Real fun.

Naturally, that’s when the universe intervenes.

A fat raindrop hits my cheek. Then another. Within seconds, the sky cracks open. Everyone screams and runs for their cars. I stand there, soaked, watching the bonfire hiss and sputter out.

“Perfect,” I mutter. “My first party, and it literally gets rained out.”